2016’s Best & Worst Cities for Families

Posted by: John S Kiernan

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

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Overall Rank	City	Total Score	‘Family Fun’ Rank	‘Health & Safety’ Rank	‘Education & Child Care’ Rank	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Socioeconomic Environment’ Rank
146	Cleveland, OH	39.15	70	143	46	142	149
147	Hialeah, FL	38.91	150	51	84	149	122
148	Detroit, MI	38.37	32	127	102	130	150
149	San Bernardino, CA	37.04	72	138	124	145	135
150	Birmingham, AL	36.98	122	134	108	138	146

Ask the Experts < >

• Tim Kasser Professor of Psychology at Knox College
• Stacy D. Thompson Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs at Southern Illinois University
• Naomi V. Ekas Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Texas Christian University
• Kiren Khan Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rhodes College
• Don Bower Professor Emeritus and Extension Specialist of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia

Tim Kasser Professor of Psychology at Knox College What advice do you have for young families looking to start their lives together on the right foot financially?

• Buy a house that you can afford on one salary.

• Pay off your credit cards every month.

• Buy used cars, rather than new.

• Have a well-stocked emergency fund, so that you do not have to take out loans to pay for emergencies.

• Learn how to talk calmly as a couple about money.

• Work hard as a couple to find your shared values, so they can guide your financial decisions.

How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families?

• Remove advertising from schools (à la San Francisco), “Commercial Free Schools Act,” Amendment to Resolution no. 95-25A6 (Version no. 3), passed in June 1999.

• Get rid of billboards (à la Vermont, Grenoble France, & Sao Paolo, Brazil).

• Build more parks and libraries in various neighborhoods in town, so they are easily accessible to families.

What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots? My research distinguishes between intrinsic and extrinsic values. Intrinsic values are those aimed at personal growth, close relationships with family and friends, and helping the world be a better place. Extrinsic values are those aimed at money, possessions, image, and status. Substantial research shows that when people focus on extrinsic values, they have lower levels of personal well-being, engage in less pro-social behavior, and live in ways more damaging to Earth. Intrinsic values, in contrast, are associated with higher well-being, more civility, and more sustainability. Thus, I would say that families should ask two questions:

• Is this a place where I will be able to successfully pursue my intrinsic values? Do there seem to be many opportunities for me to pursue the things that interest me, to be with my family, to make friends, and to be involved in and contribute to the community? If yes, great. If no, and/or if living there seems likely to push one towards focusing on money, image, and status, I'd say keep searching.

• Is this a place where the city leaders and your potential neighbors seem primarily focused on intrinsic values or extrinsic values? Read and listen to what they have to say. What are their goals? How do they spend their time? What is their vision of "progress" and "a good life?" If these indicate a community focused on intrinsic values, wonderful. If not, and/or if the focus is on extrinsic values, I'd say keep searching.

Stacy D. Thompson Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs at Southern Illinois University To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? How? Children are a reflection of the environment in which they are raised. Their experiences are shown in their development and relationships in many ways. Therefore, the family’s quality of life directly and indirectly influences the child’s development. Children who live in cities that do not have the supports and positive environment for their families are going to be at a disadvantage, compared to their peers who are living in better environments. Cities that experience higher rates of poverty are going to have more children living in poverty. National averages show that 20% of young children, those under 6, are at greater risk of living in families that are “below the poverty threshold” (Childstat.org). Without the proper supports in place, such as resources and quality child care, these children are at great risk. How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families? Official can make cities more attractive to families with young children by having:

• Parks and green spaces -- children need to have safe places to grow up. They need to be active to be healthy and have good development.

• Quality child care and education programs for young children.

• Providing good medical facilities and good, affordable health insurance.

• Economic well-being, including employment opportunities -- families in cities with good economic well-being are more likely to maintain their economic level, which provides stability for their children’s development.

• Resources -- parents need support, and children benefit when the community provides supports to help engage families. Resources can be in the form of financial subsidies for food or child care, but also includes emotional and developmental supports. Parenting groups are a good example of places with developmental information, but also a place for parents to meet other parents.

What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots? From my experience, the majority of families move due to economic or family reasons. Sometimes one can pick, but not always. If one were to choose where to live and think about what to look for, many of the things I discussed in the previous response would be what one would choose. I might add extended family, as long as there is no psychopathology, as this is important to young families because of the sense of culture and tradition, as well as support that is provided. Naomi V. Ekas Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Texas Christian University To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? How? The city that a family lives in can influence the family in a variety of ways. One example is how safe the city is (e.g., amount of violent crime, presence of gangs). Parents who live in unsafe cities often report higher levels of stress and psychological problems. This can affect their parenting quality. Children growing up in unsafe cities can also experience psychological problems. Another example is the size of the city. Children growing up in smaller towns often have better connections to adults other than their parents, which is also important for their development. Finally, the types of social services and access to quality medical care is important for children’s development. What advice do you have for young families looking to start their lives together on the right foot financially? Many cities and towns offer a variety of free activities and services for families. Many of these activities (e.g., museums, libraries) provide children with vital experiences that enhance their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Another important consideration for young families is to begin saving for college education at an early age, even before their child is born. How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families? There are a variety of ways that cities can attract young families. Providing plenty of green spaces and playgrounds for children to play and interact with nature is important. Cities can also ensure that families have access to libraries, medical care, and grocery stores with healthy food options. In addition, cities can provide families with low-cost, educational summer activities for school-aged children. What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots? Some of the top considerations for families include the safety of the city, quality of the public school district, and the presence of parks and playgrounds. Other aspects that families should consider is whether the neighborhood they might settle in has a strong sense of community, whether there are libraries nearby, and whether the city provides opportunities for their child to explore and experience new things. In evaluating the best cities for families, what are the top 5 indicators? The top 5 indicators are:

• Safety;

• Public school quality;

• Outdoor spaces;

• Cultural activities (museums, zoos, etc.);

• Social services (e.g., libraries, after school programs, recreation centers, etc.).

Kiren Khan Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rhodes College To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? How? Consistent with a prominent theory in educational psychology that describes the influences on human development over time, families are influenced by the social and economic contexts in which they are embedded. Some important contexts that influence children’s development via influences on their immediate environments, and interactions in those environments, include the economy, social and community resources, access to health care, and access to high-quality early childhood education. A city that would support children’s healthy development would have low unemployment and poverty rates, low crime rates, community resources for supporting parents in finding employment and social services, community partnerships that promote access to health and wellness services (e.g., speech-language clinicians, nurses, counseling services for mental health and coping with stress), cultural and linguistic diversity to support integration of families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and most importantly, access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs. How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families? One way that local officials can make cities more attractive to young families is by improving access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs. In particular, local officials can support education policies that establish coherence between early childhood and elementary education, in terms of better alignment of standards and teacher training. Additionally, local officials can support the ongoing professional development and training of teachers in early childhood education programs, to ensure high-quality education and care. Finally, local officials can offer incentives for community organizations to arrange resources and support for children and their families prior to kindergarten entry. Some examples include referral systems for counseling services, locating childcare facilities for younger siblings, and transportation services to these sites. In evaluating the best cities for families, what are the top 5 indicators? The top five indicators that families should use to evaluate cities include:

• Access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education;

• Low unemployment rates;

• Low crime rates;

• Social and cultural diversity;

• Community and social welfare resources.

Don Bower Professor Emeritus and Extension Specialist of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia What advice do you have for young families looking to start their lives together on the right foot financially? It sounds simple, but it is the foundation for solid family financial management: create and live a lifestyle in which you spend less than you make. Invest the resulting savings in low-cost instruments that outstrip inflation, and reap the benefits of compound interest. How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families? Most young adults choose to live where they can earn a living. That's why many community leaders focus so much on economic development. Beyond that, however, young adults consider the tangible attractions of a community (youth development opportunities, neighborhood schools, quality child care, libraries, parks), as well as the intangible assets (diverse cultural experiences, vocational exploration, adult role models, intergenerational involvement). Economic opportunity is necessary, but not sufficient for attracting and retaining young families. What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots? This question presumes that young families are able to make that choice. Many young adults today are "stuck" where they are -- geographically, economically, socially, vocationally -- because of arrest records, minimum wage jobs, family caregiving responsibilities, student loans, and other factors that limit their mobility. Being "stuck" in these circumstances creates bitterness and resentment that the American Dream is out of reach for them. This toxicity sends communities into a downward spiral of diminishing social capital, that makes these communities even less appealing to young adults who can make choices. In evaluating the best cities for families, what are the top 5 indicators? In no particular order:

• Involvement of residents in political decision-making;

• Involvement in non-profit civic organizations;

• Enrichment opportunities for discretionary time;

• Cultural diversity;

• Job opportunities that pay at least a living wage.

Methodology

 

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