Mass. Ranked Best State to Raise a Family in the US – NECN

If you are thinking of starting a family and are looking for good places to raise your children, you might do so in New England.

In fact, Massachusetts was named the best state in the US to raise a family, according to a wallethub studio. When comparing categories such as family fun, health and safety, education, affordability and socioeconomics, the Bay State ranked first in the nation, beating Minnesota and New York.

In all, WalletHub scored what it called “51 key familiarity indicators.” Everything from median household income to housing affordability to unemployment rates was used to determine the list, according to the personal finance site.

Massachusetts scored well for child care and education (2nd), affordability (2nd), and health and safety (5th). It also ranked ninth in family fun. Worst category for Massachusetts? Socioeconomics, where the state was ranked 22nd.

While Massachusetts residents can brag, the rest of New England also finished very high, with Vermont and New Hampshire in the top five. Vermont was fifth, immediately followed by New Hampshire in sixth.

Connecticut and Rhode Island ranked 10th and 11th, respectively, and Maine ranked 16th.

Vermont ranked first for health and safety and second for socioeconomics, while New Hampshire ranked third for health and safety. Connecticut ranked first in affordability.

Other states in the top 10 include North Dakota, New Jersey, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Many of the states at the bottom of the list are in the South and Southwest. Rounding out the bottom of the list were South Carolina, Louisiana, West Virginia, New Mexico, and Mississippi.

Here’s a look at the full list, according to WalletHub:

1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. New York
4. North Dakota
5. Vermont
6. New Hampshire
7. New Jersey
8. Nebraska
9. Iowa
10. Connecticut
11. Rhode Island
12. Washington
13. Illinois
14. South Dakota
15. Utah
16. Maine
17. Wisconsin
18. Pennsylvania
19. Maryland
20. Colorado
21. Virginia
22. California
23. Hawaii
24. Oregon
25. Montana
26. Texas
27. Wyoming
28. Missouri
29. Kansas
30. Delaware
31. Ohio
32. Florida
33. Tennessee
34. Indiana
35. Idaho
36. Michigan
37. Kentucky
38. Alaska
39. North Carolina
40. Nevada
41. Arizona
42. Georgia
43. Oklahoma
44. Arkansas
45. Alabama
46. South Carolina
47. Louisiana
48. West Virginia
49. New Mexico
50. Mississippi