When looking for a new place to settle down (whether for a new job, moving to be closer to family, or other personal circumstances), buyers often consider moving to places they believe will have the best environment for their family.
In North Jersey, according to one report, that means a city.
A report released by WalletHub this week ranked more than 180 cities across the country from best to worst places to raise a family in 2024. All cities, which include the 150 most populous cities in the U.S., as well as at least two of the most populous cities in each state, were ranked based on 45 key metrics across five factors: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socioeconomics.
“Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, as you have to balance an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “In addition to all of these factors, people often also want to raise their children near their extended family. Therefore, current or future parents may benefit by narrowing down their options to some of the best cities that are within a reasonable radius of your family.”
Which New Jersey cities made the list?
Jersey City and Newark were included in WalletHub’s rankings, and while neither of them ranked particularly high among the best places to raise a family in 2024, one ranked significantly higher than the other.
Of the more than 180 American cities included, Jersey City ranked 52nd overall and received a score of 55.46. Of the five individual factors considered, the Hudson County city received the highest rankings for health and safety (fourth) and education and child care (25th). Jersey City also ranked 96th for affordability, 98th for socioeconomics and 163rd for family fun.
Newark ranked 179th overall, the fourth-worst city on the list, and received a score of 37.99. Like Jersey City, Newark also received the highest individual rankings for health and safety (75th) and education and child care (63rd). The Essex County town ranked 172nd for health and safety, 178th for socioeconomics and 179th for affordability.
What were the best cities overall to start a family in 2024?
Of the total 182 U.S. cities ranked in the report, Fremont, California, was named the best overall place to raise a family in 2024. With a score of 73.55, the city ranked first for education and care children, and the first in socioeconomics. , third for health and safety, 11th for affordability and 78th for family fun.
“Fremont is the best place to raise a family in 2024, largely due to economic factors. The city has one of the highest median household incomes after adjusting for cost of living, about $122,000, and has the fourth-highest lowest percentage of families living in poverty and the third lowest percentage receiving food stamps,” the report reads. “In addition, 50.5% of families in Fremont have children under the age of 18, one of the highest rates in the country.”
Overland Park, Kansas; Irvine, California; Plano, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Gilbert, Arizona; San Jose, California; San Diego, California; Boise, Idaho; and Huntington Beach, California, make up the remaining top 10.
What were the worst cities overall to start a family?
According to WalletHub, Memphis, Tennessee, ranked 182nd overall, making it the worst place to start a family in 2024 among the more than 180 US cities compared. With a score of 33.85, the city ranked 152nd for family fun, 154th for affordability, 168th for education and childcare, 170th for socioeconomics and 182nd for health and safety.
Detroit, Cleveland, Newark, Gulfport, Mississippi; San Bernardino, California; Birmingham, Alabama; New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi; and Augusta, Georgia, make up the remaining 10 worst, according to WalletHub.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering everything worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and subscribe to her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have any tips, trends, or great homes she should know about? Email him at MMcGay@gannett.
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