The Suburbs and Families

Joel Kotkin reports:

High-priced cities like San Francisco have among the lowest percentages of children; Dallas, Phoenix and Charlotte are, comparatively speaking, crawling with the little tykes.

This is not to say amenities don't matter. To be sure, you don't suddenly stop liking art museums, good food and street-level diversity when you hit 30. But priorities change. The desire for cohesive neighborhoods, home ownership, good schools, recreation and proximity to jobs usually trumps the need to be at the center of the action. It's worth noting that the cultural amenities in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston or Charlotte have improved notably. Espresso and art follow good jobs, not the other way around.

The triumph of the suburbs.