Nearly 250 people move to the Greater Houston area every single day. Families from across the country are choosing Houston not just for its opportunities, but for its culture, diversity, and affordability. According to WalletHub’s 2024 ranking of the Best Cities to Raise a Family, Houston earned a place on the list—ranking #144 out of 180 cities surveyed.
While that may seem modest at first glance, it’s worth noting that Houston scored exceptionally high in the “Family Fun” category, thanks to its wealth of museums, parks, cultural festivals, and outdoor spaces. From the Houston Zoo to the Children’s Museum and Discovery Green, families have no shortage of ways to spend quality time together. These are the kinds of enriching environments that help children thrive.
Like many growing metro areas, Houston faces challenges in categories like Health & Safety, which lowered its overall score. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. The city continues to invest in community health, public safety initiatives, and infrastructure improvements that support young families. And other rankings tell a more optimistic story—recent studies show that Houston ranks among the most affordable metros for raising children, with strong access to healthcare, education, and career opportunity.
As our region grows, so does the demand for reliable, high-quality early childhood education. Finding the right child care center is one of the most important—and personal—decisions a parent can make. That’s why we’ve created a powerful tool to help parents in the Greater Houston area make informed choices.
Our child care search database allows families to explore providers based on what matters most:
Care options for children with special needs
