NJ Ranks Among Top 10 States To Raise A Family: Report

NEW JERSEY - When it comes to finding a place to raise a family, there are an array of factors to consider, including public education quality, safety and affordability. According to a new ranking from personal finance website WalletHub, New Jersey places among the top ten states in the country.

Narrowly beat by states like Minnesota (first place, 60.88), Massachusetts (second place, 60.57) and New York (fourth place, 59.80), New Jersey comes in seventh place with an overall score of 58.76 in 2020.

Here’s how New Jersey compares to each state:

Family Fun: No. 18

Health and Safety: No. 26

Education and Child Care: No. 1

Affordability: No. 1

Socioeconomics: No. 19

The Garden State also ranked No. 4 in highest median family income, No. 2 in lowest infant mortality rate, No. 5 in fewest violent crimes per capita and No. 3 in lowest separation and divorce rate.

According to the list, the worst places to raise a family in 2020 include Mississippi and Louisiana. New Mexico ranks last at No. 50.

The list was generated by comparing the 50 states across 52 key indicators of family-friendliness, such as median family salary, housing affordability and unemployment rate. Each state received individual rankings in five categories before a weighted average score was calculated to determine a state's overall ranking.

See below for how each state compares: