Family news
Austin lauded as one of the best U.S. cities for working parents

Austin's childcare is "relatively affordable," according to CoworkingCafe's data.
Austin has been ranked the 15th best U.S. city for working parents in a new study from CoworkingCafe.
The report analyzed career opportunities, childcare affordability, public school quality, and health and environmental factors across 100 U.S. cities. The highest-ranking cities are considered places where "working parents can truly thrive by combining strong job markets; top-tier schools; and healthier, more balanced lifestyles."
Dallas suburb Frisco ranked at an impressive No. 5 nationally, keeping company with more densely populated cities such as Washington, D.C. (No. 1), Arlington, Virginia (No. 2), Seattle, Washington (No. 3), and Miami, Florida (No. 4) in the top five.
CoworkingCafe suggests parents who work from home may have a better opportunity to balance their professional careers with their home lives, though it depends on whether having kids at home is compatible with their type of remote work.
However, the report places Austin is in a league of its own for its extraordinary balance between "strong household incomes" and "relatively accessible childcare."
Childcare costs in Austin add up to about $12,431 per year, which represents 13.6 percent of an Austinite household's median annual income. Austin's childcare costs are much more affordable when compared to larger American cities, too.
"For parents, that translates into thousands of dollars saved each year and a little more breathing room in the family budget," the report's author wrote. "In many cases, this balance is supported by local efforts to keep childcare affordable, from city subsidies to community-based programs, alongside strong local economies that boost earnings."
It also helps that Austin is the No.1 large economic boomtown in the U.S. Additionally, about 27.5 percent of Austin residents work remotely, the report found.
Earlier in 2025, Austin also claimed the No. 13 spot nationally in U.S. News and World Report's ranking of the best places to live for their quality of life, and it was also dubbed the second-cheapest city to live for remote workers in 2024.
The top 10 best American cities for working parents are:
- No. 1 – Washington, D.C.
- No. 2 – Arlington, Virginia
- No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
- No. 4 – Miami, Florida
- No. 5 – Frisco, Texas
- No. 6 – San Francisco, California
- No. 7 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
- No. 8 – Jersey City, New Jersey
- No. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
- No. 10 – Richmond, Virginia

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