Here's Where RI Ranks Among Best States To Raise A Family

Rhode Island ranked 11th in the country in a new report identifying the best states to raise a family.

Rhode Island was among several Northeastern states near the top of ConsumerAffairs' 2026 list of the best states to raise a family, which was released this week.

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

Rhode Island earned high marks for its safety and healthcare, coming in at fourth and second, respectively. Education was closer to the middle of the pack at 19th.

However, raising children in Rhode Island comes at a significant cost. The state has one the highest average costs of raising a child, coming in at 46th.

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

Connecticut took the No. 1 spot, climbing from sixth place in 2025. The state ranked among the top five nationally for safety, health care and public education.

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 affordability most heavily, accounting for 30% of each state's score. Safety accounted for 25%, education 20%, health care 15% and quality of life 10%.

See the full rankings and methodology at ConsumerAffairs.