Certain states make it easier than others to raise a family. The ideal state is one that’s affordable to live in during this time of high inflation and also offers high safety and good job prospects, on top of quality education, healthcare and entertainment.
To help people find cities with the perfect combination of those factors, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 50 key indicators of family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median annual family income to housing affordability to the unemployment rate.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best States for Families
Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Family Fun Rank | Health & Safety Rank | Education & Child Care Rank | Affordability Rank | Socio-economics Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Massachusetts | 66.97 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 21 |
2 | North Dakota | 62.15 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 18 | 1 |
3 | Minnesota | 62.00 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 10 |
4 | Nebraska | 58.96 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 5 |
5 | New York | 58.46 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 7 | 48 |
6 | Maine | 58.36 | 45 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 6 |
7 | New Hampshire | 57.92 | 39 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 9 |
8 | South Dakota | 57.83 | 29 | 9 | 9 | 33 | 2 |
9 | Rhode Island | 57.53 | 27 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 19 |
10 | Vermont | 57.23 | 46 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 3 |
11 | Iowa | 57.21 | 31 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 13 |
12 | Connecticut | 57.09 | 30 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 36 |
13 | Wisconsin | 56.41 | 22 | 24 | 10 | 16 | 11 |
14 | Illinois | 56.05 | 4 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 44 |
15 | Utah | 55.98 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 32 | 7 |
16 | Washington | 55.70 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 4 | 28 |
17 | New Jersey | 55.67 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 39 |
18 | Colorado | 54.41 | 7 | 40 | 36 | 8 | 22 |
19 | Virginia | 54.32 | 28 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
20 | Maryland | 54.10 | 25 | 29 | 12 | 9 | 18 |
21 | Pennsylvania | 53.62 | 12 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 23 |
22 | Montana | 52.78 | 33 | 14 | 13 | 43 | 4 |
23 | Wyoming | 51.69 | 35 | 8 | 17 | 39 | 14 |
24 | Missouri | 51.46 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 16 |
25 | Hawaii | 51.08 | 14 | 4 | 33 | 45 | 26 |
26 | Oregon | 50.74 | 10 | 26 | 38 | 12 | 42 |
27 | California | 50.62 | 1 | 44 | 40 | 20 | 47 |
28 | Texas | 50.54 | 2 | 48 | 28 | 35 | 41 |
29 | Kansas | 50.54 | 40 | 31 | 27 | 19 | 8 |
30 | Ohio | 49.99 | 16 | 17 | 35 | 15 | 43 |
31 | Florida | 49.46 | 6 | 41 | 24 | 50 | 29 |
32 | Delaware | 48.64 | 43 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 27 |
33 | Michigan | 47.87 | 42 | 21 | 39 | 11 | 20 |
34 | Tennessee | 47.78 | 18 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 25 |
35 | Indiana | 47.13 | 34 | 32 | 21 | 26 | 31 |
36 | Kentucky | 46.83 | 44 | 22 | 16 | 29 | 40 |
37 | North Carolina | 46.38 | 23 | 37 | 32 | 31 | 24 |
38 | Idaho | 46.14 | 36 | 16 | 42 | 46 | 12 |
39 | Alaska | 43.97 | 17 | 33 | 45 | 38 | 30 |
40 | Georgia | 42.27 | 24 | 43 | 37 | 40 | 37 |
41 | Arizona | 41.19 | 11 | 36 | 48 | 47 | 35 |
42 | South Carolina | 41.03 | 41 | 39 | 47 | 41 | 17 |
43 | Oklahoma | 39.90 | 38 | 47 | 43 | 28 | 34 |
44 | Nevada | 39.83 | 5 | 45 | 49 | 49 | 50 |
45 | Louisiana | 39.51 | 13 | 46 | 46 | 37 | 49 |
46 | Arkansas | 39.40 | 48 | 42 | 31 | 36 | 33 |
47 | Alabama | 38.86 | 47 | 38 | 41 | 30 | 38 |
48 | West Virginia | 36.18 | 50 | 28 | 44 | 42 | 32 |
49 | Mississippi | 32.87 | 49 | 50 | 34 | 44 | 45 |
50 | New Mexico | 30.47 | 37 | 49 | 50 | 48 | 46 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
In-Depth Look at the Best States for Families
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family, in large part because it provides a good blend of economic opportunities and safe conditions for children. The Bay State has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and lots of job opportunities relative to the labor force, which ensures that parents will be able to provide for their children. It’s not the cheapest state, as housing and childcare costs are relatively high compared to most of the nation, but residents make up for this with fairly high incomes.
