The Shortcomings of 'Family Friendliness' Rankings

Many rankings try to tell parents where the best places are to raise their kids. But measures that focus solely on narrow criteria like safety and schools often ignore the benefits of diverse, vibrant urban environments.

2 minute read

February 17, 2015, 10:00 AM PST

By Josh Stephens @jrstephens310


Children Playing

Lessadar / Shutterstock

All parents want safe neighborhoods, nice parks, and good schools for their kids. But, sometimes, the places that offer those amenities are often lacking in many other attributes that help kids grow up smart, healthy, and happy. The blog Family Friendly Cities takes to task some of the common measures of "family friendliness" and argues that urban environments, which might score low in many categories, are often better for kids than high-scoring suburbs. 

A safe neighborhood would seem to be a prerequisite for family life. But low-crime is not always synonymous with safe. While some neighborhoods may have little violent crime, they may yet be susceptible to the violence of automobile accidents—not to mention the other health effects of auto dependence. In those cases, "what we are likely to find is that many of our beloved and highly ranked sprawl communities wouldn’t rank so highly with their frequent auto collisions, lack of sidewalks and unsafe speed limits."

Low housing costs, and, therefore, the opportunity to live in large spaces would also seem to favor families. But high transportation costs, plus long hours spent in the car, in distant, low-density suburbs can offset what may seem like major savings on rent or mortgages. Similarly, kids in cities can get their education at museums and libraries even if schools are not ranked so highly. And the opportunities for social interaction can be just as valuable for kids as they are for adults. "If we are to truly assess whether a city is child and family friendly then we must acknowledge play and access to play as essential.  This includes proximity to residences and the ability to access a diverse range of opportunities for recreation and play." 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 in Family Friendly Cities

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

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

47 seconds ago - Inside Climate News

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA