Best Places To Raise A Family: California Suburb Beats Seattle and San Diego

MIAMI — If you’ve never heard of Fremont, California, you’re not alone. But this Bay Area suburb just outranked Seattle, San Diego, and every other major U.S. city as the best place to raise a family in 2025, according to WalletHub’s latest rankings. With families earning close to $130,000 a year after accounting for living costs and nearly 60% of schools receiving top ratings, Fremont has cracked the code on combining affordability with quality — something that’s increasingly rare in today’s economy.

The study of 182 American cities reveals dramatic shifts in where families are choosing to put down roots. While big-name destinations typically dominate lifestyle rankings, this year’s winners span from Kansas suburbs to Vermont college towns, reflecting how parents are prioritizing substance over status when it comes to raising their children.

Small Cities Are Beating Major Metropolitan Areas

The complete top 10 list is literally “all over the map” when it comes to family-friendly destinations:

Fremont, CA (73.53)
Overland Park, KS (71.66)
Plano, TX (68.55)
Irvine, CA (68.50)
South Burlington, VT (65.07)
Seattle, WA (64.93)
Boise, ID (64.86)
Gilbert, AZ (64.69)
Bismarck, ND (64.57)
San Diego, CA (64.39)

Bismarck, North Dakota landing in the top 10 alongside tech giants like Seattle represents a surprising change in family priorities. Parents are increasingly willing to trade trendy zip codes for communities that deliver on the basics: good schools, safe neighborhoods, and economic stability.

Fremont Central Park's beautiful Lake Elizabeth at sunset — Fremont, California tops the list of best cities for raising a family in America. © Olga – stock.adobe.com)

Fremont’s success story centers on financial security for families. Beyond that impressive $130,000 median family income (adjusted for local costs), the city ranks third-lowest for families living in poverty and families receiving government food assistance. These numbers translate into real purchasing power for parents dealing with everything from childcare costs to college savings.

Overland Park, Kansas, the runner-up, reinforces these economic themes with unemployment at just 3.4%, one of the lowest rates in the country. The city also leads in family stability, with over 81% of families having two parents and one of the nation’s lowest divorce rates.

“Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained. On top of all of these factors, people also often want to raise their children close to their extended family. Therefore, current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive of their family,” explains WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo in a statement.

Education and Safety Drive Family Decisions

Third-place Plano, Texas, demonstrates how educational excellence and community safety work together to attract families. The city maintains extremely low crime rates—ranking 10th-lowest for violent crime and 29th-lowest for property crime nationwide—while delivering outstanding school performance. Over 55% of Plano’s schools earn ratings of 7 out of 10 or better, and the city boasts the fifth-highest high school graduation rate in the country.

But Plano’s appeal runs deeper than test scores. The community ranks fourth-highest nationally for two-parent families and ninth-lowest for separation and divorce rates—stability factors that research consistently links to better outcomes for children.

The study also uncovered striking disparities in basic amenities that families take for granted. Playground access varies by a staggering 22-fold between the best and worst cities, with Las Vegas and Hialeah, Florida, representing opposite extremes. Such gaps highlight how fundamental resources for children can vary dramatically depending on where families choose to live.

family standing near modern house — Where you choose to live has a tremendous impact on your health, happiness, and your children’s future. (Credit: 4 PM production/Shutterstock)

Major Cities Struggle to Compete

At the bottom of the rankings, America’s struggling cities highlight the challenges that many urban areas continue to face face:

Hialeah, FL (39.78)
Jackson, MS (39.57)
San Bernardino, CA (39.26)
Baltimore, MD (39.06)
Birmingham, AL (38.23)
Newark, NJ (38.07)
Gulfport, MS (37.67)
Cleveland, OH (34.89)
Detroit, MI (34.10)
Memphis, TN (34.07)

Memphis, ranking last with a score of just 34.07, exemplifies the key issues: from limited economic opportunities and struggling schools to safety concerns that make parents think twice about raising children there.

