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10 Best, 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Moms
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Daily Beast ranked America’s 200 largest cities based on how they treat their moms. The top city will surprise you. And the bottom ones? Well, let’s just say Garrison Keillor’s gonna be miffed (not to mention everyone living in that jewel of a forever high-ranking city in the Pacific Northwest).
Before we list the Best 10 and Worst 10 Cities for Moms, let’s take a look at the criteria. Some of it makes sense — number of childcare workers per capita, number of other mothers, school rankings. But, like, should your city be dinged if there aren’t many places to go for Mother’s Day brunch or for a haircut? Shouldn’t they also have account for number of museums, parks and employment opportunities? Ratio of childcare costs to average earnings?
I know, I know, settle down. We’re supposed to be having fun here. Okay, top and bottom 10.
1. Boise, Idaho
2. Lexington, Ky.
3. Lincoln, Neb.
4. Coral Springs, Fla.
5. Mobile, Ala.
6. Elk Grove, Calif.
7. Bellevue, Wash.
8. Overland Park, Kan.
9. Augusta, Ga.
10. Columbus, Ohio (most moms per capita)
Bottom 10
191. Pasadena, Texas
192. Portland, Ore. (Okay, Portland never ranks this low for anything!)
193. Washington, D.C.
194. Los Angeles, Calif.
195. North Las Vegas, Nev.
196. Oakland, Calif.
197. San Bernardino, Calif.
198. West Valley City, Utah
199. Santa Ana, Calif.
200. St. Paul, Minn. (I know!)
Where does your city rank? My city, Long Beach, Calif., ranks way above St. Paul (obvs.) and Portland, yet I promise you moms have it way better up in those cities than me. Just sayin’ …
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[...] 10 Best, 10 Worst Cities for Moms [...]
Don't Just Eat Veggies, Pile Them On | Strollerderby commented on May 07 10 at 10:31 am[...] [...]
2009/2010 Augusta national rankings - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum commented on May 24 10 at 7:37 pmBean's Mom commented on May 06 10 at 3:58 pmI lived in Lexington, KY when I was a teenager and again in my early twenties. It was a horrible place to live back then–very conservative people, extremely dull, nothing to do other than go to the mall. I imagine your needs change as you get older and have children, but I can’t imagine that it changes that much. Clearly FUN was not a
criteria that they prioritized when they came up with the list.Now I am a mother of two and live in Louisville, KY. I think that is a much better place to live in than Lexington.
DeerMama commented on May 06 10 at 4:32 pmGlad to see Portland on the bottom this once. Portland is no place to raise a family. I have never understood why it ranks so high on so many lists. In fact my husband and I moved away from Portland to start our family. Between the rabid meth, joblessness, lack of any diversity, constant rain and school closings why would one ever want to raise a child there? Or parent for that matter?
mmeyer commented on May 06 10 at 4:34 pmI live in Boise, and it’s a fantastic place to live—lots to do, but I think this ranking category is silly.
jenny tries too hard commented on May 06 10 at 5:19 pmWhat a weird list…my hometown, which I left specifically because I didn’t want to raise a family there, is ranked above my current city. And the violent, poor, drug-infested cities in the Rio Grande Valley are above both of those.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 06 10 at 6:00 pmthe rating criteria seems a little off base…not all moms are eager to leave their children in childcare…this would be a non-criteria for me…and having MORE childcare outlets could just mean there are alot of low income workers who have childcare jobs and low income folks who need to work and use them…
courtney commented on May 06 10 at 8:16 pmUm. I lived just a block outside the Elk Grove, CA city limit as a kid and my parents still live there now. It’s overrun with gangs, crime, and empty sub-divisions. 20 years ago it was a field. Who decided this?!?! I would never raise kids there!
courtney commented on May 06 10 at 8:18 pmOn second thought, it makes sense if Number of Mothers was a criteria: there are probably a jillion teenage mothers.
E commented on May 07 10 at 7:28 amThis list and its criteria are ridiculous. From what I can tell it’s just a way to advertise for some restaurants.
PlumbLucky commented on May 07 10 at 8:04 amI’d cheer the fact that Detroit ISN’T on a worst list (OMG!) but it seems the criteria quite flaky.
Granted, we’ve only visited St. Paul, but it seemed extremely young-child friendly when we were there!
Amy commented on May 07 10 at 9:22 amI don’t know how substantial the list is, but, Overland Park is a great city and I am so glad that I moved here. Not only is it a great place for moms, but my stay-at-home dad fiancee has been welcomed with open arms at all of the play groups and library times by all of the stay-at-home moms and was pleased to meet several other SAHD. The school system is amazing and so are the people!
Todd commented on Jun 07 10 at 4:12 amacidently hit a link to this citeon my phone; but it caught my eye. I have to yawn because this study is far from scientific. Oregonmay not have a lot of childcare workers because that could be off set by the fact that we have a ton of RN’s who work 3-12 hour shiftsand can stay home with their children4 days out of the week and make a “livingwage”. Portland is one of the very few cities in the nation that does not have any sort of a nursing shortage.In Portland; you can literally walk less than 10 minutes in any direction and can run into a park to take children. We were so crazy about building parks for children that we we for the longest time, the only city in all of North America to build a park on a volcano. Portland is very diverse in that we have islanders,Asains,Black people, white people, Germans, Russians, Mexicans,Latino’s, etc,. etc., and for the most part everyone gets a long fine.Unemployment is about the national average but Portland has a ton of schools that are accessable to everyone for trainning to obtain a career. Hospitals are abundant here and I would rather receive care here (or my child) than most any other city.Portland is a great city. Big city amentaties but the small town feel.
rerra commented on Oct 13 10 at 5:26 pmSt. Paul? Really? BS. We moved to Minneapolis SPECIFICALLY for our upcoming baby, and I have never gotten such quality care. We commute to St. Paul for our midwives appointments and chose St. Joseph’s hospital for it’s 13% cesarean rate. I’ve read plenty of “best” lists like these, and Minneapolis/St. Paul and their suburbs are ALWAYS at the top of the lists.
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