The best places to live as a parent

Families all look different, but one thing’s the same regardless of shape and size; yes, being a parent is fabulous, fulfilling, something else beginning with f so this sentence sounds poetic. But, it’s also really, really hard work.

I mean, I wouldn’t know because I hardly look after myself. But my more mature friends who have to think about people other than themselves assure me that it’s hard.

Life’s getting busier and pricier, so it isn’t surprising that a lot of people are relocating in a bid to make parental life a smidge easier.

Taking education, health and safety and quality of life into consideration, here are some of the places you may want to set sail for.

Move your money first

The best places to raise a family

The best places to raise a family in the UK

If you’re UK based you will 100% have seen insurance adverts with little meerkats in waistcoats. If you’re not UK based you probably think this sounds mad. Anyway, the company behind the ads is, of course, Compare the Market and they’ve put together some lovely data on the best places to raise a family in the UK based on the following:

• House prices
• Mortgage interest rates
• Monthly salary averages
• Monthly rent prices
• Job opportunities
• Number of schools
• Number of museums and libraries
• Pollution score
• Crime rate

Thorough. I like it.

Here’s what they found.

1) Edinburgh

In first place we have Edinburgh. And it’s not because the accents are incredibly charming but because the crime rate is low, there’s heaps of cultural activities and it’s mega affordable compared to a lot of the UK.

2) Norwich

In second place…drumroll…Norwich.

It ranks as the safest city for families to live in with the lowest crime rate of them all. Job opportunities are rife and schools are littered all over the city. Littered was not a fab choice of wording, but I’m writing this at 8am on a Wednesday, so please forgive the carelessness.

4) Brighton & Hove

My Mother always said that third place is just king of the losers, but enough about my school sports day trauma. Definitely not a loser, Brighton & Hove comes in third thanks to the lowest pollution level in the UK, it’s by the sea, has the fifth lowest crime rate and the quality of life on offer.

The best places to raise a family in the US

HomeSnacks is a foundation that compiles lots of data on life in America and puts it into easy-to-read articles. This year, they’ve (luckily for me) done a piece on, you guessed it, the best places to raise a family in the US based on:

• Population sizes
• Previous rankings
• Family friendly amenities
• Safety
• Quality of life
• Households with kids
• Health care
• Pollution

1) Vermont

It has the highest health and safety ranking in the US, health care coverage to make you go “omg amazing”, low crime rates and it’s really beautiful, which helps. It also topped the rankings last year too. Consistent. Also…maple syrup.

2) Maine

So the bad news is according to the data Maine is the fourth most boring state to live in. But the good news is, the crime rate is low, the health care coverage is sick in a good way, life expectancy is high, pollution is low and the schooling is notoriously solid. So, boring but safe, like my high school boyfriend. Miss you ❤️

3) New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers up a lot of what you’ve already read above, but with a little bit more fun on the side and an average rent of 1,700 dollars.

The best places to raise a family in Europe

Finally, we’re hitting up European cities. Online learning language platform Preply have also blessed us with some spicy data looking at;

• Education
• Health and safety
• Leisure and lifestyle
• Health care
• Recreational spaces
• Crime rates
• Cost of living

Please, enjoy soaking up the below knowledge.

P.S literally all of the options are sunny ones. YAS.

1) Funchal, Portugal

It’s got fun in the name, which we like. This pretty island of Madeira has the lowest crime rate, lowest air pollution levels, cheapest cost of living and scored second best for health and safety, third for education and seventh for leisure and lifestyle. Nice.

2) Trieste, Italy

The northern Italian city of Trieste has a lot to offer with education, recreational spaces, free healthcare and affordable living costs. Plus…Italy.

3) Lisbon, Portugal

They may not have won Eurovision in a while (six years to be precise, I love Eurovision) but they are CRUSHING these rankings. Clean, fun, affordable, lots of culture, lots to offer in the education sector. Boom.

And that’s that. Now you’ve done your homework, you can tick another to do off your list and set up an international account so you can pay and get paid like a local wherever you go.