10 Best Cities In America For Black Families To Live 2026
5. San Antonio, Texas Is Surprisingly Diverse
San Antonio is home of the Alamo, the battle that revolutionized the state of Texas, but it is also a good place for Black families to live in . As one of the biggest cities in the United States, San Antonio is very diverse.
While many of the families are of Hispanic origin, there are also Black families living there and benefiting from the cost of living and quality of life. With such close proximity to and history coming from Mexico, San Antonio is full of Hispanic-influenced food, music and buildings that reflect its heritage.
San Antonio is also full of military families as there are several bases in the surrounding areas. One thing you don’t have to worry about here is entertainment. San Antonio is a major hub for all kinds of festivals, typically hosting over 50 big events each year.
6. Washington, D.C. Values Black Culture
The land of politics, famous monuments, and spring time cherry blossom tree festivals is also one of the most thriving places for Black families in America. The capital of the United States, D.C. may seem like it’s only about policies and laws but it’s another top place for Black families to live.
Although the unemployment rate is only slightly lower than the national average, DC’s employment opportunities are very much alive, making it an excellent competitor with cities of similar sizes. Many are employed by the government but there are also a lot of opportunities in the health and education fields.
The cost of living in D.C. can be very expensive compared to other cities, so that is something to keep in mind. For entertainment, you can take your family on historic tours or drive out to the mountains in Virginia nearby.
7. San Diego, California
Looking to move closer to the west coast? You may want to consider San Diego. At first glance it may seem like another touristy California city but it’s actually one of the best for Black families.
With so many people from different walks of life, San Diego’s diversify scene is alive and well. Did we mention that the weather is nearly perfect, year round?
The only thing a family may want to take into account regarding this beautiful city the cost of living, which is well above the national average. Annual housing costs, for example, are nearly double the national average.
Columbus Ohio has been great to us for over twenty years. We moved here straight out of college before we were married. We’ve now been married 20 years with 2 children. Job opportunities have been amazing,cost of living is low and there are great schools in the suburbs of Columbus. There are always plenty of festivals,concerts and activities. As well as a great Art museum, Science museum and zoo!
Clarissa? I lost contact with a friend who settled in Ohio. Your story sound similar to hers.
I would really like more information about Columbus as far the school system and entrepreneurship for African Americans. Also what are the safest area to live? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Hi! Columbus is a very segregated city with not the best school system. My daughter was in Columbus City Schools for 6 years and it isn’t great. Black folks aren’t treated with the most respect here therefore there aren’t a lot of respected black owned businesses. However we recently moved to an area of Charlotte NC and LOVE it here. I think it’ll be the new Atlanta. Great for raising a family with Raleigh coming in second in my opinion. Hope this helps.
Thank you. This list provided only tells of places that are saturated with African Americans. Charlotte has more successful African Americans.
You are right. I moved to Columbus, Ohio from Florida because I had just graduated from FIU and working as a Fire Dispatcher. That job wrecked my nerves. It was my 7 year old daughter and myself. My cousin lives here and I thought I needed to be closer to family. I never experienced racism like I did here in Ohio. I worked for the police as a dispatcher because moving to another state, you get jobs your have experience in. I was the only black woman working in dispatch and I felt it. It was the first job I quit during my training and I was a very good dispatcher. Here in Ohio they make sure you know you are black and if I sound hurt, it is because I am and very much ready to move. My daughter came home one day from school and told me *****’s parents told her not to play with me because I am black. Where do these people come from? I did not know I would have to talk about skin color with my daughter at that age. Never experienced this in Florida. Cost of living is low and I see beauty around me but I want to live somewhere where my skin color does not determine how I would be treated. I do not like it here and ready to leave.
The cities of Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach, VA. are hiring and seeking more AAs in a highly AA populated metro. Hampton Roads, VA.
I’m so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I’m a black woman and I was thinking about moving there.
Yes, I agree with DW. I went to school in Hampton Roads and definitely did not feel a bit of racism or hear about any for that matter, probably because it’s home to a couple of HBCUs. The cost of living is also pretty cheap so that’s helpful to say the least.
To be perfectly honest, most African Americans will find virtually all locations in the US somewhat challenging for carrying out the basic functions of life. We all know this and I perfectly understand why many of us loathe to accept it. It shouldn’t be this way. This race stuff is like a compressed gas – once the genie was let out of the bottle, it was never going to stop spreading. And if you think it’s just in the US, that would only suggest you haven’t traveled abroad lately. The only saving grace I can see is that our genotype makes us uniquely capable to not only withstand this type of degradation, but to actually thrive within it! I’m an African American male who was born, raised, and educated in the south. Amazingly I was able to escape alive and without a prison record. I now live in Michigan as a retired mechanical engineer and former business owner. My wife, also African American and from the south, is a former officer in the USAF and currently a state auditor. We both can tell stories of amazing racially charged events in our lives that would have, but for the Grace of God, destroyed us and our futures. But we persevered and overcame them, just as you must! I know it’s hard, but you are uniquely qualified to win this thing. Just look at you – young and beautiful! They’re no match for you, no matter how hard they try. Take our advice, hold that head high and do your thing. They only demean you because they’re jealous!
I was born in New Orleans. Will not move there. The youngest of my kids are twins and they attend FIU. I was thinking of moving from Orlando where I was raised to Ohio, but you have changed my mind. Honestly people, Orlando is a great place, very diverse. Everyone is pretty much the same no matter what race or nationality they are. I just want to move somewhere different because my children are all grown and I’m divorced.
@ebony which location? Charlotte?
I currently live in Florida, trying to relocate what are your suggestions?