Balancing work and family life has never been simple, but, for working mums, the challenge often comes down to where you live. In mid-2021, around three in four mothers with dependent children were in paid employment, which is the highest figure seen in two decades. The trend continues upward and nearly 80% of mothers are now in paid work — a steady rise driven by shifting economic needs and social norms. Against this backdrop, access to quality childcare, attainable housing, strong job markets, and reliable health care can make the difference between a daily struggle and a routine that runs smoothly.
Quick Jump
That’s why we set out to rank England’s best places for working mothers. In doing so, we analysed more than 80 local areas across key measures: women’s employment; income; childcare availability and cost; school access and performance; health care; air quality; green space; and housing affordability.
From this, we created an overall top 10 ranking. However, because working mums don’t all have the same priorities, we also built two additional spotlights: “Support Strongholds” for those focused on career and services, and “Cost-Comfort Hotspots” for those prioritising family time and budgets. Together, they show the different ways that local environments can support working mothers.
Key Insights
- More mums working than ever: Nearly 80% of mothers with dependent children are now in paid employment — the highest rate in two decades.
- Regional spread: From Lancaster in the North West to Winchester in the South, the top 10 shows that strong options for working mums aren’t limited to one corner of England.
- Overall winners: Lancaster, Cheltenham, and Newcastle-under-Lyme top the national list thanks to their mix of affordable childcare, strong employment and good services.
- Support Strongholds: Cities like Winchester, Chichester, and Oxford excel at career support with high female employment rates, plentiful jobs and strong service provision.
- Cost-Comfort Hotspots: Places such as Stafford, Preston, and Barnsley shine for affordability by offering some of the lowest childcare costs and rent-to-income ratios in the country.
From Lancaster to Winchester, These Cities Make Life Easier for Working Mums
Lancaster – 73.4 points
Lancaster leads the pack with an impressive top ranking driven by everyday advantages that make life a little easier. First, on the schooling front, it boasts 36.5 schools per 10,000 children to rank third for this metric and bring education within reach. At the same time, childcare comes in at around £5.20 an hour, while women’s employment stands at 77.3%. Its air is also the second-cleanest nationally with a particulate matter (PM2.5) level of 5.7 micrograms per cubic metre, which is noticeably below England’s average of 6.97. The city is anchored by Lancaster University’s economic presence and a council committed to clean-air initiatives, thereby making everyday living quietly exceptional.
Cheltenham – 73.1 points
Cheltenham earns second place overall. It’s notable for strong female employment (81.8%, which is well above England’s 72.3%) that’s due, in part, to its buoyant local economy. Job density is high, too, at about 1.0 per resident, giving working mums plenty of opportunities. Likewise, childcare availability is commendable at two youngsters per place, placing Cheltenham fifth in the nation for this metric, and schools are well-distributed. Here, a major driver behind this balance is the Golden Valley development, which is rich with professional opportunity, alongside the strong public and private sector ecosystem around GCHQ. Add tourism, light industry, and high-tech employers into the mix and you have both opportunity and comfort in one place.
Newcastle-under-Lyme – 72.2 points
Claiming third place, Newcastle-under-Lyme stands out for its affordability and green surroundings. Specifically, childcare costs just £5 per hour (the country’s second-lowest and well beneath the national average), making life gentler on the purse strings. Furthermore, around 7.4 green spaces within a kilometre offer more than plenty of space to breathe and roam, which is especially precious in family life. Combined with tight-knit school access and the steady economic anchor of Keele University, it’s a mix that welcomes mums who value an active lifestyle while efficiently balancing their cheques.
Chester – 71.5 points
Fourth overall, Chester strikes a balance between affordability, opportunity and solid services. Here, too, childcare availability is strong at 1.9 children per place (ahead of the national average of 2.4), while costs hover at £5.30 per hour — again, below the £6 England average. Schools are plentiful, too, with 34.6 for every 10,000 children, and women’s employment is the seventh-highest in the nation at 80.1%. These figures translate into families being able to plan with confidence, knowing that both education and childcare are accessible without breaking the bank. Notably, the council plays a steady hand in this by running early-years sufficiency assessments and funding reviews that keep provision resilient even as demand shifts. Chester may not top the charts for flashier metrics like wages or hours worked, but the consistency across education, jobs and childcare makes it a soundly reliable option for working parents.
Warrington – 70.2 points
In fifth place, Warrington makes its case through employment: Job density here is the second-highest in the country at 1.26 jobs per resident. That means that families aren’t just living in Warrington, they’re working there, too, with less pressure to commute long distances. Childcare is accessible, as well, with just 1.7 children competing for each place, one of the best ratios in the country. Add in affordable housing (rents average £791 per month, which is well below England’s £1,316) and the town stands out for practical family economics. Plus, its location between Manchester and Liverpool means that residents can draw on two major labour markets while still benefiting from a more manageable cost of living. Thus, for parents, it’s a straightforward mix of job access and financial breathing room.