The health and safety foundation supporting top-ranking cities often goes unnoticed in casual city comparisons but proves crucial for families making long-term decisions. Fremont, for instance, has only 1.1% of residents lacking access to healthy food and ranks fifth nationally for parkland per person, factors that directly impact children’s physical development.

According to Martine Hackett, Associate Professor of Population Health at Hofstra University, location matters tremendously for child development. “The school district in the city where you live can have a dramatic impact on the quality of the education your child receives, the availability of parks and green space supports connections to nature that has positive influences on air quality and physical activity and stress; the social connections and sense of community are important for families to now feel isolated and provides strong social ties that benefit children through their development,” she explains.

Hackett also notes that “families are concerned about safety in their communities and in their children’s schools and are looking for communities that take those concerns seriously. Families are also concerned about affordability of housing and the cost of living and being able to provide the supports that their children need to thrive in the future.”

Dr. Rona Milch Novick, Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University, emphasizes how community resources work hand-in-hand with family dynamics. “Both directly and indirectly, where you live impacts your and your children’s quality of life,” she says. “Directly through the offerings of the community – ranging from parks and green space for outdoor exploring to museums, schools and extracurricular opportunities. Indirectly through how available parents and family are to their children.”

The practical concerns families face today go well beyond basic safety and education, according to Novick. “Families also worry about the safety net – what happens when schools close – either in predicted or crisis situations? How do families manage gap hours and times – driving children from school to after school activities, childcare when school is not in session and camps have not yet begun their season?” she says. These logistical challenges help explain why cities with comprehensive support systems for working families rank higher in the study.

South Burlington, Vermont’s fifth-place finish represents perhaps the study’s biggest surprise. Despite ranking poorly for family entertainment options (163rd) and health and safety (108th), the city’s top ranking in education and childcare, combined with strong affordability, shows how smaller communities can compete with major metropolitan areas by excelling in family fundamentals.

The geographic diversity in the top rankings—spanning from California to Kansas to Vermont—indicates that families today have more viable options than ever before, provided they’re willing to look beyond traditional coastal destinations.

