2023's Best & Worst States to Raise a Family in America

Wallet Hub ^ | 01/09/2023 | Adam McCann

[SeekAndFind]

Raising a healthy, stable family sometimes requires moving to a new state. The reasons people choose to move are often similar: career transitions, better schools, financial challenges or a general desire to change settings. Wants and needs don’t always align in a particular state, though. For instance, a state might offer a low income-tax rate but have a subpar education system. However, families do not necessarily need to make these kinds of tradeoffs. They can avoid such problems by knowing which states offer the best combination of qualities that matter most to parents and their kids. The ideal city is one that’s affordable to live in during this time of high inflation but also offers quality schools, healthcare and entertainment.

To help with the evaluation process, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median annual family income to housing affordability to the unemployment rate.

Best States for Families

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Family Fun	Health & Safety	Education & Child Care	Affordability	Socio-economics
1	Massachusetts	66.14	9	5	2	2	22
2	Minnesota	62.07	13	8	12	7	5
3	New York	61.11	2	9	14	6	46
4	North Dakota	59.60	32	16	1	16	1
5	Vermont	59.27	46	1	7	26	2
6	New Hampshire	58.17	36	3	5	22	8
7	New Jersey	58.14	23	13	3	3	25
8	Nebraska	57.95	19	10	6	24	6
9	Iowa	57.05	31	14	9	9	10
10	Connecticut	57.03	29	7	8	1	31
11	Rhode Island	56.95	27	4	19	4	27
12	Washington	56.30	8	23	31	5	19
13	Illinois	55.49	4	29	25	11	45
14	South Dakota	55.45	30	12	11	25	7
15	Utah	55.25	18	19	15	33	4
16	Maine	55.01	45	2	4	32	14
17	Wisconsin	54.86	21	25	13	13	11
18	Pennsylvania	53.89	11	21	24	17	20
19	Maryland	53.39	25	17	10	8	36
20	Colorado	53.34	7	31	32	19	15
21	Virginia	52.60	28	15	17	20	17
22	California	52.04	1	32	45	21	40
23	Hawaii	51.36	15	6	33	40	23
24	Oregon	50.55	10	20	40	14	26
25	Montana	50.49	34	24	18	46	3
26	Texas	49.71	3	47	29	35	44
27	Wyoming	49.60	37	11	16	45	12
28	Missouri	49.21	22	34	23	27	16
29	Kansas	49.21	38	35	22	18	13
30	Delaware	47.91	44	22	21	12	38
31	Ohio	47.69	16	28	36	15	42
32	Florida	47.28	6	39	30	50	35
33	Tennessee	46.17	20	40	26	30	24
34	Indiana	45.77	33	38	27	23	18
35	Idaho	45.74	39	18	43	44	9
36	Michigan	45.51	41	26	41	10	28
37	Kentucky	45.40	43	30	20	28	34
38	Alaska	44.74	17	27	44	37	21
39	North Carolina	43.11	24	37	37	39	29
40	Nevada	41.41	5	42	49	49	48
41	Arizona	40.40	12	36	48	48	33
42	Georgia	40.24	26	46	35	41	41
43	Oklahoma	38.48	40	48	39	31	43
44	Arkansas	38.47	48	45	28	34	32
45	Alabama	37.38	47	44	38	29	37
46	South Carolina	37.16	42	41	46	38	39
47	Louisiana	36.80	14	49	47	36	49
48	West Virginia	34.86	50	33	42	43	30
49	New Mexico	30.78	35	43	50	47	47
50	Mississippi	30.01	49	50	34	42	50

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.

