These are the best states to raise a family

Americans growing their family tree should consider one affordable US region to put down their roots.

The personal-finance company WalletHub released a report on the best and worst states to raise a family in 2026, based on 50 key indicators of family-friendliness. They include median annual family income, housing affordability, healthcare quality, crime rate and quality of education.

Four out of the top five slots were taken up by famously cost-effective Midwestern states. But one in the Northeast secured the top spot.

The US Department of Agriculture estimated that the cost of raising a child to age 18 now exceeds $320,000 — an unfathomable price tag for the many young Americans who are having to delay buying a home until middle-age.

In light of the expensive nature of being a parent and the responsibility it entails, it’s important to live in a city that is affordable while still providing quality health care, education, safety and opportunities for enrichment,” wrote WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo in the report.

Despite enduring savings offered by the Midwest, it was New England that took the family-friendly cake.

The state of Massachusetts earned the study’s highest family-friendly score. The win was thanks in large part to the state’s ample economic opportunities and high safety score.

That doesn’t mean Massachusetts is cheap, however. Housing and child care costs are high compared to the rest of the country, but with the third-best job security in the country and the ninth-lowest poverty rate, parents can rest easy there.

Given the state’s highly ranked public school systems, they may also look forward to sending their children to Massachusetts’ top-notch institutions, including Harvard and MIT.

Midwestern states took up every other slot in the top five rankings, however. Second-place state Minnesota was immediately followed by North Dakota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Despite its harsh winters, Minnesotans are warmed by the country’s second-highest median income at at over $109,000, adjusted for the cost of living, as well as the second-lowest poverty rate among US families.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes was followed by nearby neighbors North Dakota and Wisconsin. The average annual rent for a two-bed in Dakota costs less than 12% of the state’s median income — the lowest percentage in the country, according to WalletHub.

New York State ranked sixth overall, thanks to high rankings in health and safety and socioeconomics — yet a lack of affordable housing remained a sticking point.