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Major Cities See Lower Birth Rate Than U.S. Average – 2024 Study

Updated on
Written by Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
Edited by Arturo Conde, CEPF®
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Jobs and other incentives have driven people in and out of cities for decades. But local economies can also be affected by birth rates and the size of families. From medical facilities and schools, to other institutions and businesses, these two factors can influence both job and housing markets.

With this in mind, SmartAsset examined Census data for 37 of the largest U.S. cities to determine where birth rates and family sizes are highest and lowest.

Key Findings

  • The birth rate in major U.S. cities is lower than the national average. Across all locations, the average rate of women aged 15 to 50 having a child in 2022 is 5.2%, compared to 5.0% in major cities. However, the average family size across the U.S. is 3.11, compared to 3.15 in major cities.
  • Of all major U.S. cities, Indianapolis has the highest birth rate. Just over 6.5% of women between the ages of 15 and 50 gave birth, making Indianapolis the city where people are having the most children. This is an increase from the year before, when 5.8% of women between 15 and 50 had a child. Meanwhile, the average family size dropped from 3.24 in 2021 to 3.12 in 2022.
  • Texas cities dominate the top 10 for highest birth rates. Four Texas cities rank for highest birth rates, including Dallas in second at 6.3%; El Paso (fifth, 5.9%); San Antonio (sixth, 5.8%); and Houston (eighth, 5.6%). Fort Worth, El Paso and San Antonio also rank among the top 10 for largest family size with averages of 3.39, 3.38 and 3.34 respectively.
  • Families are largest in this city. On average, families in Fresno, CA consist of 3.61 people, which is above the 3.14 median across major cities. The birth rate here is fourth-highest studywide at 5.9%, after coming down from 6.5% just a year before.
  • Seattle is the least family-oriented major U.S. city. Seattle has both the lowest birth rate at 2.6%, as well as the smallest family size at 2.78 people per family. Milwaukee (3.2%) and Boston (3.4%) have the second- and third-lowest birth rates.
  • Despite a small family size, the birth rate cracks the top 10 in this city. Nashville has the second-smallest average family size out of major U.S. cities at 2.85 people. Despite this, the city ranked with the 10th-highest birth rate at 5.5%. 

10 Major U.S. Cities With the Highest Birth Rates

Cities are ranked by the percent of women aged 15 to 50 who birthed a child in 2022 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

  1. Indianapolis, IN
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.12
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 222,497
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 14,482
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 6.5%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.24
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 223,981
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 12,950
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 5.8%
  1. Dallas, TX
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.30
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 348,616
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 21,862
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 6.3%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.30
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 334,151
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 20,503
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 6.1%
  1. Las Vegas, NV
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.33
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 154,144
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 9,477
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 6.1%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.26
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 150,398
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 6,570
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.4%
  1. Fresno, CA
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.61
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 134,334
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 7,955
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.9%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.65
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 137,326
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 8,860
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 6.5%
  1. El Paso, TX
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.38
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 165,451
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 9,757
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.9%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.32
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 166,749
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 11,296
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 6.8%
  1. San Antonio, TX
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.34
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 375,866
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 21,850
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.8%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.25
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 376,676
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 21,617
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 5.7%
  1. Oklahoma City, OK
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.14
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 179,663
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 10,374
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.8%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.12
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 171,752
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 8,379
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.9%
  1. Houston, TX
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.14
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 610,618
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 34,250
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.6%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.16
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 612,704
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 36,192
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 5.9%
  1. Columbus, OH
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.03
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 250,708
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 14,009
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.6%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.00
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 249,550
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 14,458
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 5.8%
  1. Nashville, TN
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.85
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 189,377
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 10,507
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 5.5%
  • Average family size, 2021: 2.84
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 189,037
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 10,500
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 5.6%

10 Major U.S. Cities With the Lowest Birth Rates

Cities are ranked by the percent of women aged 15 to 50 who birthed a child in 2022 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

  1. Seattle, WA
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.78
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 219,609
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 5,760
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 2.6%
  • Average family size, 2021: 2.75
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 218,807
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 7,485
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 3.4%
  1. Milwaukee, WI
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.36
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 152,311
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 4,848
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 3.2%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.18
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 155,828
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 7,648
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.9%
  1. Boston, MA
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.90
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 199,435
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 6,760
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 3.4%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.09
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 199,696
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 6,974
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 3.5%
  1. Portland, OR
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.92
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 176,930
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 6,239
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 3.5%
  • Average family size, 2021: 2.91
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 181,433
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 4,908
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 2.7%
  1. Austin, TX
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.88
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 285,094
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 10,736
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 3.8%
  • Average family size, 2021: 2.94
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 281,594
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 12,540
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.5%
  1. San Diego, CA
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.15
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 362,133
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 14,666
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 4.0%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.27
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 358,444
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 15,293
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.3%
  1. Washington, DC
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.02
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 202,248
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 8,309
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 4.1%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.03
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 200,232
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 7,874
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 3.9%
  1. Denver, CO
  • Average family size, 2022: 2.96
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 203,692
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 8,490
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 4.2%
  • Average family size, 2021: 2.98
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 203,324
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 7,708
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 3.8%
  1. Los Angeles, CA
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.35
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 989,408
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 41,703
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 4.2%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.44
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 1,003,660
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 42,460
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.2%
  1. Chicago, IL
  • Average family size, 2022: 3.17
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2022: 727,723
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2022: 30,946
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2022: 4.3%
  • Average family size, 2021: 3.26
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 in 2021: 730,136
  • Number of women aged 15 to 50 years who had a birth in 2021: 33,023
  • Percent of women aged 15-50 who had a child in 2021: 4.5%

Data and Methodology

To determine the birth rate, SmartAsset used the most recently available Census Bureau data for 2022 and 2021. For 37 of the largest U.S. cities for which data was available, the number of women aged 15 to 50 who had a baby in the past 12 months was compared against the total number of women aged 15 to 50. Average family size was also considered.

Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

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