Based on numerous factors—income, home affordability, and more—these cities offer the best lifestyle for families
Feb. 12, 2025
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With high rates of homeownership, Salt Lake City is currently ranked as the most affordable major city for families.
Families prioritize different factors when choosing where to live, such as career opportunities, the quality of local schools, and proximity to relatives. But in some metros, families are thriving across the board. A recent study from online lending marketplace LendingTree determined the best—and most affordable—metros for families looking to move. Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati top the list, while Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles rank at the bottom, likely due to their low homeownership rates.
Metros from the same states landed in divergent places. For example, Texas’ Austin landed in sixth and Houston finished 43rd, while Dallas and San Antonio were more middling at 19th and 34th, respectively. From Ohio, Cincinnati came in third, Columbus in 17th and Cleveland in 42nd. However, all four Florida metros in our analysis fell into the bottom half of our list.Read more
