Every year the number crunchers at LendingTree pour over the data to determine which cities in America are the most kid-friendly, and for 2023, Minneapolis, Minnesota is at the top of the list.

Top-Ten Most Family Friendly Metros

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
  2. Indianapolis, Indiana
  3. Kansas City, Missouri
  4. Raleigh, North Carolina
  5. Cincinnati, Ohio
  6. St. Lake City, Utah
  7. Austin, Texas
  8. San Jose, California
  9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  10. Hartford, Connecticut
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LendingTree looked at things like:

  • Median family income: Higher incomes make it easier for families to afford necessities.
  • Median monthly housing costs for homes with a mortgage: The less money a family spends on a house, the more money they have left for other expenses.
  • Homeownership rate among families with at least one child: Homeownership can benefit families for various reasons.
  • Percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds not enrolled in school who don’t have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree: One way to gauge school quality is to look at how many students complete high school.
  • Average round-trip commute time: Taking care of a family is time-consuming, so areas where parents spend less time commuting could be better fits for families.
  • Percentage of households with children: Typically, more children living in an area means more schools and day care centers for families.

The main reason why we consider six variables to determine which metros are best for families is that there’s often no single aspect that makes living in an area worthwhile.

The Five Least Family Friendly Metros

  • #5 - New York, New York
  • #4 - Las Vegas, Nevada
  • #3 - Los Angeles, California
  • #2 - New Orleans, Louisiana
  • #1 - Miami, Florida

These five cities may score poorly on the kid-friendly list, but I would also say these all score highly on the 'fun place to visit' list. Coincidence? I doubt it.

The 25 Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Minnesota using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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