The Best Big Cities for Families in 2025 [New LendingTree Report]

Where you live can impact your lifestyle, health, goals and so much more. From proximity to support systems to career opportunities to schools, families have different priorities for where they choose to live.

In our latest study, we analyzed seven economic indicators including median income, children living below the poverty line, commute times, average cost of child care and the percentage of children living in owned homes (rather than rented). Our report reveals which cities help families thrive. 

• Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Cincinnati top our list of the best big metros for families. 
• Miami, Las Vegas and Los Angeles are at the bottom of our list of the best big metros for families. Perhaps enviable weather and vibrant cultures make up for lower family incomes, long commutes and low homeownership rates for families in these metros.
• Metros from the same states landed in divergent places. For example, Texas’ Austin landed in sixth and Houston finished 43rd, while Dallas and San Antonio were more middling at 19th and 34th, respectively. From Ohio, Cincinnati came in third, Columbus in 17th and Cleveland in 42nd. However, all four Florida metros in our analysis fell into the bottom half of our list.

You can check out the full report here: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/best-metros-families-children-study/

LendingTree's Chief Credit Analyst, Matt Schulz, had this to say:

"Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer for the best place to raise a family. What I think makes a place perfect for my family may make you want to run screaming. That's totally fine. What's important is that you take the time to think through what matters most to your family and use those things to guide your decision rather than rushing into a decision you might regret."

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