When it comes to education, Massachusetts isn’t just famous for universities like Harvard and MIT – it also has a reputation for good school systems for children, and it ranks first in that category. In addition, the state is a good place for safeguarding children’s health, offering the best water quality in the country, the highest rate of insured children, and one of the lowest infant mortality rates.
North Dakota
North Dakota claims second place among the best states for families, offering significant savings with the lowest average annual rent for a two-bedroom apartment relative to income. It also has the third-most affordable housing overall. And if you want to make sure your family stays together, North Dakota seems to be a good place for it – it has one of the lowest separation and divorce rates in the country.
North Dakota is known for its beautiful scenery and national parks, and it’s always good to share scenes like that with friends. There are plenty of opportunities to do that, given that the Roughrider State has one of the highest shares of families with children under age 18. In addition, North Dakota ranks first when it comes to the prevalence of childcare workers, and it has one of the lowest annual costs for childcare as well.
Minnesota
Minnesota is the third-best state to raise a family, at least if you’re not averse to its harsh winters. Minnesota is a great place to find a job to support your family, as it has one of the highest median family incomes after adjusting for the cost of living and one of the lowest unemployment rates. In addition to good pay and job stability, residents also receive reliable long-term benefits, as Minnesota ranks at the top for employer-based retirement plan access and participation.
Another great thing about raising a family in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is what it can do for your children’s health. The state has the third-highest life expectancy at birth and some of the best public hospitals in the country. It also encourages children to stay fit amid the obesity epidemic, as it has one of the largest shares of children who live in neighborhoods with a park or playground.
- Highest
- 1. Virginia
- 2. Minnesota
- 3. Illinois
- 4. New Jersey
- 5. Colorado
- Lowest
- 46. Maine
- 47. Nevada
- 48. Hawaii
- 49. West Virginia
- 50. New Mexico
- Most
- 1. Iowa
- 2. Nebraska
- 3. North Dakota
- 4. Kansas
- 5. Ohio
- Least
- 46. Nevada
- 47. Florida
- 48. Hawaii
- 49. New York
- 50. California
- Lowest
- 1. South Dakota
- 2. Missouri
- 3. Mississippi
- 4. Utah
- 5. Minnesota
- Highest
- 46. Nebraska
- 47. Nevada
- 48. Washington
- 49. New Mexico
- 50. New York
- Highest
- 1. Utah
- 2. Texas
- 3. Alaska
- 4. Nebraska
- 5. North Dakota
- Lowest
- 46. Vermont
- 47. Maine
- 48. Florida
- 49. Hawaii
- 50. West Virginia
- Lowest
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. Vermont
- 3. Massachusetts
- 4. New Jersey
- 5. Oregon
- Highest
- 46. South Carolina
- 47. Alaska
- 48. Alabama
- 49. Arkansas
- 50. Mississippi
- Fewest
- 1. Maine
- 2. New Hampshire
- 3. Connecticut
- 4. Rhode Island
- 5. Wyoming
- Most
- T-46. Alaska
- T-46. Arkansas
- T-46. Louisiana
- T-46. Tennessee
- T-46. New Mexico
- Lowest
- 1. New Hampshire
- 2. Minnesota
- 3. Utah
- 4. Vermont
- 5. Colorado
- Highest
- 46. Kentucky
- 47. West Virginia
- 48. New Mexico
- 49. Louisiana
- 50. Mississippi
- Lowest
- 1. Utah
- 2. North Dakota
- 3. New Jersey
- 4. Hawaii
- 5. Nebraska
- Highest
- 46. Florida
- 47. Mississippi
- 48. Louisiana
- 49. Nevada
- 50. New Mexico
*Adjusted for cost of living
**Adjusted for median family income
Tips for Finding the Best State to Raise Your Family
- Visit prospective states: You shouldn’t move somewhere you’ve never visited. Spend time in different cities and neighborhoods in each state you’re considering to understand the community, amenities, and lifestyle. Experiencing different cities firsthand will help you decide what's best for your family.
- Focus on the essentials first: Since there are many factors to think about, focus on the most important ones first. Make sure you move to a place with good job opportunities, quality pediatric care, and good early education. As your children grow, you can always move to a location that suits their changing needs.
- Live somewhere good for children’s recreation: If your main needs are met, think about places with attractions, playgrounds, parks, and spots where you can create memories with your children.
- Talk to parents: The best way to learn about what it’s like to raise a family in a certain area is to talk to parents who already live there. They might help you decide on a specific city, not just a state.
