Guest Columnist

 

Diana Polk

Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family in 2026

 

With migration patterns in 2025 largely shaped by affordability, opportunity, and quality of life, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family in 2026, as well as expert commentary, to help people find the best place to put down roots.
 
WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 45 key metrics. The data set ranges from housing affordability to school-system quality to the unemployment rate.
 

Best Cities for Families   Worst Cities for Families
1. Fremont, CA   173. Hialeah, FL
2. Overland Park, KS   174. Birmingham, AL
3. Irvine, CA   175. Shreveport, LA
4. Plano, TX   176. Jackson, MS
5. Columbia, MD   177. Newark, NJ
6. Bismarck, ND   178. Baltimore, MD
7. South Burlington, VT   179. Gulfport, MS
8. Charleston, SC   180. Cleveland, OH
9. Seattle, WA   181. Memphis, TN
10. Boise, ID   182. Detroit, MI
 
Best vs. Worst
  • Las Vegas has the most playgrounds (per square root of the population), which is 24.6 times more than in Gilbert, Arizona, the city with the fewest.
     
  • Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 31.7 times fewer than in Memphis, Tennessee, the city with the most.
     
  • Columbia, Maryland, has the highest median family annual income (adjusted for cost of living), which is 3.1 times higher than in Detroit, the city with the lowest.
     
  • Scottsdale, Arizona, has the lowest share of families receiving food stamps, which is 21 times lower than in Detroit, the city with the highest.
     
  • Overland Park, Kansas, has the lowest share of families living in poverty, which is 7.9 times lower than in Detroit, the city with the highest.
 
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-families/4435