CoworkingCafe’s latest study shows why Scottsdale ranks among 15 best cities for working parents:

  • 5th highest share of remote workers: 29%; 
  • 5th highest share of office jobs: 83%; 
  • 2nd most green spaces nationwide: 144 acres per 1,000 people; 
  • 14th highest density of public schools in the U.S.: 188 per 100,000 children; 
  • Arizona’s best place for working parents, surpassing other major cities like Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Phoenix. 

“The bigger picture is that housing and work infrastructure are converging,” said Kimberly K Merriman, Ph.D., professor, The Robert J. Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell for CoworkingCafe. “When families can live near good schools and reliable childcare — and also access professional workplaces nearby — the city itself becomes more navigable and humanistic. Parents do not just evaluate cost of living anymore. They evaluate time and stress load. Cities that invest in both abundant, well-located housing and distributed coworking or hybrid work infrastructure are sending a strong signal that they understand the realities of modern working families, and they are designing for them.” 

Key Takeaways for Parents

  • Career Capitals: Neighbors Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA, form the leading power duo for parents seeking stability and hybrid flexibility.
  • Affordable All-Stars: Miami, FL, and Frisco, TX, prove that family budgets can stretch further without giving up opportunity.
  • Smart Starts: Boston, MA; New York, NY; and Richmond, VA, shine with strong schools, big investments in education and diverse learning options.
  • Room to Breathe: We weighed green space, clean air, healthcare access alongside jobs and schools, with Anchorage, AK; Scottsdale, AZ; and Madison, WI; emerging as top cities for health and environment.

Raising children while building a career is often a delicate balancing act, but, in some cities, the scales tip more in parents’ favor. Our 2025 ranking analyzed nearly 100 cities across three verticals — career opportunities; childcare and education; and health and environment. The results reveal the places where working parents can truly thrive by combining strong job markets; top-tier schools; and healthier, more balanced lifestyles. From major hubs with powerful economies to fast-growing suburban communities, the best cities prove that professional success and family wellbeing don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

LOCAL NEWS: 10 things you may not know are manufactured in Arizona

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

Texas and Arizona Excel in Childcare Affordability

Childcare costs are often the single biggest stressor for working parents, and this is where Texas stands out for offering more affordable options: An incredible nine Texas cities rank in the national top 20 for childcare affordability, making the Lone Star State a clear leader in easing one of the toughest costs that families are facing.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which has emerged as a true hotspot. Specifically, DFW suburb Frisco, TX, leads the nation with childcare representing only 7% of the median household income (less than half of what parents typically pay in big metros, like New York or San Francisco). But Frisco isn’t alone in this area: Plano, Irving and Garland also make the top 20, meaning four of the nine Texas cities on our list are concentrated in the same metro. That concentration says a lot about the strength of DFW’s local economies and the way families here are finding real relief.

Beyond the metroplex, other Texas cities shine, as well, with Laredo (4th), El Paso (6th), Corpus Christi (8th), Lubbock (13th) and Austin (16th) — places that consistently combine strong household incomes with relatively accessible childcare. For parents, that translates into thousands of dollars saved each year and a little more breathing room in the family budget. In many cases, this balance is supported by local efforts to keep childcare affordable, from city subsidies to community-based programs, alongside strong local economies that boost earnings.

Further west, the Phoenix suburbs of Gilbert, Scottsdale and Chandler secure their spots in the national top for childcare affordability with weekly costs averaging $230, or only 10% to 13% of local median household incomes, which is well below the national level. Combined with abundant public schools; strong office and remote job bases; and access to coworking spaces, these communities offer families a mix of affordability, career flexibility and quality of life. Scottsdale adds the edge of more coworking and green space; Gilbert stands out with the highest number of schools; and Chandler balances affordability with proximity to major employers.

Not to be outdone, Santa Clarita, CA, and Virginia Beach, VA, round out the top 10. Santa Clarita stands out with high household incomes ($119,926), but faces steeper childcare costs of $234 per week, which is among the priciest in the group. Virginia Beach balances more moderate childcare costs ($201 per week) with one of the strongest school networks (89 public schools) and above-average per-student spending.

Together, these cities highlight how local economies, income levels and policy environments converge to ease the financial burden of childcare.