- Look at data: Word of mouth isn't enough to make a final choice on where to move, and you might not be able to spend a lot of time in every place you're considering. But it's very easy to find data online about things like unemployment rates, job opportunities, crime rates, and school ratings. Factoring that information into your decision-making process will help you narrow things down to the right place for you. WalletHub's rankings are based on official data, so this report can give you a good starting point for states to examine more closely based on your own preferences.
Ask the Experts
Not all states are created equal. Some are more conducive to pleasant family life than others. With those differences in mind, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots?
- To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the state in which they live? How?
- How can authorities make their states more attractive to young families?
- What are some specific factors that affect child and family well-being?
- In evaluating the best states for families, what are the top five indicators?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best states to raise a family, WalletHub compared the 50 states across five key dimensions: 1) Family Fun, 2) Health & Safety, 3) Education & Child Care, 4) Affordability and 5) Socio-economics.
We evaluated those dimensions using 50 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for family life.
Finally, we determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Family Fun – Total Points: 20
- Share of Families with Young Children: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: “Young Children” includes the population aged 0 to 17. - Number of Attractions: Triple Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Fitness & Recreational Sports Centers per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 0 to 17 Who Live in Neighborhoods with a Park or Playground: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Health & Safety – Total Points: 20
- Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
Note: “Children” includes the population aged 0 to 18. - Pediatricians per Capita: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Number of Children’s Hospitals per Total Number of Children Aged 0 to 17: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Quality of Public Hospitals: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
Note: This metric is based on public-hospital ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. - Infant-Mortality Rate: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Life Expectancy at Birth: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Number of Climate Disasters Causing $1 Billion+ in Damages in Past Decades: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Air Pollution: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Water Quality: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Violent Crimes per Capita: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Property Crimes per Capita: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 6 to 17 Who Go to Safe Schools: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
- Safety Ranking of Roads Around School: Half Weight (~0.69 Points)
Note: School safety scores and rankings are based on unsafe driving events detected by the Zendrive platform within school areas. - Share of Children Aged 0 to 17 Who Live in Supportive Neighborhoods: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
Note: Supportive neighborhoods are neighborhoods where people help each other out, watch out for each other’s children and know where to go for help in the community. - Share of Children Aged 0 to 17 Living with Parents Who Have Support: Full Weight (~1.38 Points)
Note: This metric refers to children whose parents have someone to turn to for day-to-day emotional support with parenting or raising children.
Education & Child Care – Total Points: 20
- Quality of Public Schools: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Best & Worst School Systems” ranking. - Public High School Graduation Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
- Child Day-Care Services per Capita: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
- Day-Care Quality: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
- Child-Care Costs: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the median family income. - Parental Leave: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on parental-leave policy scores from the National Partnership for Women & Families. - Number of Childcare Workers per Total Number of Children: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 6 to 17 Who Participate in School Extracurricular Activities: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 6 to 17 Who Participate in Community Service or Volunteer Work: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Affordability – Total Points: 20
- Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Family Income. - Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Median Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric measures the median amount of mortgage debt per adult, as share of median earnings. - Median Non-Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric measures the median amount of non-mortgage debt per adult, as share of median earnings. - Share of People Who Save Money for their Children’s College Education: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 0 to 17 Whose Family Had Problems Paying Medical Bills: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric refers to children whose family had problems paying for the children’s medical or health care bills during the past 12 months. - Paid Family Leave: Double Weight (~3.64 Points)
- Retirement Access & Participation: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: “Retirement” refers to employer-based plans only. - Median Annual Family Income: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living. - Average Annual Family Health Insurance Premium: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Socio-economics – Total Points: 20
- Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Median Duration of Current Marriage: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Two-Parent Families: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Wealth Gap: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Families Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Families Receiving Food Stamps: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Job Security: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in 2023 September - Number of Employees in 2022 September) / Number of Employees in 2022 September. - Job Opportunities: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Number of Job Openings per Number of Population in Labor Force Minus Unemployed Rate. - Share of Work-Related Stressed Tweets: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on PlushCare’s analysis of retrieved geotagged tweets from 340 major cities in the U.S. - Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of December 15, 2023 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, Child Care Aware of America, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council for Community and Economic Research, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Partnership for Women & Families, TransUnion, The Pew Charitable Trusts, United Health Foundation, Indeed, U.S. News & World Report, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, National Climatic Data Center, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kaiser Family Foundation, ATTOM, a property data provider, Zendrive, TripAdvisor, PlushCare, New America and WalletHub research.
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