By Suzanne Blake

Copyright newsweek

Working parents in America have to navigate surging childcare prices and lofty education costs, but some metropolitan areas offer better circumstances for raising kids than others.

A new report from CoworkingCafe ranked the best cities for working parents in America, and Washington D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, stood out for their overall appeal to parents.

Why It Matters

The price of raising a child has been surging in recent years, with some estimates going as high as $310,000 for a middle-income family raising two children.

Working parents have to navigate career priorities as well as larger issues like cost of living, education quality and safety for their children, all dramatically impacted by the exact metro they live in.

What To Know

In the 2025 ranking of 100 cities based on career opportunities, childcare and education, and health and environment, Washington, DC; Arlington, Virginia; Seattle; Miami, and Frisco, Texas, claimed the top five spots for working parents.

In D.C., 83 percent of jobs are in office-based industries and nearly 30 percent of the workforce is remote-ready. Meanwhile, Arlington boasted 0.85 coworking spaces per square mile, which was one of the highest rates in the U.S.

Seattle, the third ranking city, stood out for the roughly one third of jobs that are remote. Families also can enjoy 8.6 acres of green space per 1,000 residents, which is double the amount found in many larger cities.

In its report, Coworking Cafe said that Miami has more affordable childcare than other major cities, making it easier for families to stay on budget. It also said that 34 percent of residents in Frisco work remotely, one of the highest rates nationwide, giving parents a real opportunity to have a work-life balance.

“Of course, there are other factors parents look for, including healthcare, open spaces, and other amenities that make locations like Scottsdale and Frisco more attractive,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. “At the end of the day, it’s all about what experience you want your children to grow up on.”

What People Are Saying

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “While some may be surprised to see so many high cost-of-living cities dominating the list, the reality is many of these locations also offer more robust, high-income job opportunities for parents and adequate childcare options. The cost of care and education for children has escalated substantially in recent years, and having both a good paying job and the resources to match in places like Washington, D.C. is pivotal for many parents.”

Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “This report presents a glaring divide as to where the jobs are actually located, as you can see the map is entirely empty through the center of the country. This is representative of what is often bandied about as many of the states not represented do not offer competitive wages, although the cost of living may be drastically lower.”

Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “The surprise to me isn’t what ranked high, but what the report accidentally reveals about our broken assumptions. Everyone fixates on D.C. and Seattle topping the list, but here’s the tell: Plano, Texas families spend only 10 percent of household income on childcare while Seattle’s at 18 percent. That’s nearly double. So ask yourself… What’s more valuable, remote work opportunities or keeping an extra $15,000 a year in your pocket?”

What Happens Next?

Ryan warned that the report may over-rely on remote work opportunities and lower commute times rather than focusing on the median income to childcare.

“The supposed ‘best’ city might be bleeding you dry while you commute less,” he said. “Bottom line, before you uproot for a top-ranked city, run your own numbers. A lower-ranked city where childcare costs half as much might actually double your family’s financial security.”