Irvine Ranked Third Best City in America to Raise a Family

by ICNV Staff

The financial services company WalletHub has released its Best Places to Raise a Family in 2026 list and Irvine is ranked third-best in America. (Actually, we believe that our city is the very best place to raise a family!)

The report compared more than 180 U.S. cities using 45 key metrics across five factors — including family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability, and socioeconomic factors.

Irvine’s abundance of family-friendly activities, world-class medical facilities, quality of education and childcare programs, low crime rate, low divorce rate, high-paying jobs, outstanding parks and trails, and thriving community programs were among the many reasons for the City’s third-best ranking.

“Irvine’s success stems from our enduring commitment to the vision of the City’s original architects, whose foresight shaped the remarkable master-planned community we enjoy today,” Mayor Larry Agran said. “For more than five decades, Irvine’s beautiful village neighborhoods, exceptional schools, safe streets, and abundant parks and open spaces have made our City a destination for families. Having raised my own family here, I know firsthand why Irvine is consistently recognized as one of America’s best places to live and raise a family.”