Having a baby is a big decision, and as much as you may want to become a parent, there are a lot of things to consider before welcoming a child into the world. And believe it or not, where you live may play a huge role in that decision, since some states are certainly better for having a child than others.
WalletHub has just come out with its list of the Best and Worst States To Have A Baby. They looked at the 50 states and the District of Columbia, judging them on 32 key measures of having a child. The factors range in areas of cost, healthcare, baby friendliness, and family friendliness.
With all that in mind, Massachusetts earns the honor of best state to have a child earning a score of 67.84 out of 100. Massachusetts comes in at number one for family friendliness, two for healthcare, and five for baby friendliness. It isn’t cheap though, with Massachusetts landing at 34 for cost. District of Columbia is tops for baby friendliness, while Vermont, second overall, is tops for healthcare, and Ohio is tops for cost.
Top Ten Best States To Have A Baby
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- North Dakota
- Washington
- Iowa
- Utah
On the flip side, folks here in South Carolina may want to reconsider having a child. The state was named one of the worst places to have a baby, earning just a 26.31 and landing close to the bottom in all areas.
Ten Worst States To Have A Baby
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Georgia
- Florida
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- West Virginia
- Nevada
While South Carolina may have earned a 26.31, North Carolina isn’t too far behind them. North Carolina came in 41st and earned a 37.21. Find out where the other states landed here.