Raising kids right
San Antonio ranks among 5 most family-friendly cities in the country
As anyone who's grown up in San Antonio knows, it's a great place to call home. Now a new survey confirms the city's bragging rights as one of the top spots in the country to raise a family.
Homes.com ranked the top 25 metropolitan areas in the U.S. based on their overall “family-friendliness” quotient. San Antonio comes in at No. 5 on the list. At the top of the list is Dallas (No. 1), and not far behind is Houston (No. 3).
Cities were chosen based on key considerations, including crime rate, cost of living, availability of child care services, average commute times, school (K-12) quality, and park acreage per capita. The markers were chosen for the ways they contribute to both a child’s development and a family's quality of life. A weight was assigned to each factor to value their relative levels of importance — school quality had the highest, while commute times had the lowest.
"The largest U.S. cities may be known for their unique attributes, but it’s not immediately apparent which of them are best for raising a family," the report says. "The decision of where to call 'home' is a critical decision for new parents and can have a significant influence on the lives of their children."
San Antonio scored an overall 36.33 out of 50, earning a perfect score for parks, short commute times, and cost of living. Alamo City also ranked particularly high for good schools and low crime, outweighing its below average childcare services.
Dallas, with an overall score of 38 out of 50, and Houston, with a 37 out of 50, also ranked well for cost of living and park spaces.
Other large U.S. cities that made the cut include Boston (No. 10); Orlando (No. 15); St. Louis (No. 20); and rounding out the list at No. 25, Miami.
