Irvine has again received national recognition for its parks, open space and quality of life, with recent accolades highlighting its appeal. The city was ranked second in the nation for parks by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in its 2025 ParkScore Index and recognized as the fourth-best city for families in the U.S. by WalletHub for 2025.
The WalletHub 2025 “Best Cities for Raising a Family” report compared more than 180 U.S. cities using 45 key metrics across five factors: family fun, health & safety, education & child care, affordability, and socio-economics. As the highest ranking city in Southern California and fourth in the U.S., Irvine performed strongly in categories relevant to family well-being. Irvine ranks highly for Education & Child Care, attributed to its public schools and summer learning opportunities. The city also receives high scores in Health & Safety, with low property crime and traffic fatality rates, and has maintained the nation’s lowest violent crime rate per capita for 18 consecutive years. This focus on public safety contributes to Irvine’s appeal for families seeking a secure environment.
Complementing its family-friendly environment, Irvine’s park system maintains a national leadership position. The Trust for Public Land announced Irvine’s ranking at No. 2 in its 2025 ParkScore Index, up from fourth place last year. Irvine’s ParkScore of 84.3 points places it just 1.2 points behind Washington, D.C., which holds the top spot with 85.5 points. This index evaluates park systems based on five categories: access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity. Irvine’s performance includes 94% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, while the city’s investment of $681 per capita annually on publicly accessible parks and recreation is among the highest nationally. This green infrastructure is attributed to Irvine’s master-planned approach, where parks and open spaces were foundational considerations from the city’s inception, a vision maintained through decades of partnership. This planning aims to ensure green spaces serve as vital components of public health, fostering physical activity and community connections.
The rankings reflect Irvine’s long-term vision and strategic investment. The city’s integration of safe neighborhoods, schools and green spaces contributes to an appealing environment for families.
