# Connecticut Families Take Note: New Rankings Reveal Top U.S. Cities for Raising Children
A comprehensive new study highlights the most family-friendly cities across the United States. For Connecticut residents thinking about moving or just curious about how their hometown stacks up, these findings offer some interesting food for thought.
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WalletHub’s 2025 rankings looked at 182 cities nationwide, weighing factors like health, safety, education, affordability, and recreation for families. No Connecticut cities cracked the top ten, but seeing what makes these places stand out gives us a lot to chew on back home.
Understanding the Rankings: What Makes a City Family-Friendly?
WalletHub broke things down into four big categories: health and safety, family fun, education and childcare, and affordability. These are the building blocks of family life, at least according to their research.
Honestly, if you live in Greenwich, Westport, or New Haven, this probably sounds familiar. Good schools, safe streets, and a budget that doesn’t make you sweat—these are the basics for most parents.
The National Leaders: Fremont and Plano Set the Standard
Fremont, California, landed the top spot with a score of 73.53. Plano, Texas, wasn’t far behind, taking third place nationally at 68.55 points.
Plano’s story is worth a closer look, especially for towns like Hartford and Stamford hoping to boost their own family-friendly reputations. The city ranked sixth for affordability and fifth for health and safety—two areas where Connecticut towns often find themselves in a tough spot.
Plano also shines in education, with the ninth-highest percentage of top-rated schools (7+ out of 10) and the fifth-highest high school graduation rate in the country. Niche backed this up, ranking Plano ninth in its “Best Cities to Raise a Family” list and giving A+ grades to both its public schools and family vibe.
Lessons for Connecticut Communities
Fairfield and Glastonbury have always bragged about their strong schools. But WalletHub’s rankings make it clear—education alone doesn’t cut it anymore.
The cities at the top are the ones that balance great schools with reasonable costs. That’s a tall order in Connecticut, where property taxes and housing prices keep climbing.
The Affordability Factor: A Connecticut Challenge
Connecticut has a lot going for it, but affordability is a sticking point. Austin, Texas, which came in 16th overall, did especially well on affordability (eighth in the nation).
This is a wake-up call for Connecticut towns hoping to bring in more young families. Bridgeport and New London might want to take notes on how these high-ranking cities keep services strong without breaking the bank for residents.
The gap between the top and bottom cities is pretty revealing. While Plano soared, other Texas cities like San Antonio lagged behind, especially in health, safety, and affordability.
Honestly, that sounds a lot like Connecticut. Wealthy towns like Darien tell a very different story from some of our more challenged urban areas.
Building More Family-Friendly Communities in Connecticut
What can Connecticut towns actually learn from these rankings? The data shows that the most successful family-friendly communities do well in several areas—not just one or two.
From Norwalk to Manchester, Connecticut towns are trying to draw in young families. Looking at what cities like Fremont and Plano have figured out, local leaders here can find new ways to make life better for families across the state.
Here is the source article for this story: Texas’ ‘best place to raise a family’ is this city
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