When Fernando and Patricia Escobedo moved to the Willows, an affluent neighborhood in El Paso, Texas, 25 years ago, kids were everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About half of the homes on their cul-de-sac had children. Growing up, the couple\u2019s twin daughters used to ride their scooters outside with other neighborhood kids. At an annual block party, they jumped around in a bouncy house and climbed into the local firetruck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The twins are now in college\u2014and the neighborhood feels a lot different. The Escobedos also have a 12-year-old at home, and Fernando said she is one of a few children under 18 on the block. The local elementary school has noticeably fewer kids. And Fernando said he\u2019s more likely to see a retired neighbor gardening than a child on a bicycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the vibe it was 10 years ago when there were still kids here,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the nation\u2019s fertility rate at record lows<\/a>, the number of children under 18 is falling across the U.S. The decline is especially pronounced in big cities, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> WSJ: America\u2019s Big Cities Are Rapidly Losing Kids – The number of children is falling across the U.S., but the decline is especially pronounced in big metros https:\/\/t.co\/A2MzU94Cjm<\/a><\/p>— Aaron M. Renn 🇺🇸 (@aaron_renn) July 27, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>