CT Ranks Among Best States To Raise A Family, New Report Says

Connecticut has been named the best state in the country to raise a family, according to a new report.

The Nutmeg State ranked No. 1 nationally in ConsumerAffairs' 2026 list of the best states to raise a family, climbing from sixth place in 2025.

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ConsumerAffairs compared all 50 states across five categories: affordability, safety, education, health care and quality of life.

Connecticut earned particularly high marks for safety, health care and public education, ranking among the top five states nationally in all three categories.

However, affordability remains an important consideration for families weighing where to live. The study gave affordability the greatest weight of any category, accounting for 30% of each state's overall score. Connecticut ranked 45th in the country in affordability.

Overall, the Northeast dominated the rankings, with seven of the top 10 states located in the region.

New York ranked second, followed by Maine and Massachusetts.

Here are the top 10 states to raise a family, according to ConsumerAffairs:

1. Connecticut
2. New York
3. Maine
4. Massachusetts
5. New Jersey
6. Wyoming
7. New Hampshire
8. Virginia
9. Iowa
10. Vermont

Alaska ranked last, followed by Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana and New Mexico.

The study weighted safety at 25% of each state's score, education at 20%, health care at 15% and quality of life at 10%.

See the full rankings and methodology at ConsumerAffairs.