Getting ready to start a family? Massachusetts is the place to be, a new report from WalletHub found.
Massachusetts topped the Wallet Hub’s list of the best places to raise a family. The report ranked all 50 states based on 51 factors, from the number of fitness and sports centers per capita to housing affordability and the wealth gap. Each of these metrics was assigned to one of five categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability, and socio-economics.
Massachusetts captured the No. 1 spot thanks to second-place rankings in the affordability and education/child care categories. The state also boasted the third lowest infant mortality rate and the fifth-highest percentage of residents 12 years old and older who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Massachusetts isn’t the only family-friendly New England state, however. Three others made it into the top 10:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Vermont
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- Connecticut
- Washington
- North Dakota
- New Jersey
Rhode Island just missed at No. 11, while Maine came in at No. 17.
The worst states for families, according to the study, are:
50. Mississippi
49. New Mexico
48. Louisiana
47. South Carolina
46. Oklahoma
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?
- How might Biden’s proposals related to child care and paid family leave affect child and family well-being?
- In evaluating the best states for families, what are the top five indicators?
Read More at Wallet Hub
Resources: