RI Earns High Marks As Family-Friendly State In New Study

Rhode Island is once again drawing national attention as a strong place to raise children, according to a new study from personal finance website WalletHub.

The report evaluated all 50 states across 50 indicators tied to family life, including education and child care, health and safety, affordability, socioeconomics and family-friendly activities. Researchers compared everything from school quality and crime rates to income growth and housing costs to determine which states offer the most supportive environments for families.

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Rhode Island performed particularly well in affordability, where it was No. 2. The Ocean State also scored highly for health and safety, and education and child care.

WalletHub analysts said states that rank well tend to offer a mix of strong schools, safe communities and economic opportunity.

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Several other New England states also scored well in the WalletHub study. Massachusetts performed particularly well in education and child care, where it was No. 1, an area long considered one of the state’s strengths.

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New Hampshire ranked among the strongest nearby performers, boosted by safety and overall quality-of-life measures.

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Vermont and Maine earned solid marks for well-being and community factors, while Connecticut and Rhode Island landed closer to the middle of the pack, weighed down by affordability concerns.

Check out the full study by clicking here.

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