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GOBankingRates
The Cost To Raise a Child in the 20 Cheapest US Cities in 2024
By Nicole Spector,
4 hours ago
Liderina / Getty Images
Raising children in the United States is an expensive feat. According to the Institute for Family Studies, which cited data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a middle-income family of four is expected to pay $233,610 per child from birth to age 18. This number leaps to $310,605 when calculated using an adjusted inflation rate for 2022 of 4%.
Given the steep expenses associated with raising a child in the U.S., many younger Americans are opting out of parenthood.
Though you won’t find a city anywhere in the U.S. where raising a kid is “free,” you can find many where, compared to other cities, it’s more affordable. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cheapest cities across the nation to find the cost of raising children in the 20 cheapest metros.
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,627
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,904
18. Jackson, Minnesota
Livability: 77
Average single home value: $190,907
Household mean income: $72,101
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,736
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,817
17. Roseau, Minnesota
Livability: 77
Average single home value: $235,461
Household mean income: $78,766
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $42,705
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,909
16. Fostoria, Ohio
Livability: 74
Average single home value: $133,717
Household mean income: $63,606
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,852
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,961
15. Marion, Indiana
Livability: 64
Average single home value: $121,371
Household mean income: $55,249
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,017
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,522
14. Vincennes, Indiana
Livability: 71
Average single home value: $155,727
Household mean income: $66,604
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,275
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,746
13. Bellevue, Ohio
Livability: 77
Average single home value: $171,848
Household mean income: $79,685
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $35,017
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,522
12. Fairmont, Minnesota
Livability: 68
Average single home value: $164,418
Household mean income: $75,831
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,831
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,688
11. Upland, Indiana
Livability: 78
Average single home value: $216,744
Household mean income: $80,080
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $41,341
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,519
10. Tiffin, Ohio
Livability: 83
Average single home value: $174,239
Household mean income: $67,079
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $38,422
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,922
9. Clyde, Ohio
Livability: 73
Average single home value: $188,137
Household mean income: $67,466
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,319
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,789
8. Stuttgart, Arkansas
Livability: 62
Average single home value: $109,341
Household mean income: $66,083
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $34,020
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,612
7. Clovis, New Mexico
Livability: 58
Average single home value: $167,901
Household mean income: $68,851
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,858
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,608
6. Portland, Indiana
Livability: 69
Average single home value: $153,734
Household mean income: $60,100
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $36,903
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,563
5. Montevideo, Minnesota
Livability: 77
Average single home value: $209,662
Household mean income: $62,365
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $40,655
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,849
4. Benson, Minnesota
Livability: 74
Average single home value: $168,867
Household mean income: $74,999
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,777
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,761
3. Fremont, Ohio
Livability: 76
Average single home value: $162,678
Household mean income: $60,604
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $37,344
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,749
2. Worthington, Minnesota
Livability: 76
Average single home value: $225,945
Household mean income: $71,854
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $41,584
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,684
1. Morris, Minnesota
Livability: 69
Average single home value: $201,619
Household mean income: $88,920
Total cost of living, annually, with kids: $39,838
Total annual cost to raise a child: $4,733
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cheapest cities in the United States to find the cost of raising children. First, GOBankingRates found the cheapest cities by using the overall cost of living index as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. The cities had to have all data points available and have a population of at least 2,500 people. The cities with the lowest cost of living indexes were kept for this study, representing the cheapest cities in the United States. A number of factors were found including; total population, total households, median household income and mean household income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each city, the average expenditure costs can be calculated using the national average expenditure costs for a couple with children and for a couple without children. The average single family home value was found using the Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% down payment, and using the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs the average cost of living can be calculated. The difference in expenditure costs between a couple without children and a couple with children can be calculated to represent the additional costs a couple take on when having children versus not having children. The cities are sorted to show the cheapest expenditure cost of living places first, representing the cheapest cities in the United States. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 6, 2024.
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