The Best Cities for Middle-Class Families in Every State

Choosing where to raise a family is a big decision, and several factors affect the best place for you and your loved ones.

If you are a middle-class family, affordability and cost of living likely play a large role, and you will likely also consider things like the quality of local schools, quality and availability of healthcare, and recreation opportunities.

To find the best cities for middle-class families in every state, GOBankingRates found the most affordable city in each state selected by WalletHub as one of the best cities to raise a family. WalletHub’s ranking scored cities based on 45 metrics that fell into five categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socioeconomics.

Here’s a look at the best cities for middle-class families in every state, based on the city with the best affordability ranking in each state.

• Affordability ranking: 45
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 58.33

• Affordability ranking: 63
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 54.40

• Affordability ranking: 12
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 64.02

• Affordability ranking: 93
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 42.70

• Affordability ranking: 11
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 73.55

• Affordability ranking: 43
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 56.84

• Affordability ranking: 156
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 43.43

• Affordability ranking: 131
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 42.93

• Affordability ranking: 48
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 55.19

• Affordability ranking: 30
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 54.01

• Affordability ranking: 73
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.21

• Affordability ranking: 23
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 63.34

• Affordability ranking: 83
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 54.99

• Affordability ranking: 60
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 48.68

• Affordability ranking: 6
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 58.49

• Affordability ranking: 1
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 70.11

• Affordability ranking: 25
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 58.64

• Affordability ranking: 97
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 42.95

• Affordability ranking: 44
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.63

• Affordability ranking: 2
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 60.81

• Affordability ranking: 102
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 47.39

• Affordability ranking: 41
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 51.88

• Affordability ranking: 3
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 60.81

• Affordability ranking: 158
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 39.90

• Affordability ranking: 46
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 51.60

• Affordability ranking: 27
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 56.41

• Affordability ranking: 16
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 61.80

• Affordability ranking: 62
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.12

• Affordability ranking: 34
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.11

• Affordability ranking: 96
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 55.46

• Affordability ranking: 77
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 46.67

• Affordability ranking: 51
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 48.97

• Affordability ranking: 10
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 55.39

• Affordability ranking: 4
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 62.72

• Affordability ranking: 37
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 53.64

• Affordability ranking: 39
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 54.32

• Affordability ranking: 36
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.82

• Affordability ranking: 22
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 57.89

• Affordability ranking: 20
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 59.81

• Affordability ranking: 24
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 62.53

• Affordability ranking: 18
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 60.88

• Affordability ranking: 53
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 49.53

• Affordability ranking: 7
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 68.05

• Affordability ranking: 40
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 55.27

• Affordability ranking: 33
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 58.56

• Affordability ranking: 31
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 60.31

• Affordability ranking: 8
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 64.14

• Affordability ranking: 35
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 47.66

• Affordability ranking: 5
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 62.18

• Affordability ranking: 21
• Total score (out of a possible 100): 55.72

Data is sourced from WalletHub and is accurate as of May 28, 2024.