January report from WalletHub compared the 50 states to determine the best place in the country to raise a family. States were assessed and ranked along five key dimensions:
- Family fun
- Health and Safety
- Education & Childcare
- Accessibility
- socioeconomically
WalletHub used 50 relevant metrics, including pediatricians per capita, day care and quality services, and housing affordability, each rated on a 100-point scale, to determine which states had the most favorable conditions for family life.
The report found that the ideal city to raise a family is affordable to live in during times of high inflation, but also offers good schools, entertainment and healthcare.
For the second year in a row, Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family. The New England state earned an overall score of 66.97 and ranked first in education and child care.
The state is home to some of the best schools in the country, including Harvard and MIT. The public school system is also among the best in the world, according to Niche.
Massachusetts ranks as the best state to raise a family, according to WalletHub.
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When it comes to the cost of living in Massachusetts, it is 50% higher than the national average. Housing is 124% higher than the national average, while utilities are 14% higher, according to Salary scale.
The median home value in Massachusetts is $588,621, up 6.7% over the past year, while the median rent for all bedrooms and all property types in Massachusetts is $3,050, according to Zillow.
- Massachusetts
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New York
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- South Dakota
- Rhodes island
- Vermont
North Dakota ranked No. 2 on the list, up two spots from No. 4 in 2023.
The Midwest state also ranked No. 2 in education and child care and No. 1 in socioeconomics.
North Dakota was ranked as the No. 2 state for starting a family, according to WalletHub.
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North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. at 1.9 percent and is among the states with the strongest labor market, according to Forbes.
The cost of living in north dakota is 4% below the national average, housing is 12% below the national average, and utilities are 0%.
In a separate WalletHub report, North Dakota also ranks as one of the least stressed states in the US
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