The Cost To Raise a Child in the 20 Cheapest US Cities in 2024

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Raising children in the United States is an expensive feat. According to the Institute for Family Studies, which cited data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a middle-income family of four is expected to pay $233,610 per child from birth to age 18. This number leaps to $310,605 when calculated using an adjusted inflation rate for 2022 of 4%.

Given the steep expenses associated with raising a child in the U.S., many younger Americans are opting out of parenthood. 

Though you won’t find a city anywhere in the U.S. where raising a kid is “free,” you can find many where, compared to other cities, it’s more affordable. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cheapest cities across the nation to find the cost of raising children in the 20 cheapest metros. 

You can also check out the 50 safest and most affordable U.S. cities.

20. Windom, Minnesota 

• Livability: 74 
• Average single home value: $179,566  
• Household mean income: $77,083 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $34,197  
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,820 

19. Redwood Falls, Minnesota 

• Livability: 74 
• Average single home value: $159,074 
• Household mean income: $75,274 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,627  
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,904 

18. Jackson, Minnesota 

• Livability: 77 
• Average single home value: $190,907 
• Household mean income: $72,101 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,736 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,817 

17. Roseau, Minnesota

• Livability: 77 
• Average single home value: $235,461  
• Household mean income: $78,766 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $42,705 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,909 

16. Fostoria, Ohio 

• Livability: 74 
• Average single home value: $133,717 
• Household mean income: $63,606 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,852  
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,961 

15. Marion, Indiana 

• Livability: 64 
• Average single home value: $121,371 
• Household mean income: $55,249 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,017 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,522 

14. Vincennes, Indiana 

• Livability: 71 
• Average single home value: $155,727 
• Household mean income: $66,604 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,275 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,746 

13. Bellevue, Ohio

• Livability: 77
• Average single home value: $171,848 
• Household mean income: $79,685 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,017 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,522 

12. Fairmont, Minnesota 

• Livability: 68
• Average single home value: $164,418 
• Household mean income: $75,831 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,831 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,688 

11. Upland, Indiana 

• Livability: 78
• Average single home value: $216,744 
• Household mean income: $80,080 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $41,341 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,519 

10. Tiffin, Ohio 

• Livability: 83
• Average single home value: $174,239 
• Household mean income: $67,079 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $38,422 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,922 

9. Clyde, Ohio 

• Livability: 73
• Average single home value: $188,137 
• Household mean income: $67,466 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,319 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,789 

8. Stuttgart, Arkansas 

• Livability: 62
• Average single home value: $109,341 
• Household mean income: $66,083 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $34,020 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,612 

7. Clovis, New Mexico  

• Livability: 58
• Average single home value: $167,901 
• Household mean income: $68,851 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,858 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,608 

6. Portland, Indiana 

• Livability: 69
• Average single home value: $153,734 
• Household mean income: $60,100 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $36,903 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,563 

5. Montevideo, Minnesota 

• Livability: 77
• Average single home value: $209,662 
• Household mean income: $62,365 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $40,655 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,849 

4. Benson, Minnesota 

• Livability: 74
• Average single home value: $168,867 
• Household mean income: $74,999 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,777 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,761 

3. Fremont, Ohio 

• Livability: 76
• Average single home value: $162,678 
• Household mean income: $60,604  
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,344 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,749 

2. Worthington, Minnesota 

• Livability: 76
• Average single home value: $225,945 
• Household mean income: $71,854 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $41,584 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,684 

1. Morris, Minnesota 

• Livability: 69
• Average single home value: $201,619 
• Household mean income: $88,920 
• Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,838 
• Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,733 

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cheapest cities in the United States to find the cost of raising children. First, GOBankingRates found the cheapest cities by using the overall cost of living index as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. The cities had to have all data points available and have a population of at least 2,500 people. The cities with the lowest cost of living indexes were kept for this study, representing the cheapest cities in the United States. A number of factors were found including; total population, total households, median household income and mean household income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each city, the average expenditure costs can be calculated using the national average expenditure costs for a couple with children and for a couple without children. The average single family home value was found using the Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% down payment, and using the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs the average cost of living can be calculated. The difference in expenditure costs between a couple without children and a couple with children can be calculated to represent the additional costs a couple take on when having children versus not having children. The cities are sorted to show the cheapest expenditure cost of living places first, representing the cheapest cities in the United States. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 6, 2024.

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