Money Makers - Best Cities for Working Moms

 CoworkingCafe launched a new study focusing on the Best Metro Areas for Working Moms in 2026.

The study analyzed 143 U.S. metro areas across three population brackets — large (+1M pop.), mid-sized (500K-1M pop.) and small metros (300K-500K) — ranking them based on 14 key metrics related to work, education, health and environment — including remote work, income, childcare, schools, pediatric care and coworking access.

Of the roughly 33 million U.S. mothers with children under 18, 74% are employed — a rate that has climbed nearly every year since 2015. The geography of working motherhood skews decisively Midwestern and Northeastern, with metros that pair strong labor participation with moderate costs consistently outperforming higher-paying coastal counterparts.

Key national benchmarks: working moms earn a median income of $49,400; 16% primarily work from home (vs. 13% for all workers); 71% hold employer-based health insurance; the average commute is 25.9 minutes; and 9% are self-employed — a record high.

These are the top metros for working moms by population bracket:

• Large metros: Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN leads with an 84% moms employment ratio, 25% working from home, and a $60,000 median income. Denver, CO, posts the second highest remote work share at 27% and the study's highest coworking density (9.4 per 100K working-age residents). St. Louis, MO, rounds out the top three with 78% employer-based healthcare coverage and childcare costs at just 10% of median family income.
• Mid-sized metros: Portland, ME, posts the highest share for self-employment at 15%  —and a median Air Quality Index of 41. Des Moines, IA, stands out on affordability, with childcare costs consuming just 7% of median family income  — the lowest in the study — and an 84% moms employment share. Albany, NY, claims third with the bracket's top income at $66,000.
• Small metros: Santa Rosa, CA, leads with the best Air Quality Index of 9, a $60,000 median income, and 963 childcare providers per 100K children. Ann Arbor, MI, follows with an 81% moms employment ratio and $61,000 median income. Lansing, MI, takes third spot with 854 childcare providers per 100K children and a 20.8-minute average commute.

You can explore the full findings and methodology here: https://www.coworkingcafe.com/blog/best-cities-for-working-moms/