Irvine is one of the best cities to raise a family in the U.S., according to a recent WalletHub report.
On Tuesday, WalletHub detailed some of the best and worst cities to raise a family in the country, with Irvine placing in the top three, behind Overland Park, Kansas, and Fremont, located in the Bay Area.
The report compared more than 180 cities, considering the cost of housing in the area and the quality of local schools, along with analysis of the healthcare system in place.
“Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained,” Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, said.
“On top of all of these factors, people also often want to raise their children close to their extended family. Therefore, current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive of their family,” she added.
Los Angeles found itself at the No. 85 spot, ranking below other California cities like San Francisco and San Diego.
San Diego was ranked at No. 8 and San Francisco was ranked at No. 12, giving California a total of four cities in the top 15.
According to WalletHub, the worst city to raise a family is Memphis, Tennessee.
Other findings of the reported showed Irvine ranking as the 20th-lowest property crime rate per capita and the third lowest divorce rate in the country.
Irvine ranks tenth in the highest share of families with children under 18 years old, which includes a recent 11-year-old graduate from Irvine Valley College.
