Scottsdale, Gilbert 2 Of U.S.'s Best Cities To Raise A Family: Study

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Everyone in the Valley knows that Scottsdale is a coveted place to live, from its nightlife, to its exclusive gated communities with luxurious mansions to its ample shopping options.

But now Scottsdale has been ranked as the No. 10 best city in the country in which to raise a family, according to a new Wallethub study.

For their study, 2022’s Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family, analysts with WalletHub say they ranked 182 major U.S. cities based on 46 key metrics, including housing affordability, the quality of public schools, median income and poverty rate.

Scottsdale ranked 12th in the country for affordability, 39th for child care and education, 64th for health and safety and 53rd for family fun. Scottsdale's booming economy and community wealth helped to contribute to its high rankings on the list.

"Increased availability of community resources and services can improve the quality of life for residents," said Derek Gwinn, Director of Relationship Education, Center for Healthy Relationships; Assistant Professor, John Brown University. "Cities with greater financial strength are often better able to provide these enhancements, which have been associated with continued disparities in educational or occupational achievement between wealthy locales and those with fewer resources.”

Gilbert came in No. 13 on the list, ranking 11th for affordability and 40th for health and safety. Even though it ranked high on the list, Gilbert came in next to last for its number of playgrounds per capita.

Scottsdale and Gilbert tied with several others cities on the list for the highest salaries. Gilbert was third for its percentage of families with young children, while Scottsdale ranked next-to-last. Gilbert also had the 5th-lowest crime rate compared to the other cities on the list, as well as the 5th-lowest poverty rate.

Seven other Arizona cities were included on the list: Chandler was at No. 21, and was 22nd for affordability and 44th for family fun. Peoria came in at No. 49, Phoenix was ranked 103, scoring 8th among cities on the list for family fun, but was at 156 for health and safety and 163 for child care and education. Tempe was No. 106, Mesa was No. 114, Glendale was No. 140 and Tucson came in last among Arizona cities at No. 156, although it ranked 12th for family fun.

Here are WalletHub's top 10 cities to raise a family:

1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Irvine, CA
4. Plano, TX
5. Columbia, MD
6. San Diego, CA
7. Seattle, WA
8. San Jose, CA
9. Madison, WI
10. Scottsdale, AZ

Conversely, here are the 10 lowest-ranking cities on the list:

1. Detroit, MI
2. Cleveland, OH
3. Memphis, TN
4. Birmingham, AL
5. San Bernardino, CA
6. Newark, NJ
7. Fayetteville, NC
8. Shreveport, LA
9. Jackson, MS