We all want our kids to thrive, but it's a little easier when you live in one of these states
If you’re a parent or thinking of becoming one, you want your kids to grow up in a safe, supportive place where they can grow, learn and thrive. Remember riding your bike all over town, or exploring the woods until it got dark? Even if those carefree days seem impossible now, in the back of your mind you probably have similar dreams for your kids too.
But choosing where to raise a family has become more complicated than ever. Rising housing costs, shifting job markets and ongoing concerns about school quality and community safety can make deciding where to put down roots a tough choice. You have to consider everything from the strength of local public schools to crime rates to health-care access—not to mention everyday affordability. (And that’s if you have a choice of where to live at all!)
To help families make sense of these trade-offs, we did a deep dive into a new report by WalletHub that looked at the best states to raise a family in 2026. Then we talked about the results with Cassandra D. Chaney, a professor of child and family studies at Louisiana State University. Ahead, you’ll find a practical guide for parents to help you give your kids the strongest possible start—without sacrificing your own financial well-being. Read on to see where your state ranks!
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How did the study determine the best state for families?
To identify the best states to raise a family in 2026, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states across five broad categories that matter most to parents and children: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socioeconomics.
Across those five categories, WalletHub’s number-crunchers looked at 50 individual data points reflecting real-world conditions affecting everyday family life. Each metric was weighted based on its relative importance and scored on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating more family-friendly outcomes.
States were then ranked from highest to lowest to reveal where families are most likely to thrive. Are you ready for the results?
What is the No. 1 state to raise a family?
The winner is Massachusetts! For the fourth year in a row, the Bay State ranked No. 1 on WalletHub’s report, offering families excellent public schools, top-ranked health care, low violent crime rates and access to cultural institutions and outdoor recreation. If you can handle the long winters, heavy traffic and steep taxes—which can be a challenge for many families—the state’s strong job market and quality of life are major draws.
Why did Massachusetts earn the top spot?
There are a number of key reasons Massachusetts earned the top spot. Here’s a look at why this state is the best place to raise a family.
Great public schools
When it comes to education, Massachusetts is tops—hands down. It has some of the best test scores in the country, and it ranks first in key metrics like fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math. High school students also do well, with the highest number of students scoring a “3” or better on AP exams, according to WalletHub. And obviously, college-level education is top rate, with Harvard, MIT and other major universities located across the state.
Chaney says living in a state with a strong education system can make a huge difference in a child’s future. Things like teacher salaries and qualifications, funding for early-childhood development, special education and other key educational needs “directly influence children’s academic achievement, long-term employment prospects and access to enrichment opportunities,” she says. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a place to raise smart, engaged little citizens, you could do way worse than Massachusetts.
Economic stability
“Economic conditions shape family stability,” Chaney says. “Research consistently shows that financial stability reduces household stress, supports stable housing and increases parents’ ability to invest time and resources in their children.”
That’s good news for Massachusetts residents! Maintaining a steady income is likely there, since it has the third-best job security numbers in the country. The state also has the ninth-lowest poverty rate, making it a place where people in different socioeconomic classes can thrive financially. Now, it’s important to keep in mind that Massachusetts is not the cheapest place to live, but the upsides are considerable.
Clean environment
Massachusetts scored high here, in large part due to the fact that the state has the fifth-best water quality in the country. That’s again good news for Mass residents, since “families living in safer states with cleaner environments face fewer stressors and are less exposed to trauma or toxins,” Chaney says. Massachusetts consistently ranks high in environmental sustainability and clean-energy initiatives, and they are continuing to improve their infrastructure and alternative-transportation networks. “This supports healthier physical development, stronger cognitive growth and improved emotional well-being,” Chaney says.
Commitment to children’s health
Kids can’t be healthy if they can’t get medical care, and Massachusetts has the highest rate of children with health insurance. It also has the third-lowest infant mortality rate. Both of these metrics are key to understanding why the state is such a great place to raise a family. “Children in states with stronger health-care infrastructures are more likely to receive preventive care, early interventions and consistent medical support, setting the stage for healthier development,” Chaney says.
What other states are in the top 10?
The 10 best states for raising a family were notably split between five Northeast states and five Midwest states, making both of these regions attractive for people looking to settle down and put down roots. Here are the states that rounded out the top 10:
Minnesota
Minnesota ranks as one of the best states for families thanks to high median incomes, low family poverty rates, strong retirement benefits and overall economic stability—though its long, cold winters can be a drawback. The state also excels in family well-being, with high life expectancy, top-rated hospitals, ample access to parks for children and one of the lowest separation and divorce rates in the country.
North Dakota
North Dakota stands out for affordability, offering the lowest rent burden in the nation (11.8% of the median income), relatively affordable home prices, low unemployment and one of the lowest family poverty rates. It also supports family stability and child development with low divorce rates, abundant high-quality day-care options, safe schools and a high share of families with children.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin ranked seventh in socioeconomic metrics, which measure everything from the state’s divorce rate to job security. The state was also in the top 10 for education and child care, making it a place where you can feel good about sending your kids to public school.
Nebraska
Like Wisconsin, Nebraska also performed well in both socioeconomic and education and child-care metrics. Notably, the state ranked fourth in affordable housing—a key consideration for families. However, the state did rank low in the number of families with young kids, which may be a drawback if you’re looking to live near other families with kids the same age as yours.
New York
Although the Empire State has a high cost of living—child-care costs in New York are almost the highest in the nation, and it’s also one of the states with the least affordable housing—it still ranked ninth in affordability. The state also received high scores in the family fun and education and child-care categories.
Connecticut
Connecticut climbed high into the top 10 by being the No. 1 state for affordability in the nation. The state also has the third-lowest rate of violent crimes per capita in the country, making it a safe place to live as well.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has the lowest percentage of families living in poverty in the country, the lowest infant mortality rate and the second-lowest rate of violent crimes per capita, all of which helped give the state the second-best overall health and safety ranking. The state also placed within the top 10 for both socioeconomic and education and child-care metrics.
Illinois
Ranking third in overall family fun is the Land of Lincoln, offering a wide mix of affordable, kid-friendly attractions across both urban and outdoor settings. Notably, Illinois also ranked third overall in median family income, meaning that families can enjoy time together and have financial stability as well.
Maine
Maine has the lowest rate of violent crimes per capita and ranks third overall in education and child care, two distinctions that helped get the state into the top 10. It also ranked in the top 10 in both socioeconomic and health and safety metrics.
How do the other states compare?
Here’s the full list of 50 states, ranked from best to worst for raising a family.
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Nebraska
- New York
- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- Illinois
- Maine
- South Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- New Jersey
- Colorado
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Utah
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Hawaii
- Wyoming
- Montana
- Virginia
- Missouri
- Kansas
- California
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Delaware
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- Alaska
- Kentucky
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Nevada
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
RELATED:
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Sources:
- Cassandra D. Chaney, PhD, endowed professor in human development and family science at LSU; interviewed, January 2026
- WalletHub: “Best & Worst States to Raise a Family (2026)”
- WalletHub: “States with the Best & Worst School Systems (2026)”
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts: “Clean Energy Rankings/Progress”
