The U.S. Cities With the Most Children

Governing magazine digs into the data about which cities American families are more likely to call home.

1 minute read

November 18, 2015, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Mike Maciag shares the results of a survey of U.S. cities to show which cities are home to the most families. Maciag used data from the Census Bureau that reports the estimated share of household with children under age 18. Across the nation, that share has declined over the past decade, says Maciag, but children currently live in 32 percent of U.S. households.

Families with children make up more than half the households in only two jurisdictions in the top 100 most populated cities in the country: Laredo, Texas and Santa Ana, California. "Nearly all cities where [children are] most prevalent are found in California, Texas and Arizona," adds Maciag.

Helpfully, Maciag also breaks down the data into groups of jurisdictions with similar densities, allowing easy comparison of cities like New York and Chicago or San Diego and Denver, among many, many others.

Maciag shares links to some of the commentary on the trends for younger families living in families versus suburbs, as well as some of the demographic conclusions the data offers in different examples. So, for instance, the number of children living in New York offers different lessons than the number of children living in Atlanta. 

Friday, November 13, 2015 in Governing

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

3 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

4 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Western coyote looking at camera in grassy field.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes

San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.

5 hours ago - Fox 5