Housing News

The 10 Best Cities for Women in 2024

September 26, 2024

Ladies looking for a new place to live may want to consider moving to the area near the nation’s capital.

That’s because Columbia, Md., located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. was recently named the best city for women in a recent WalletHub report.

“The best cities for women offer job security and high pay, enabling women to achieve greater financial independence,” said WalletHub analyst Christie Matherne in a statement. “They also prioritize safety, provide easily accessible medical care, and have high-quality hospitals, contributing to the best possible physical and mental health for women.”

It’s important to note that trans and non-binary individuals also benefit from the resources and structures that support what are historically considered to be “women’s” needs.

These are things that many consider as they choose where to live. In 2023, single women made up 19% of all homebuyers compared to 10% of single men, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Women were “one of the most significant growth markets,” in the nation’s economy in 2023, controlling more than $10 trillion in assets, according to the World Economic Forum.

Columbia ranked third in women’s economic and social well-being and third in women’s health care and safety, according to the report.

It also had the highest median annual wages for women (adjusted for cost of living), at $59,230 and the 12th-lowest poverty rate for women in the country at 8.9%. Nearly a quarter (24%) of businesses in Columbia were woman-owned.

In addition, the city was rated highly for women’s health with the 10th-best life expectancy for women at birth. It also had one of the highest shares of women receiving timely medical screenings, such as mammograms, in the country.

Columbia isn’t the only place where women may want to look for a home. Five of the top 10 cities were in California. The city of Fremont came in at No. 2, followed by Huntington Beach, at No. 3; Irvine, at No. 4; San Francisco, at No. 5; and Santa Clarita, at No. 6.

WalletHub ranked the top 10 cities for women by comparing 182 cities using 15 metrics that looked at women’s economic and social well-being and women’s health care and safety. This included things like the median earnings for female workers, the unemployment rate for women, and the female life expectancy at birth.

“Living in the right city can significantly improve a woman’s economic status, health, and safety,” said Matherne.

What should women look for when looking at cities to live in?

When choosing a place to live, women may want to focus on their personal goals, community support, economic opportunities as well as access to healthcare, according to experts.

“Where to live is a very personal decision,” said Miriam Liss in a statement. She is the chair of the psychological science department at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. “One important consideration for women moving to a new community is the availability of opportunities to forge connections with others.”

Those thinking of relocating may also want to check who’s in charge in prospective cities.

“Generally speaking, cities where there is women’s leadership are going to have more services and resources for women,” Monica Taylor, director of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., said in a statement. “There are going to be efforts to prevent gender violence and sexual harassment for all people regardless of one’s gender.”