These are the best US cities for children, according to new data

Where children grow up can shape their opportunities to learn, play and develop, and new data is highlighting the best U.S. cities for their well-being.

The 2026 America's Childhood Well-Being Index, developed by ProCare Therapy, ranked 100 of the largest U.S. cities across five measures linked to children's educational, physical, social and environmental well-being.

The study examines chronic school absenteeism, child poverty, housing-related lead-exposure risk, access to public green space and third-grade reading performance.