A new report found that a city in Orange County is one of the top places in the U.S. to raise a family.

Personal finance website WalletHub looked at 180 cities across the country, with researchers studying things like housing, the quality of local schools, healthcare and opportunities for fun and recreation.

Irvine was named third best on the list, with the second-lowest violent crime rate per capita as well as the 15th-lowest property crime rate per capita.

The study also found Irvine is a great place for children’s education, with the third-highest percentage of schools with a 7+ out of 10 rating, along with the eighth-highest high school graduation rate.

Irvine also has the tenth-highest share of two-parent families and the second-lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, according to WalletHub.

So which city takes the number one spot? WalletHub says it’s Fremont, California, largely due to economic factors.

The city boasts one of the highest median family incomes, over $137,000 after adjusting the cost of living, as well as the second-lowest share of families living in poverty and the fifth-lowest share receiving food stamps.

In addition, nearly 50% of families in Fremont have children under the age of 18, one of the highest rates in the country.

It also has a high percentage of public schools rated at least a 7 out of 10 and many summer camp opportunities per capita. On top of that, only 1.6% of children lack health insurance, the seventh-lowest percentage in the country, and only 1.1% of the population lacks access to healthy food.

Top 5 Places to Raise a Family in 2026:

1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Irvine, CA
4. Plano, TX
5. Columbia, MD

Two other Southern California cities made the top 20: San Diego at 12 and Huntington Beach at 20. Rancho Cucamonga was 43rd, and Los Angeles ranked 67. (Source: KTLA)

Story Date: May 26, 2026