Birkenhead – 68.4 points
Sixth overall, Birkenhead earns its place in the top 10 through affordability. Namely, childcare comes in at £5.20 an hour, although it’s housing that really makes a difference. Families here spend just 24% of their income on rent, as compared with 42% across England. Of course, that kind of gap has real, everyday implications with more money left over each month for food, transportation and savings. While school access is more modest at 27.9 schools per 10,000 children, the borough has a long-running habit of keeping close tabs on supply through its childcare sufficiency assessments. Combined with a relatively low cost of living, Birkenhead gives working mums something increasingly rare — the space to budget with confidence and even plan ahead.
Newcastle – 68.4 points
Ranked seventh, Newcastle is defined by access, both to green space and health care. Families here enjoy an average of eight public green spaces within a kilometre, which is nearly double the national figure of 4.4, making it one of the greenest major urban centres in the UK. Health care provision is equally strong with 81.1 general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 people compared with England’s 68.1 and anchored by one of the country’s largest NHS trusts. What’s more, childcare costs sit at a competitive £5.30 an hour, and female employment is steady at 71.2%. Together, these factors create a city where both wellbeing and practical needs are built into the urban fabric. For parents, it means fewer compromises between career, health and family time.
Gloucester – 67.8 points
In eighth position, Gloucester stands out most for women’s employment, which sits at 82.5% — one of the highest rates in the UK and a full 10 points above the national average. That strength in the labour market filters through to other areas, as well. For example, childcare availability is dependable at two children per place, schools are well-distributed at 35.6 per 10,000 pupils and childcare fees at £6 per hour remain manageable. Meanwhile, the city’s economy is diverse with a growing services base and relatively low claimant counts, helping explain why jobs feel secure. For families, that translates into stability and the sense that both work and care arrangements are unlikely to falter.
Stockport – 67.7 points
Stockport secures its spot in the top ten with reliable childcare — just two children per place and fees averaging £5.30 an hour, both among the best results nationally. Families also benefit from strong GP coverage at 84.8 per 100,000 residents and good access to green space, with an average of 6.4 public parks within a kilometre. Here, affordability compares favourably to larger cities: rents average £972 a month, equal to 31% of income, and house prices sit at £295,000. With women’s employment at 71.8% and median female pay at £33,200, Stockport balances work, services and costs in a way that helps family life run more smoothly.
Exeter – 67.7 points
Joining Stockport in ninth, Exeter’s strengths lie in health care and education. Here, GP density is among the best in the country at 83.1 per 100,000 people, meaning access to primary care is quicker and more consistent. Schools are another bright spot with 39.2 per 10,000 children for the highest density nationally. Similarly, women’s employment is strong at 77.2%, and childcare fees remain affordable at £5.70 per hour. In this case, the city’s economy is anchored by two giants: The University of Exeter and the Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust together employ nearly one in 10 residents. That mix of strong services and steady jobs explains why Exeter performs so well across the board as families can count on both access and stability.
Winchester – 65.3 points
Winchester closes out the top 10, and it does so with some remarkable strengths. Women’s employment here is the highest in the country at 89.2%, and median annual incomes for women reach £37,837 to settle comfortably above the national average of £33,974. The city also leads in job density with 1.3 jobs per resident compared to England’s 0.87, meaning local opportunities are plentiful. Childcare availability is strong, too, with just 1.7 children per place, ranking it second nationally. Even so, these strengths come with a price: Average monthly rents stand at £1,358 and house prices push past £480,000, giving Winchester one of the steepest house price-to-income ratios in the dataset. That said, for families that can afford it, Winchester offers an enviable mix of professional opportunity and educational access, although affordability remains its biggest hurdle.
Support Strongholds: Top Cities for Access & Support
Not all working mums are juggling the same priorities. For some, career is front and centre as they’re climbing the ladder, managing full-time schedules and relying on a web of services to keep everything running smoothly at home. In this case, what matters most isn’t just affordability, but access to jobs, childcare, schools and health care. These are the mums who need the reassurance that, when they’re at work, the city around them is making family life possible. Accordingly, the following five cities stand out as support strongholds, where infrastructure and opportunity combine to give parents the confidence to pursue their careers.
Winchester sets the tone at the very top by combining the country’s highest women’s employment rate with nearly nine in 10 employed, as well as the strongest job density anywhere at 1.3 roles per resident. Childcare is relatively secure, too, with just 1.7 children for every available place. It’s a mix that gives career-minded mums the rare confidence that both work opportunities and family support will keep pace with their ambitions.
Further south, Chichester offers a similar sense of balance on a slightly smaller scale. Job density here is healthy and childcare availability sits at 1.9 children per place, which is better than the national average. Women’s employment is also among the highest in England, consequently giving the city a reputation as a place where both careers and family life can thrive side by side.
Next, Oxford further adds the weight of a world-class economy to the list. With 1.19 jobs per resident and women’s employment steady at 73%, the city’s professional ecosystem extends far beyond the university. What’s more, cutting-edge science parks and a strong services sector create opportunities in abundance. Although childcare is tighter at 2.3 children per place, access to health care is among the best in the country — a reassurance for parents trying to manage demanding careers.