Median Family Income*

Highest

• Highest
• 1. Virginia
• 2. Minnesota
• 3. Illinois
• 4. New Jersey
• 5. Colorado

Lowest

• Lowest
• 46. Nevada
• 47. Maine
• 48. Hawaii
• 49. West Virginia
• 50. New Mexico

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Virginia vs. New Mexico

Affordable Housing

Most

• Most
• 1. Iowa
• 2. Nebraska
• 3. North Dakota
• 4. Kansas
• 5. Ohio

Least

• Least
• 46. Oregon
• 47. Nevada
• 48. New York
• 49. Hawaii
• 50. California

Child Care Costs**

Lowest

• Lowest
• 1. South Dakota
• 2. Mississippi
• 3. Missouri
• 4. Hawaii
• 5. New Jersey

Highest

• Highest
• 46. Washington
• 47. Massachusetts
• 48. Nebraska
• 49. New Mexico
• 50. North Carolina

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

South Dakota vs. North Carolina

Families with Young Kids

Most

• Most
• 1. Utah
• 2. Texas
• 3. Alaska
• 4. Nebraska
• 5. North Dakota

Fewest

• Fewest
• 46. Delaware
• 47. Maine
• 48. Florida
• 49. Hawaii
• 50. West Virginia

Infant Mortality Rate

Lowest

• Lowest
• 1. Vermont
• 2. California
• 3. Massachusetts
• 4. New Jersey
• 5. New York

Highest

• Highest
• 46. South Dakota
• 47. Arkansas
• 48. Louisiana
• 49. West Virginia
• 50. Mississippi

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Vermont vs. Mississippi

Violent Crimes per Capita

Fewest

• Fewest
• 1. Maine
• 2. New Hampshire
• 3. Vermont
• 4. Connecticut
• 5. New Jersey

Most

• Most
• T-46. Louisiana
• T-46. Arkansas
• T-46. Tennessee
• T-46. New Mexico
• T-46. Alaska

Best State vs. Worst State: 8x Difference

Maine vs. Alaska

% of Families in Poverty

Lowest

• Lowest
• 1. New Hampshire
• 2. Minnesota
• 3. Maryland
• 4. Colorado
• 5. North Dakota

Highest

• Highest
• T-46. Kentucky
• T-46. West Virginia
• T-48. Louisiana
• T-48. New Mexico
• 50. Mississippi

Best State vs. Worst State: 3x Difference

New Hampshire vs. Mississippi

Separation & Divorce Rate

Lowest

• Lowest
• 1. Utah
• 2. North Dakota
• 3. New Jersey
• 4. Hawaii
• 5. Nebraska

Highest

• Highest
• 46. Mississippi
• 47. Louisiana
• 48. Florida
• 49. New Mexico
• 50. Nevada

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Utah vs. Nevada

Show More

Notes:
*Adjusted for cost of living
**Adjusted for median family income

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:

1. What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots?
2. To what degree is a child’s development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the state in which they live? How?
3. How can authorities make their states more attractive to young families?
4. How might President Biden’s proposals related to child care and paid family leave affect child and family well-being?
5. In evaluating the best states for families, what are the top five indicators?

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 51 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

• Percentage of Residents Aged 12+ Who Are Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19: Double Weight (~2.42 Points)
• Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
  Note: “Children” includes the population aged 0 to 18.
• Pediatricians per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Number of Children’s Hospitals per Total Number of Children Aged 0 to 17: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospitals: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on public-hospital ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• Infant-Mortality Rate: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Life Expectancy at Birth: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Number of Climate Disasters Causing $1 Billion+ in Damages in Past Decades: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Air Pollution: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Water Quality: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Violent Crimes per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Property Crimes per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Share of Children Aged 6 to 17 Who Go to Safe Schools: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
• Safety Ranking of Roads Around School: Half Weight (~0.61 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 (~1.21 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 (~1.21 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 2022 September - Number of Employees in 2021 September) / Number of Employees in 2021 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.
• Job Satisfaction Score: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected 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 Data Solutions, Brandwatch, Zendrive, TripAdvisor and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

• YouTube - National (for web embedding)
• YouTube - Massachusetts (for web embedding)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

[napscoordinator]

The only true part is that Mississippi is a very poor state. Not sure why the state can’t try to bring in some industry. One thing is Mississippi is still at 7.25 minimum wage. Heck even Florida is 11 dollars minimum wage. Until they fix their fiscal mess, they will always be at the bottom.

[Tupelo]

“I’d much rather live in rural Mississippi than Barney Frank Land.”

