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What's Good

•According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Arlington is 30 percent more affordable than average for cities in our survey.

•At $69, the average doctor's office visit here is the 6th lowest in our survey, compared to a national average of $82.

•Just 4 percent of pregnant women in Arlington admit to smoking during pregnancy, the 10th lowest rate in our survey. Nationwide, 8 percent of pregnant women smoke.

•Arlington babies are 20 percent less likely than average to be born with low birth weight.

•Arlington has one doula for every 235 live births, the 9th highest ratio in our survey. The national average is one doula per 649 live births.

•State laws require health insurance companies to provide or offer at least some coverage for fertility-related services.

•Texas stands out in a measure of legislation related to cord blood education, research and related issues.

•Day-care centers in Arlington are required by state law to meet special requirements aimed at reducing the risk of SIDS. Many cities and states have less-stringent or no SIDS-prevention programs for day-cares.

•According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, Arlington has one of the best commutes of any city in our survey, it takes only 7 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That takes a lot of pressure off parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.

Needs Improvement

•30 percent of babies in Texas are born via Cesarean section, among the highest in our survey. The average is 27 percent.

•7.1 percent of Arlington mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively (meaning no solids, formula or other liquids) for 6 months or longer as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. That's the 8th lowest percentage among cities in our survey. The average for our survey is 12 percent.

•Arlington has a limited number of high-risk pediatricians, 92 percent less than average per capita and the 3rd lowest in our survey.

•Arlington has fewer OB-GYNs than average, the 4th lowest in our survey.

•Texas devotes less money relative to population than most states to child car-seat-check stations.

•Pedestrians have a 52 percent higher than average risk of being killed by a motor vehicle here-among the most dangerous in our survey.

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