Irvine has been recognized as one of the top cities in the United States for raising a family, securing the third spot in a recent report by WalletHub.
In the report released on Tuesday, Irvine was ranked behind Overland Park, Kansas, and Fremont, California, as one of the best places for families. WalletHub’s analysis included over 180 cities, evaluating factors such as housing costs, quality of local schools, and the healthcare system.
“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,” said Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst. She also noted that proximity to extended family is an important consideration for many parents, suggesting that narrowing down choices to a few top cities within a reasonable drive of family can be beneficial.
California featured prominently in the rankings, with San Diego and San Francisco also making the top 15, at No. 8 and No. 12 respectively. Los Angeles, however, was further down the list at No. 85.
WalletHub’s findings highlighted Irvine’s strong performance in several key areas. The city boasts the 20th-lowest property crime rate per capita and the third-lowest divorce rate in the country. Additionally, Irvine ranks tenth in the highest share of families with children under 18 years old, exemplified by a notable 11-year-old graduate from Irvine Valley College.
Conversely, Memphis, Tennessee, was identified as the worst city for raising a family according to WalletHub’s metrics.