Me too also

[Sirius Lee]

I can't believe Maine has such a low score for family fun. I guess a lot of people have never heard of lakes (swimming, boats, jet skis, fishing) in the summer and frozen lakes (snowmobiles, ice fishing, Allen's coffee brandy).

On the other hand, maybe they've heard of mosquitoes.

[buckalfa]

"Deepest Plantation land that just can’t bootstrap itself to prosperity?"

As in West Virginia, generational poverty begets generational poverty which shackles education, healthcare, and infrastructure. A seemingly endless cycle that strangles opportunity.

[popdonnelly]

This is a joke, right?

[Poser]

Climate?
Recreation?

[Renfrew]

Most Violent Crime:
T-46. Louisiana
T-46. Arkansas
T-46. Tennessee
T-46. New Mexico
T-46. Alaska

What skewed numbers are they looking at that puts a bunch of rural states above places like Illinois and New York?

[alexander_busek]

One thing is Mississippi is still at 7.25 minimum wage. Heck even Florida is 11 dollars minimum wage. Until they fix their fiscal mess, they will always be at the bottom.

Boosting the min. wage im Mississippi would NOT help matters - and, in fact, would probably only EXACERBATE the plight of young jobless people.

Regards,

[Ge0ffrey]

How was the grooming category counted? Ability of parents to protect thier family with guns? Or not to have their children given chemical castrations without parental consent, or taken to drag shows. And here’s number one: not to have children killed in the womb!

[Baldwin77]

Well, the WV Senator is off playing footsie with “Little Hitler” over in Davos.

[Baldwin77]

I think if you flip the list, it would be about right.

[2nd Amendment]

Mississippi has good deer hunting

[TN4Liberty]

List is developed by someone who hates warm weather. Nearly all of the top 25 states can be characterized by being cold and/or snowy in winter, either northern tier or Rocky Mountain states.

Also, the legislated minimum wage isn’t nearly as important as what entry level unskilled jobs are actually paid. The defacto minimum in my state is much higher than the legislated minimum. Markets respond.

[vespa300]

Looks like “Family Fun” was among their top factors.

Kinda reminds me of when Abraham and Lot decided they had to part ways so Abraham gave Lot the first choice of where to go. Lot chose the more beautiful land, probably more family fun too.....Sodom.

How did that work out for him?

Like I’m going to take seriously some Godless organization recommendations on where to live. Get outta here.

[napscoordinator]

Ok. Then why is Mississippi such a mess in economic and education? Don’t they want to improve themselves? It’s been like this for decades.

[wgmalabama]

You have to look at where violent crime occurs, what is the common denominator and extrapolate from there. In addition crime prosecuted vs crime ignored and not prosecuted.

[buckalfa]

"Well, the WV Senator is off playing footsie with “Little Hitler” over in Davos."

Also do not forget his recent pow wow with Bill Gates. Despite WV being the most red of red states, Manchin will keep getting elected because he delivers federal pork to the Mountain State.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

The UNoffical motto of the state of Arkansas has always been...”Thank Heavens for Mississippi!”

Mississippi keeps Arkansas from being at the bottom of all lists.

Now Mississippi says “Thank Heavens for New Mexico!” Sad as NM used to be a great place to live 60 years ago. I still miss the 4-Corners area.

In all fairness. The two NW counties of Arkansas (Benton and Washington counties) are great places to live as the area is awash in Walmart money.

[suthener]

“What’s going on in The Magnolia State?”

White: 58.00%
Black or African American: 37.68%

[married21]

Wages are low in MS. But that state doesn’t just throw up its hands and accept defeat. There are a lot of industrial parks and factories. MSU, where my kids graduated from, has a lot of efforts to grow prosperity in rural MS, with agricultural, tech, entrepreneurial, educational projects.

The poor places of MS don’t have near the homelessness of CA.

And the rankings like this don’t take into account the intangibles, like basic Christian courtesy, that is part of daily life there.

I would never have chosen to send my California kids to MSU for college if I had not dared to visit and see it for myself. I didn’t know that the rankings were not telling the full story. No regrets. Hail State!!