Best Places to Raise a Family

Rank	City	Family Fun Rank	Health & Safety Rank	Education & Child Care Rank	Affordability Rank	Socio-economics Rank
1	Fremont, CA	86	4	2	9	1
2	Overland Park, KS	102	18	10	1	3
3	Plano, TX	75	5	19	6	2
4	Irvine, CA	31	3	3	52	11
5	South Burlington, VT	163	108	1	10	17
6	Seattle, WA	71	93	11	7	14
7	Boise, ID	18	26	30	28	18
8	Gilbert, AZ	70	16	50	14	4
9	Bismarck, ND	117	32	64	4	9
10	San Diego, CA	5	21	12	82	30
11	Huntington Beach, CA	90	17	4	103	7
12	Scottsdale, AZ	42	38	76	15	6
13	San Jose, CA	45	20	13	66	21
14	Columbia, MD	87	48	78	2	47
15	Charleston, SC	30	63	29	32	46
16	Austin, TX	83	92	27	8	40
17	Fargo, ND	115	28	60	13	20
18	Sioux Falls, SD	130	31	48	19	22
19	Lincoln, NE	62	34	69	20	22
20	Virginia Beach, VA	146	10	22	35	24
21	San Francisco, CA	15	67	16	56	67
22	Portland, OR	34	116	7	33	86
23	Chandler, AZ	73	37	55	38	8
24	Omaha, NE	79	64	28	21	66
25	Madison, WI	88	42	102	5	25
26	Chesapeake, VA	95	24	47	31	38
27	Warwick, RI	182	1	33	17	50
28	Honolulu, HI	23	8	21	130	35
29	Nashua, NH	154	27	42	37	36
30	Santa Rosa, CA	77	2	44	95	52
31	Huntsville, AL	101	13	92	42	60
32	Santa Clarita, CA	121	9	5	128	70
33	St. Paul, MN	17	60	118	18	106
34	Minneapolis, MN	27	146	112	3	92
35	Portland, ME	159	33	40	47	45
36	Pearl City, HI	177	14	6	91	13
37	Casper, WY	57	89	56	60	32
38	Cedar Rapids, IA	139	45	137	11	63
39	Pittsburgh, PA	67	75	54	25	127
40	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	82	68	17	138	12
41	Sacramento, CA	3	81	84	78	98
42	Denver, CO	9	159	63	34	97
43	Washington, DC	68	109	18	23	157
44	Raleigh, NC	142	73	77	12	72
45	Lewiston, ME	147	6	35	72	100
46	Lexington-Fayette, KY	141	49	62	24	85
47	Chula Vista, CA	106	7	25	133	44
48	Garden Grove, CA	48	15	9	173	34
49	Peoria, AZ	85	51	105	58	28
50	Orlando, FL	8	114	73	55	110
51	Billings, MT	138	155	43	29	39
52	Atlanta, GA	14	119	57	22	158
53	St. Petersburg, FL	66	70	87	51	54
54	Salt Lake City, UT	74	122	100	46	16
55	Cheyenne, WY	132	143	70	27	37
56	Henderson, NV	56	35	115	68	55
57	Tampa, FL	4	96	95	70	118
58	Oklahoma City, OK	58	120	91	36	65
59	Oceanside, CA	108	22	41	139	15
60	Pembroke Pines, FL	149	12	14	145	71
61	Jersey City, NJ	165	11	20	100	82
62	Aurora, IL	107	29	58	81	88
63	Missoula, MT	92	132	15	88	80
64	Colorado Springs, CO	55	112	125	40	61
65	Durham, NC	161	133	34	26	76
66	Las Vegas, NV	1	61	151	111	120
67	Nampa, ID	52	46	110	80	62
68	Burlington, VT	166	101	46	39	93
69	New York, NY	6	53	8	170	140
70	Charlotte, NC	114	117	68	41	81
71	Reno, NV	38	66	79	107	91
72	Columbus, OH	60	83	141	45	129
73	Juneau, AK	180	77	111	63	5
74	Des Moines, IA	145	47	159	16	142
75	Grand Prairie, TX	47	59	165	98	43
76	Los Angeles, CA	2	87	37	172	109
77	Amarillo, TX	81	129	85	74	48
78	Modesto, CA	21	58	158	94	74
79	Boston, MA	99	39	39	92	150
80	Rapid City, SD	135	151	96	48	42
81	Spokane, WA	103	136	81	49	101
82	Anchorage, AK	134	124	61	85	19
83	Charleston, WV	179	72	154	30	73
84	Glendale, CA	54	19	38	169	79
85	Tulsa, OK	11	147	147	59	113
86	Kansas City, MO	37	176	106	43	102
87	Chicago, IL	19	100	72	97	153
88	Yonkers, NY	178	30	26	113	117
89	Manchester, NH	173	62	109	65	75
90	Fort Worth, TX	59	106	157	69	69
91	Long Beach, CA	24	50	24	174	96
92	Laredo, TX	69	82	23	151	116
93	Phoenix, AZ	7	145	145	112	77
94	West Valley City, UT	40	54	181	105	27
95	Providence, RI	105	23	51	117	154
96	Cincinnati, OH	10	115	138	62	166
97	Vancouver, WA	136	104	66	89	94
98	Mesa, AZ	97	84	160	104	31
99	Tempe, AZ	46	126	175	90	26
100	Grand Rapids, MI	162	103	139	44	112
101	Arlington, TX	72	99	149	99	59
102	Anaheim, CA	51	43	49	175	49
103	Irving, TX	172	76	146	86	10
