MA Named Leader Among Best States To Raise A Family, New Report Says

MASSACHUSETTS — The Bay State once again leads the country as the best state to raise a family in. Massachusetts ranked No. 1 on personal finance website WalletHub's list for 2025, just as it did last year.

WalletHub compared 50 states across 50 key indicators of family-friendliness, including factors like the median annual family income, housing affordability, health care quality, crime rate, and school quality.

Massachusetts ranked No. 1 for education and child care as well as affordability. It had a strong showing other categories as well, ranking No. 5 in health and safety and No. 11 for family fun.

"Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family, in large part because it provides a good blend of economic opportunities and safe conditions for children," according to WalletHub. "The Bay State has the best job security in the country and the 10th-lowest poverty rate, which increases the likelihood that parents will be able to provide for their children. It’s not the cheapest state, as housing and child care costs are relatively high compared to most of the nation, but residents make up for this with fairly high incomes."

Other factors working in the state's favor include the best water quality in the country, the highest rate of children with health insurance, and the lowest infant mortality rate. It also has the second-highest overall life expectancy and third-lowest property crime rate.

Overall, New England had a strong showing with New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut all ranking high.

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

1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. North Dakota
4. Nebraska
5. New Hampshire
6. New York
7. Illinois
8. Wisconsin
9. Maine
10. Connecticut

See the full list at WalletHub.

See related: MA Is The State With The Best Public Schools, Analysis Says

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