These Are the Worst States to Raise a Family In: Report

Rising debt burdens and inflation have made it more difficult for most Americans to raise a family.

But a WalletHub study found that living in some states — including New Mexico, Mississippi, and West Virginia — can make that already difficult feat even more challenging.

WalletHub analyzed factors such as affordability, health and safety, education, and the "family fun factor" to determine which states are the most family-friendly.

Massachusetts came in the top slot, thanks to a high safety rating and plenty of job opportunities for parents. The cost of living is generally higher, WalletHub said, but that evens out because the state also has a higher average income. The state also ranks first in education and hosts some of the country's top universities, including MIT and Harvard.

North Dakota comes in second place, offering affordable housing and rent, low divorce rates, and easy access to nature, including the Great Plains and the badlands, a stretch of canyons with striking rock formations. In third place, Minnesota sports the country's third-highest life expectancy as well as an abundance of parks, playgrounds, and lakes.

New Mexico came in last place: It got low marks in health and safety, education and childcare, and affordability.

Mississippi fell second to last in part due to having fewer family-friendly attractions as well as fewer families with children.

Experts told WalletHub that one of the best ways to learn about whether a particular state is right for one's family is by simply talking with families who already live there and learning about their experiences.

It's also important to consider a state's legal and political landscape, Sarah Pierotti, a human development professor at Penn State-DuBois, told WalletHub.

"As an example, consider a family that dreams of having a child and is struggling with infertility," Pierotti said.

"Each state’s policies on reproductive healthcare are going to drastically affect the availability, legality, safety, and affordability of the options that the family has."

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