IL Among Best States To Have A Baby, New Study Says

Illinois is the 21st-best state in the country to have a baby, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics ranging from affordability and health care access to baby- and family-friendliness.

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"The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said.

"They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier."

Illinois generally fared well in the rankings, landing at ninth for family-friendliness, but fared least well in the baby-friendliness category, sitting at 37th. The state ranked 23rd for health care and 28th for cost.

The top 10 states in the ranking include:

1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. North Dakota
4. Rhode Island
5. New Hampshire
6. Maine
7. Connecticut
8. Vermont
9. Washington
10. District of Columbia

Illinois ranked between Colorado at 20th and South Dakota at 22nd.

Read the full story at WalletHub.