Then, Exeter brings a calmer profile, but no less strength. Women’s employment sits at 77.2%, childcare provision is steady at 2.5 children per place and GP density tops 80 per 100,000 for one of the highest levels nationwide. Clearly, it’s the sort of city where parents can feel confident that their professional lives are supported by reliable services close to home.
Cheltenham rounds out the picture by combining an 81.8% female employment rate with childcare availability of two children per place. What sets it apart, however, is its trajectory. The £1 billion Golden Valley development next to GCHQ is set to bring thousands of jobs in cyber and tech, cementing Cheltenham’s role as a future-facing hub for parents who want both stability today and opportunity tomorrow.
Together, these five cities form the backbone of the UK’s “support strongholds,” or places where work, childcare and services align to make ambitious careers possible without forcing parents to compromise on family life.
Cost-Comfort Hotspots: Top Cities for Working Mums’ Budgets
For other mums, the focus isn’t on climbing the career ladder, but on making work fit around family life. That might mean shorter hours, part-time roles or simply keeping the household budget on track. In this way, the key isn’t the density of jobs or the number of childcare providers, but rather how far every pound stretches. Specifically, affordable nurseries, manageable rents and realistic house prices matter more than headline salaries. In these cities, family time is easier to prioritise because the numbers add up, leaving less pressure on parents to overwork just to cover the basics.
Stafford takes the lead here by blending a respectable women’s median income of just more than £36,000 with some of the most affordable childcare in the country at £5 per hour. Housing is also comparatively gentle on family budgets: Rents eat up only 22.6% of personal income, which is far below the national average of 42%. For parents looking to keep work in balance with family life, that gap makes a world of difference.
Not far behind, Preston offers a similar package. Women earn a median of £34,417, childcare costs average £5.20 an hour and rent-to-income ratios are kept low at 22.2%. These numbers combine to give families breathing room and the reassurance that part-time work or shorter weeks can still keep the books balanced.
Similarly, Sunderland, with its larger population, shows how affordability can scale. Median women’s income is lower at £31,812, but childcare fees of £5.10 per hour and a rent-to-income ratio of just 22.8% mean the city is still one of the most budget-friendly choices for working mums. For many, it’s the balance of modest wages with low living costs that creates space for more time at home.
Not to be out done, Barnsley brings childcare costs back to £5 per hour and rent-to-income ratios down to 21.2% for one of the best figures in the country. Here, women’s incomes average just more than £30,000, which is below the national median, but the low cost of housing offsets this, making Barnsley a strong option for families who want to avoid financial overreach while still keeping one parent in steady work.
Last, but not least, Rotherham rounds out the group with childcare at £4.50 per hour and housing costs that remain comfortably below the national squeeze. With women’s incomes averaging £28,800, the city isn’t chasing high salaries, but instead offers stability in a cost base that lets families live without pushing work commitments to the limit.
Methodology
This analysis evaluates more than 80 local authority areas across England to identify the best places for working mothers. To ensure consistency, only areas with a complete dataset were included. London refers to Greater London, covering City of London and all boroughs.
The local authority areas were selected from top 100 UK towns and cities by population as ranked by CIPHR – https://www.ciphr.com/infographics/biggest-cities-in-the-uk-by-population#top-100
Where data was not available at Local Authority District (LAD) level, we used data from the corresponding upper-tier authority (e.g., county, unitary authority) where applicable, or the next available higher geographic level.
The ranking combines indicators across four broad categories (Work; Education; Health & Environment; and Affordability), each drawing on official statistics from ONS, the Department for Education, NHS England, Ofsted and other government sources.
Work – 25% of the total index
- Women’s employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (ONS, Annual Population Survey extracted from Nomis Apr 2024/Mar 25) – 25%, direct
- Median annual earnings for women in full-time work (ONS, ASHE 2024) – 25%, direct
- Average paid hours worked by women (ONS, ASHE 2024) – 25%, indirect
- Job density: number of jobs per resident (ONS, 2023) – 15%, direct
- Share of self-employed workers (ONS, Annual Population Survey extracted from Nomis Apr 2024/Mar 25) – 10%, direct
Education & Childcare – 25% of the total index
- Childcare availability: number of children aged 0 to 4 per childcare place (Ofsted 2025, ONS 2024) – 25%, indirect
- Childcare costs: median hourly fee for children aged 2 to 4 (Department for Education 2024) – 25%, indirect
- Schools density per 10,000 children (Department for Education 2023/24) – 25%, direct
- School performance at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 (Department for Education 2023/24) – 25%, direct
Health & Environment – 25% of the total index
- GP density: fully qualified GPs per 100,000 population (Contains information from NHS England, licenced under the current version of the Open Government Licence, 2025) – 35%, direct
- Green space access: number of public green spaces within 1 kilometre (ONS, 2020) – 35%, direct
- Air quality: PM2.5 micrograms per cubic metre (Defra 2023) – 20%, indirect
- Private Outdoor Spaces Access: percentage of addresses with access to a private garden ( ONS – Ordnance Survey (OS) data, 2020) – 10%, direct
Affordability – 25% of the total index
- Rent-to-income ratio (ONS, 2024) – 50%, indirect
- House price-to-income ratio (GOV.UK/HM Land Registry, 2024) – 50%, indirect
