These Are The Best Cities to Raise a Family in 2019

Raising a family is filled with challenges. Are your kids going to a good school? Are there enough after-school activities to keep them entertained and/or busy? Does the area have a good economy with good jobs so parents can earn a stable income? Parents all want the very best for their children, so all these factors can be difficult to find in one city. After all, there are always trade-offs and compromises when it comes to choosing a place for your family to set down some permanent roots.

Fortunately, WalletHub has compiled data on more than 180 cities in the U.S. with key metrics such as the cost of housing, the quality of the local schools, and the opportunities for fun and other activities for your children.

Congratulations to families living in Overland Park, KS. Ranking #1 for "affordability" on WalletHub's list, the cheap cost of living frees up a lot of money for families to spend on other activities. Overland Park also ranks as #5 for the 'socio-economics' rank, meaning there's plenty of good jobs available. It's also one of the safest cities in the U.S. as well as one of the best places for a child's education, thanks to the city's many great schools, according to the data.

Two cities in California on opposite sides of the state ranked #2 and #3 on WalletHub's list. Fremont, CA, located in the Bay Area and Irvine, CA near Orange County were in the top three cities as well. Affordability isn't exactly a word that describes any city in California, so know you'll be paying for the privilege of living there (the so-called 'Sunshine Tax').

However, both cities ranked very high on the 'Health and Safety' index with Irvine coming in at #1. It was ranked the safest city in the U.S. according to WalletHub's data. Irvine residents also have the advantage of living in close proximity to Los Angeles and its many attractions making the Southern California city very desirable for families.

Similarly Fremont and its close proximity to San Francisco, can also offer families a wide range of activities such as museums, theme parks, and concert venues a short drive away. Both Fremont and Irvine, CA were ranked as having some of the fewest divorces in the U.S. giving the kids stability.

Plano, TX and South Burlington, VT rounded out the top five best cities to raise a family. Plano, which is located just outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, hit #4 on WalletHub's list thanks to its many great schools and plenty of well-paying jobs. South Burlington made it into the top five thanks to its number 1 ranking for education and child care.

One question parents often ask themselves is whether the city they're raising children in is the right one. Nicholas Dempsey, an associate professor of Sociology at Eckerd College, says a child's development can be strongly influenced by the neighborhoods they grow up in.

"A child's development can be enriched by access to things like museums and performances that are offered in cities," said Dempsey. "Certain cities have stronger social safety nets that will help lower income kids have a better shot at success. And a powerful part of people's identity is organized around the cities they grow up in."

For young families looking for a stable place to raise their children, Dempsey cautions them to think carefully about the cost of living in the area they want to move to.

"Especially now that rent can eat upwards of 50% of families' incomes, a lot of folks seem to be avoiding moving to certain cities like NYC or San Francisco because of the very high rents," said Dempsey. "Though obviously those cities have amazing amenities, people have to think carefully about how their quality of life might be affected by living in a too-small apartment or by paying too much for housing costs."

Setting down strong roots for your children is important and Dempsey says parents should consider these five indicators before making a permanent decision on where to live:

1. School quality (as measured by things like HS completion rates, SAT scores, etc.).
2. Cost of Living, especially rent. 
3. Presence of family-friendly businesses. 
4. Density of opportunities for safe outside play
5. Access to extracurricular activities for children, like dance schools, after-school programs, music camps, etc. 

Photos: Wallethub and Unsplash