BOSTON -- It's may come as a surprise that the New York metropolitan area was ranked No. 1 on ForbesWoman's list of the best cities for working mothers , but it was an even bigger surprise that it left its northern neighbor eating its progressive dust.

Boston ranked only 24 of 50 on the list , which ForbesWoman compiled based on 11 subcategories, including living cost, health care and school quality.

"There are numerous considerations for what working moms want in their choice of a city," ForbesWoman writer Heidi Brown, who edited the list, said. "We based our rankings on the premise that different mothers have different needs. Beyond good health care and safety, mothers who work want a city which offers plentiful jobs, high salaries and abundant day care options."

Boston ranked second in pediatrics, fourth in income and fourth in per pupil spending. However, the city was given poor rankings in the cost of living and parks categories, 42 and 50, respectively.

New York earned fifth place in the parks category and was just behind Boston in pediatrics at No. 3.

Las Vegas landed at the bottom of the overall list at No. 50. Four Florida cities were ranked within the bottom ten.