104	Nashville, TN	125	164	129	53	64
105	Garland, TX	144	78	135	127	29
106	Worcester, MA	156	71	74	84	152
107	Buffalo, NY	98	111	82	50	175
108	Tallahassee, FL	122	125	97	67	141
109	Jacksonville, FL	94	128	132	76	111
110	El Paso, TX	20	94	104	155	124
111	Bakersfield, CA	26	127	143	123	99
112	Fontana, CA	35	74	107	168	41
113	Fort Wayne, IN	169	65	163	61	89
114	Knoxville, TN	127	107	89	93	132
115	Cape Coral, FL	171	41	134	135	53
116	Oakland, CA	140	138	32	108	138
117	Louisville, KY	148	105	152	57	119
118	Brownsville, TX	89	134	31	154	126
119	Stockton, CA	16	102	136	144	134
120	Albuquerque, NM	36	179	103	77	121
121	Lubbock, TX	111	154	65	96	115
122	Salem, OR	152	80	124	125	78
123	Santa Ana, CA	93	56	52	179	33
124	Fresno, CA	43	97	99	147	143
125	Chattanooga, TN	155	177	101	54	95
126	Fort Smith, AR	91	156	133	114	57
127	Port St. Lucie, FL	181	36	120	129	51
128	Richmond, VA	137	69	116	115	147
129	Riverside, CA	61	113	122	166	58
130	Springfield, MO	120	162	119	102	90
131	Newport News, VA	143	90	162	116	105
132	Tacoma, WA	175	178	80	64	104
133	Rochester, NY	126	131	45	75	179
134	Oxnard, CA	39	25	161	176	83
135	Columbia, SC	25	118	153	110	165
136	Dallas, TX	96	140	108	132	107
137	Norfolk, VA	119	55	150	140	130
138	Glendale, AZ	28	137	164	153	103
139	Columbus, GA	84	110	113	146	128
140	Greensboro, NC	109	152	88	106	145
141	Wichita, KS	168	153	140	79	68
142	Huntington, WV	112	86	174	120	137
143	Philadelphia, PA	12	121	142	134	170
144	Houston, TX	33	169	121	131	135
145	New Haven, CT	44	98	71	159	172
146	Ontario, CA	63	85	126	177	56
147	Corpus Christi, TX	160	130	130	119	84
148	Moreno Valley, CA	50	57	176	171	87
149	North Las Vegas, NV	53	52	182	150	139
150	Tucson, AZ	13	165	171	142	122
150	Winston-Salem, NC	104	141	156	121	114
152	San Antonio, TX	80	163	128	126	131
153	Dover, DE	174	95	117	122	144
154	Milwaukee, WI	41	142	148	124	164
155	Aurora, CO	167	157	113	83	125
156	St. Louis, MO	64	175	170	73	156
157	Las Cruces, NM	29	166	86	157	151
158	Indianapolis, IN	151	160	177	71	133
159	Akron, OH	133	79	169	109	176
160	Baton Rouge, LA	123	171	90	101	168
161	Bridgeport, CT	150	44	67	167	173
162	Mobile, AL	129	144	131	143	146
163	Fort Lauderdale, FL	164	135	75	162	123
164	Miami, FL	65	91	36	181	155
165	Montgomery, AL	110	139	144	137	160
166	Fayetteville, NC	116	150	123	160	148
167	Little Rock, AR	158	182	94	87	108
168	Wilmington, DE	118	123	83	141	180
169	Shreveport, LA	131	161	93	152	162
170	Augusta, GA	128	167	98	149	161
171	Toledo, OH	78	149	178	136	171
172	New Orleans, LA	32	174	155	164	163
173	Hialeah, FL	176	40	59	182	149
174	Jackson, MS	76	180	127	161	167
175	San Bernardino, CA	22	168	172	178	136
176	Baltimore, MD	157	148	166	118	178
177	Birmingham, AL	124	170	167	148	174
178	Newark, NJ	170	88	53	180	177
179	Gulfport, MS	113	158	179	165	159
180	Cleveland, OH	100	172	173	163	181
181	Detroit, MI	49	173	180	156	182
182	Memphis, TN	153	181	168	158	169

Note: All of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Methodology

The WalletHub study compared 182 U.S. cities across five equally weighted categories: Family Fun, Health & Safety, Education & Child Care, Affordability, and Socio-economics. Researchers evaluated 45 different factors within these categories, scoring each city on a 100-point scale where higher scores represent better conditions for family life. Data was collected as of April 28, 2025, from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and various other federal and private organizations. The analysis focused on city boundaries rather than broader metropolitan areas to provide more precise comparisons.