Family life
Raising children in Dallas is surprisingly affordable, study finds
Raising a family in Dallas-Fort Worth is much more affordable than in most other American cities.
For those considering starting a family, it's important to know the financial realities of raising a child. In Dallas-Fort Worth- Arlington, the annual costs of raising just one child can add up to nearly $22,000 per year.
That's according to a new annual report by SmartAsset that examined the costs of childcare across 50 of the biggest metropolitan areas in America.
DFW's total figure of $21,926 may seem like a high price tag, but raising a child in Dallas is actually more affordable than in most other U.S. metros: DFW came in at No. 16 on the list for the lowest yearly childrearing costs out of all 50 cities in the report.
According to the report, two of the biggest expenses for families in Dallas are:
- $10,396 for childcare
- $3,002 for additional housing
Compare that to than Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts, which came in at No. 1 with the highest annual cost for raising a child: $37,758. The national average is $25,181 per year.
"Understanding the costs associated with raising a child is essential, not only for personal financial planning but also for shaping public policies that support family well-being," the report's author wrote. "But the costs for childcare, additional housing, food, medical necessities, and other expenses vary widely, with the total price tag adding up much higher in some places."
Childcare costs around Texas
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown leads as the most expensive metro area in Texas for raising a child, with annual costs adding up to $22,406. The report doesn't go in depth to explain how it came up with that amount, but it does specify that childcare costs are $10,247 per year, with $3,485 dedicated to "additional housing."
Other cities in Texas did better: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land came out to $21,396, and San Antonio-New Braunfels' childcare costs were slightly less expensive, at $21,014 yearly.
To determine the rankings, SmartAsset compared the annual costs of a household with two working adults and one child to the annual costs of a childless household with two working adults. The MIT Living Wage Calculator was used to determine the cost of each city's medical expenses, transportation, food, and more. Notably, costs for schooling were not specified.
