These are the best cities to raise a family in 2025, study finds

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Families who are looking to move may want to consider these cities.

With families in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 45 key metrics that consider essential family dynamics, such as the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation. 

Fremont, California is best place to raise family in 2025

By the numbers:

According to the data, Fremont, California was the best place to raise a family in 2025, due largely to economic factors. The city boasted one of the highest median family incomes after adjusting for the cost of living, at close to $130,000. It also had the third-lowest share of families living in poverty as well as the third-lowest share receiving food stamps. 

In addition, nearly 50% of families in Fremont had children under age 18, one of the highest rates in the country.

FILE: Family plays in the park. (Credit: Getty)

Fremont was also especially good when it came to children’s education, with a high percentage of public schools rated at least a 7 out of 10 (58.3%), and many summer camp opportunities per capita.

This was followed by Overland Park, Kansas and Plano, Texas. Overland Park was the second-best place to raise a family in 2025, boasting one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at 3.4%, along with one of the highest median family incomes, at over $149,000 after adjusting for the cost of living. Meanwhile, Plano had the tenth-lowest violent crime rate per capita as well as the 29th-lowest property crime rate per capita.

What they're saying:

"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," Chip Lupo, an analyst with WalletHub, said in a statement. "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."

Top places to raise a family in 2025

Most expensive states for raising children: Study

Dig deeper:

Another study published last month found that Hawaii was the most expensive state to raise a child, with the highest 18-year cost ($362,891). Most notably, the difference in typical food spending between a two-person household and a two-person household with a child was highest here, costing couples an additional $2,481. Additionally, the difference in rent when factoring in a child was the second-highest by state, adding $4,944 in costs. Hawaii also has the third-highest day care costs ($22,585) and transportation costs ($3,305).

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Conversely, the data found that annual costs for raising a child were lowest in Mississippi ($16,490), South Carolina ($17,699) and Alabama ($17,870). Only six states had infant day care costs of less than $10,000 annually, guiding them to the lowest overall annual expenses.