I grew up in a small town, and so did my husband. Yes, we did have different childhood experiences because I chose to study in the city, while my husband attended a boarding school in Mussoorie. But the environment was still of a small town, slow and slightly old-world.
So when we became parents, the doubts crept in naturally. Was our small town enough to raise our child? Our friends in Delhi and Mumbai enrolled their toddlers in IB curriculum schools. The little ones attended robotics classes and spent weekends shuttling between petting zoos and skating lessons.
Soon, the fear of missing out hit – not for us, but for our child.
So we decided to test it. We spent a week in Delhi, touring schools, visiting neighbourhoods, and imagining daily life.
We expected to be convinced. Instead, we left with a sigh of relief: our child was better off at home.
Here’s why.
The metro mirage
On the outside, cities like Delhi and Mumbai promised us everything: great schools, international exposure, and career opportunities under the sun.
But the reality on the ground tells a different story.
- Delhi’s PM2.5 air quality levels are 18 times above WHO’s safe limits.
- Bengaluru ranks 5th globally in rush-hour traffic. Residents lose 113 hours a year. Time that could have been spent with family (TomTom Traffic Index).
- Mumbai ranks among the world’s most expensive cities, with average rents consuming over 35% of household income.
The harsh reality ? We assume these trade-offs are the “price” for a better future.
So I asked myself this, “What future is worth constant illness, missed family dinners, or nights stressing about EMIs?”
What i found closer to home
That week in Delhi showed us something we hadn’t admitted before: opportunities are important, but they aren’t everything. Childhood isn’t built only on STEM classes or an IB syllabus, it’s built on everyday moments.
Dinner with parents that isn’t rushed. A playground that doesn’t need an entry ticket. A school commute that doesn’t eat into childhood itself.
And that’s where smaller cities come in. For years, I assumed Tier-1 metros were the only logical choice. After all, they promised exposure, world-class schools, and career networks for the future.
But today, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities aren’t just catching up, they’re quietly shaping a space where children can breathe easier, grow safer, and live fuller.
Here’s what that looks like across some cities in India.
- Pune
A welcoming city vibe, Pune consistently ranks among India’s most liveable cities. Parents here benefit from some of the country’s top schools (including international boards like IB and Cambridge), excellent healthcare infrastructure, and quick access to Mumbai without the daily stress of it. Commutes average under 35 minutes, giving families more unstructured time together.
For many like me, it is the chance to access global-level education while preserving family time.
- Chandigarh
Designed with open spaces and wide roads, Chandigarh gives children what metros often can’t, room to play. The city has high safety indices, reliable healthcare facilities, and a strong schooling. For working parents, it has a growing startup ecosystem and proximity to Delhi make it professionally viable as well.
It’s a close-knit city, where community still plays a role in raising a child.
- Coimbatore
Known for its safety and slower pace, Coimbatore offers affordable housing, excellent schools, and some of Tamil Nadu’s best healthcare facilities. With a rising IT and startup scene, parents also find professional opportunities without uprooting family life.
- Indore
Indore has topped India’s cleanliness rankings for six consecutive years, and that spills into daily life. Reliable municipal services, improving healthcare infrastructure, and affordable housing as major advantages. Education-wise, Indore is emerging as a central India hub, with reputed coaching centres and schools.
- Jaipur
Beyond its heritage charm, Jaipur is building a reputation as an education hub, with affordable access to CBSE, ICSE, and IB schools. Healthcare facilities have expanded rapidly, and the cost of living remains 30 to 40% lower than Delhi. For families like mine, this means balancing exposure to modern amenities with the benefits of cultural grounding.
Why this matters
The truth is: there’s no single “right” city to raise a child. But the conversation deserves nuance. For many families, the quieter cities of India are not a compromise, they are an advantage.
The best city for your child isn’t the one with the fanciest extracurriculars or the tallest skyline. It’s the one that gives them clean air, time with you, and a sense of security. Sometimes, that city is the metro your friends swear by. But sometimes, it’s the town you once thought of as “too small.”
Because in the end, children don’t measure childhood in rankings or real estate prices. They measure it in moments. And the right city is simply the one that gives you more of them.
Sneha Virmani is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience. She is an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University (Economics & Psychology). Sneha specialises in storytelling-led content strategies and consumer education campaigns. Her work brings context and clarity, with a no-jargon approach designed to engage everyday readers.