Celebrate: Grand Rapids is Michigan’s Best City to Raise a Family
Think of all the beautiful places around Michigan -- now, think of the best places you'd want to raise a family. Maybe Traverse City? Maybe Ann Arbor or Midland?
The best cities to raise a family have been determined for 2023 and it's one that deserves to be on the list.
The "Best city to raise a family in Michigan."
182 U.S. cities were included in the 2023 WalletHub list. Grand Rapids ranked number 79 beating out Detroit which ranked at number 180 of 182. (Memphis, TN and Cleveland, OH only ranked worse.)
Only two Michigan cities were large enough to be included. Would anything change if smaller Michigan cities were considered? Maybe, IMO. We have so many quality, small towns from which to choose raising a family.
Worst MI City to Raise Kids Has Most Playgrounds
How is the best city to raise a family determined?
Their methodology includes rankings from 45 different metrics like cost of housing, quality of schools, health care, real estate, recreation, jobs, etc. Those categories are condensed into the following categories for ranking:
- Family Fun
- Health & Safety
- Education & Child Care
- Affordability
- Socioeconomics
Grand Rapids has a rich cultural and arts community. Education opportunities in the area seem endless around West Michigan. Although, when it comes to raising a family, one interesting stat is Detroit (the worst in Michigan) has more playgrounds per capita than almost all other US cities. Grand Rapids might want to catch up, or not, on that front.
From the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, their public museum to the beautiful Meijer Gardens -- you'll find plenty to do educationally and socially with the family in Grand Rapids.