Fresno ranks as one of the worst cities in America to raise kids, according to study

Fresno is considered one of the worst places in the United States to raise a child, according to a new study from Brandeis University.

In fact, Fresno ranked as the second-worst metro area in America to raise children based on the Child Opportunity Index (COI).

The only city throughout the country considered worse than Fresno: Bakersfield.

The study measures and maps the quality of resources and conditions that allow children to reach their full potential.

For example, does the area have good early childhood education centers and schools, green spaces, access to healthy food and low poverty?

In all, the COI examines a range of 29 factors that contribute to healthy child development, such as education, health, environment and economic conditions.

The COI score for a given metro area summarizes the neighborhood opportunity experienced by the typical child in that metro.

Fresno scored a 21. Bakersfield had a 20.

Madison, Wis., rated the highest with a score of 83, followed by San Jose at 82, and Bridgeport, Conn., and Des Moines, Iowa, at 81 each.

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 12:06 AM.