Magazine names best cities for working mothers
December 7, 2011
Moms looking for a great place to call home while raising a family and working may want to look at Forbes magazine's recently released list of the best cities for working mothers.
The publication took several factors into account when compiling the list including job opportunities, high earning potential, cost of living, safety, healthcare, average commuting time, education and cost of childcare.
Topping the list is Buffalo, New York.
"Jobless levels in the upstate region are lower than they are in 70 percent of the nation's biggest metro areas, and wages, which had been stagnant in 2008 and 2009 saw new momentum last year," Forbes writes of the top-ranked city. "Pair all that with lower than average crime rates, a low cost of living and the highest per-pupil expenditure of any city on our list, and it’s clear Buffalo is an attractive locale for savvy working mothers."
Other cities making this year's top ten list include Columbus, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Richmond, Virginia; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio.
New York City, which was rated by the magazine as the best city for working mothers in 2010, dropped to number 20 on the list this year.
Among the places at the bottom of the list include Riverside, California; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Houston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Sin City is home to the second highest violent crime rate in the country and the highest unemployment rate on our list at 14.4 percent as of August 2011. Not surprisingly, the town best known for risk is among the worst in the country for number of physicians to population ratio," the magazine stated.
A college education has been shown to boost earning potential no matter where you live. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2010 individuals with a bachelor's degree made an average of $1,038 per week, compared to $767 per week for those with an associate's degree, $712 per week for those with some college (but no degree) and $626 per week for those with a high school diploma.
Moms looking to pursue their dream career while supporting their families can go back to college to do so with the help of single mother scholarships, grants for parents and other financial aid.
