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What's up Chicago!!!

Nope. Closest one is four hours away.

You'd think Detroit would be on there.

Yep, another Chicagoan here!

Interesting!

Wow. I used to live in #7 when DD1 was brand new, now we are right in between cities #7 and #9. Very interesting

We live in Portland, Oregon (on the list). That's VERY odd to me that Portland would be on this worst list. We have one of the warmest, biggest birthing communities. So many options (and with a lot of women using midwifery care, the cost is very low). We also have an amazing teaching hospital with a BEAUTIFUL birthing program.

Couple all of that with a ton of community events, lots of parks, mama groups, the small town feel ... My mind is blown!

Portland fo' life!!

My kid will be poor, they might as well get used to it. And yes, I'm top 5 on that list. Forbes also ranked us the #10 best city for raising a family. So maybe we aren't THAT bad

Nope! Chicago is 5 hours away, Hagerstown is more like 9 hours away.

@Vegmama: This is why I don't understand Chicago being on the list. We have Prentice Women's Hospital where a lot of women deliver. There's tons of mom's groups around the city as well as parks. I know that childcare is expensive and CPS sucks, but it's still really fun to raise LO in a Chicago neighborhood.

We live 45* minutes away from one listed. DH commutes there daily for work...his commute is more like 1.5-2 hr though.

* on a Sunday at 7 in the morning.

yep, #14! But I had my son in one of the best hospitals in the country, and it's less than a mile from our house (with at least 4 playgrounds and splashpads in between).
But we are struggling with how we're going to afford daycare soon (DH is going to work a few days out of the home this winter).

My birthplace (where I was born) is #5

No. We are in a very baby friendly area

Yup - good ole' NYC. #1. This should be fun

We used to live in #3 (LO was born there) but recently moved out of there to the 'burbs in the OC and it's sooooooo much better/nicer. I do miss all the yummy foodie restaurants in the city though!

Yup! I live somewhere ranked very high on this list. It's very expensive here, and the job market in the immediate area is poor, but that's to be expected in a beach town. That being said, I'm surprised. I do love it here, and think its an excellent, vibrant community for kiddos.

Nope. One of the few "worst of" lists that Philadelphia ISN'T on!

I dunno - this list seems pretty suspect to me. Sounds like it's strictly based on number$, and not all the other things you have to take into consideration in whether a place is "good" to raise a kid in. Yeah, NYC is hella expensive, most cities are; but that doesn't mean its a terrible place to raise a kid. What about all the museums? All the cultural events that take place every day? The plays and musicals? The food and culture you can expose your child to from day 1?!

@yoursilverlining: Agreed. I find many of these hard to believe.

I live right in the middle of two of the counties/cities listed. I think my county is one of the best in the world! But I would NEVER live in either of the two listed. Just my opinion....