UNDATED – With the cost of raising a child to age 18 exceeding $320,000, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst States to Raise a Family in 2026, as well as expert commentary, to highlight the states that are affordable, safe, well-educated and enjoyable for families to live in.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 50 key indicators of family-friendliness, including median annual family income, housing affordability, health care quality, crime rate, and school quality.
South Dakota ranked just outside the top ten at 11th.
| Best States for Families | Worst States for Families |
| 1. Massachusetts | 41. Georgia |
| 2. Minnesota | 42. South Carolina |
| 3. North Dakota | 43. Oklahoma |
| 4. Wisconsin | 44. Arkansas |
| 5. Nebraska | 45. Louisiana |
| 6. New York | 46. Alabama |
| 7. Connecticut | 47. Nevada |
| 8. New Hampshire | 48. Mississippi |
| 9. Illinois | 49. West Virginia |
| 10. Maine | 50. New Mexico |
Best vs. Worst
- Utah has the lowest separation & divorce rate, 1.7 times lower than in New Mexico, which has the highest rate.
- New Hampshire has the lowest share of families living in poverty, 3.3 times lower than in Mississippi, which has the highest share.
- South Dakota has the lowest average annual cost of early childcare (as a share of median family income), 2.5 times lower than in New Mexico, which has the highest.
- Maine has the fewest violent crimes per capita, 7.2 times fewer than in Alaska, which has the most.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-raise-a-family/31065
