Best States to Raise a Family 2025

Massachusetts
66.1
Minnesota
62.1
New York
61.1
North Dakota
59.6
Vermont
59.3
New Hampshire
58.2
New Jersey
58.1
Nebraska
58
Iowa
57
Connecticut
57
Rhode Island
57
Washington
56.3
Illinois
55.5
South Dakota
55.5
Utah
55.3
Maine
55
Wisconsin
54.9
Pennsylvania
53.9
Maryland
53.4
Colorado
53.3
Virginia
52.6
California
52
Hawaii
51.4
Oregon
50.5
Montana
50.5
Texas
49.7
Wyoming
49.6
Kansas
49.2
Missouri
49.2
Delaware
47.9
Ohio
47.7
Florida
47.3
Tennessee
46.2
Indiana
45.8
Idaho
45.7
Michigan
45.5
Kentucky
45.4
Alaska
44.7
North Carolina
43.1
Nevada
41.4
Arizona
40.4
Georgia
40.2
Oklahoma
38.5
Arkansas
38.5
Alabama
37.4
South Carolina
37.2
Louisiana
36.8
West Virginia
34.9
New Mexico
30.8
Mississippi
30
State
Total Score
Affordability
Education and Child Care
Family Fun
Health and Safety
Socioeconomics
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts66.1229522
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota62.17121385
New York Flag
New York61.16142946
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota59.616132161
Vermont Flag
Vermont59.32674612
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire58.22253638
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey58.133231325
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska5824619106
Iowa Flag
Iowa5799311410
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut571829731
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island5741927427
Washington Flag
Washington56.353182319
Illinois Flag
Illinois55.5112542945
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota55.5251130127
Utah Flag
Utah55.3331518194
Maine Flag
Maine5532445214
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin54.91313212511
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania53.91724112120
Maryland Flag
Maryland53.4810251736
Colorado Flag
Colorado53.3193273115
Virginia Flag
Virginia52.62017281517
California Flag
California52214513240
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii51.4403315623
Oregon Flag
Oregon50.51440102026
Montana Flag
Montana50.5461834243
Texas Flag
Texas49.7352934744
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming49.64516371112
Kansas Flag
Kansas49.21822383513
Missouri Flag
Missouri49.22723223416
Delaware Flag
Delaware47.91221442238
Ohio Flag
Ohio47.71536162842
Florida Flag
Florida47.3503063935
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee46.23026204024
Indiana Flag
Indiana45.82327333818
Idaho Flag
Idaho45.7444339189
Michigan Flag
Michigan45.51041412628
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky45.42820433034
Alaska Flag
Alaska44.73744172721
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina43.13937243729
Nevada Flag
Nevada41.4494954248
Arizona Flag
Arizona40.44848123633
Georgia Flag
Georgia40.24135264641
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma38.53139404843
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas38.53428484532
Alabama Flag
Alabama37.42938474437
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina37.23846424139
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana36.83647144949
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia34.94342503330
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico30.84750354347
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi304234495050
  • All data except Wallethub total score are expressed as rankings from 1 (best) to 50 (worst). All data pertain to 2023.
  • Wallethub (top table) determines overall rankings by comparing the 50 states across 51 key indicators of family friendliness, ranging from the median annual family income to housing affordability and the unemployment rate.
  • MoneyRates (lower table) determines overall rankings by comparing the 50 states across 9 factors: academic performance, availability of youth checking accounts, overall affordability, college affordability, safety from crime, access to daycare, child health, kid-friendly neighborhood amenities, and broadband availability.