What This Story Is About
- A new study found Memphis and the Nashville metro are among the two most affordable major U.S. metros for raising a child in 2026.
Why It Matters
- Even though Tennessee metros ranked as relatively affordable nationally, child care and other child-related expenses remain a major burden for many families. Previous reporting found child care alone can take up nearly 20% of an average Tennessee family’s income.
For Context
- The study looked at the cost of raising a small child in a two-working-adult household. It included child care, food and other expenses. Nationally, costs varied widely, from less than $20,000 in Memphis to more than $43,000 in the San Francisco metro.
Catch Up
- WSMV4 previously reported that Tennessee parents are paying more for daycare than in-state college tuition, with average child care costs around $14,000 per child annually.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A new SmartAsset study ranks two Tennessee metros among the most affordable major areas in the country for raising a child.
SmartAsset analyzed 48 major U.S. metro areas to estimate the annual cost of raising a small child in a household with two working adults, including costs such as child care, food, medical care, housing and other necessities.
According to the study, Memphis ranked as the least expensive major metro in the country for raising a child, with an estimated annual cost of $19,922. That is up $1,245 from 2025…