Shari Rose

The Republic I azcentral.com

Young families looking to settle down in metropolitan parts of the United States are likely to consider Phoenix, which Forbes ranked as the fifth most attractive to families.

As couples in the millennial generation reach their early 30s, they look to cities with large suburban populations and affordable housing, a Forbes study said. The metropolitan areas with the largest growth in families since 2000 are found mostly in the South and Intermountain West.

Nationally, 4,700 more children born were born in 2013, the first yearly increase in six years. Forbes noted Phoenix as having rapid population growth from 2000 to 2010.

The most attractive city for families is Raleigh, N.C., with 55.7 percent rise of children ages 5 to 14 since 2000. Phoenix has a 29.3 percent rise in number of children from 2000 to 2013, reaching 633,123 children in the city.

Forbes chose the 5-14 age range because this is the time when families begin to take a hard look at school quality, housing costs and economic security.

According to Forbes, older suburban zones and densely populated areas have seen large declines in children while family growth continued to climb in more affordable cities. Rates of children in cities, such as Los Angeles and New York have fallen, likely because of high housing prices and crowded suburban neighborhoods.

Most popular U.S. cities for young families:

1. Raleigh (N.C.)

Rise in number of children ages 5 to 14 from 2000-2013: 55.7 percent.

Number of children aged ages 5 to 14 in 2013: 177,886.

Percentage of children ages 5 to 14 in total population in 2013: 14.6 percent.

2. Austin (Texas)

Rise in number of children ages 5 to 14 from 2000-2013: 49.3 percent.

Number of children ages 5 to 14 in 2013: 261,199.

Percentage of children ages 5 to 14 in total population in 2013: 13.9 percent.

3. Las Vegas

Rise in number of children ages 5 to 14 from 2000-2013: 39.0 percent.

Number of children ages 5 to 14 in 2013: 275,663.

Percentage of children ages 5 to 14 in total population in 2013: 13.6 percent.

4. Charlotte (N.C.)

Rise in number of children aged 5-14 from 2000-2013: 32.9%

Number of children aged 5-14 in 2013: 331,956

Percentage of children aged 5-14 in total population in 2013: 14.2%

5. Phoenix

Rise in number of children ages 5 to 14 from 2000-2013: 29.3 percent.

Number of children ages 5 to 14 in 2013: 633,123.

Percentage of children ages 5 to 14 in total population in 2013: 14.4 percent.