Are America’s cities still places where families can build a life?
Children may be one of the clearest measures of a city’s health.
There are two reasons that the Wall Street Journal article examining the loss of kids in big cities jumped to my attention today:
1. The presence of kids suggests that families can imagine a future in a city.
2. We have an urban issue coming out in August.
According to the WSJ, the number of children under 18 living in America’s large cities fell 6 percent from 2015 to 2024. The number of children under 5 fell more than 15 percent. Yet the overall population of those cities grew during the same period.
Some cities are still gaining families, particularly in the Sunbelt. One of the mayoral interviews I did soon to be released at American Habits is with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, which is one of those big cities where they are seeing an increase in kids along with their overall growth.
But many other big cities keep adding adults while losing children. The reasons are pretty familiar: Housing and childcare costs, public safety, schools and the general quality of neighborhood life. Cities have lots for children to do but are more limited by livability factor for many families, particularly in the middle income range.
Of course, American women delaying childbirth is another reason.
Right now I’m reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin, which is pretty good by the way. But Franklin understood population growth as a sign of American vitality. Even back then he saw America as the land of limitless growth and opportunity because of our birth rates compared to Europe. Franklin had a rather progressive view of women for his time but he was likewise reminding them in his correspondence of the importance of having kids and being a mom.
A city can easily boast about new development, trendy restaurants, and a growing tax base. But can a middle-class couple afford a home there? What do the schools look like? Can children play outside in neighborhoods and build community with their peers?
I’ve asked questions about managing growth and whether a city is accessible to the mayors I’ve interviewed but I haven’t yet pointedly asked about the uptick or collapse of children in their communities.
It’s an important question. How much do young families imagine a future in a big city? A successful city should not merely attract young adults. It should give them reasons to stay, raise children and build the next generation.
—Ray Nothstine
— The Federalism Beat