Anyone with kids will tell you that there a lot of things to consider when deciding where you want to raise your family. While a lot of people may stick to the state they grew up in, they may do better moving to another state, and a new report reveals which ones they may want to consider.
WalletHub looked at all 50 states in the U.S., judging them on 42 different factors to determine which are the best states in the country to raise a family. They looked at such key factors as cost of housing, share of families with young children, quality of local schools, and healthcare, as well as if there are opportunities for fun and recreation.
So, what state should you pick up and move to if you want to do the best by your fam? Well, Massachusetts tops the list, with an overall score of 63.37 out of 100, getting high marks for family fun, health and safety and affordability.
Top Ten Best States To Raise A Family In the U.S.
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- New York
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- California
On the flipside, New Mexico is considered worst state in the U.S. to raise a kid, with a total score of just 32.68, coming in dead last for education and childcare and second to least for socio-economic rank.
The Ten Worst States To Raise A Family In the U.S.
- New Mexico
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Nevada
Where did PA end up? The 18th Best State! Right ahead of South Dakota (Suck it, South Dakotians!)
Click here to see where your state wound up on the list.