Frisco Tops Study of Best U.S. Cities for Kids
Families choosing a city can compare childhood well-being scores, with Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit ranking lowest in the study.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Child Care
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ProCare Therapy published a study ranking the 100 biggest U.S. cities for childhood well-being, with Frisco, Texas earning the top score of 89.8 out of 100. The study weighs indicators such as chronic absenteeism, child poverty, and park access, and it places Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit at the bottom.
Why it matters
For families weighing where to raise children, the rankings offer a side-by-side view of schools, poverty levels, and neighborhood amenities that can shape daily life and long-term child development. The study arrives as parents across the country compare cost of living against the everyday conditions their kids will actually experience.
Frisco, Texas tops the study with a Childhood Well-being Score of 89.8 out of 100, while Plano, Texas and Irvine, California rank second and third. Frisco's third-grade reading proficiency of 89.4 percent is the highest in the study, and Frisco also falls into the lowest category for lead-exposure risk.
The players
ProCare Therapy
A therapy services company that published the Best U.S. Cities for Children to Thrive study.
The details
The study looked at the 100 biggest U.S. cities across key childhood indicators, including chronic absenteeism, child poverty, lead exposure, reading proficiency, and park access. Those factors feed into a single Childhood Well-being Score, which produces the ranking from top to bottom.
Timeline
The study's rankings were published with an article dated November 1, 2026.
The Home Front
The study's indicators, such as chronic absenteeism and child poverty, track conditions that families weigh alongside housing costs when choosing a metro area. Frisco, Plano, and Irvine appear at the top of this single ranking, while Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit appear at the bottom.
If you are considering a move with children, compare school absenteeism, neighborhood poverty rates, and access to parks alongside housing costs in the cities you are weighing. Ask local school districts and city offices for current figures, since the study's indicators can change year to year.
The takeaway
Childhood well-being varies widely across large U.S. cities, and the gap between the top and bottom of this ranking is substantial. Before choosing a city, check local school attendance and child-poverty data directly with the district or city.
Further reading
For more on the services that support children in these communities, browse our Child Care coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Al.
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