Here Are the 10 Best States To Raise Your Family in 2026

Picking a place to put down roots and raise your family is one of the most important choices you’ll make in life as a parent. We all want to raise our children in environments where they can grow, thrive, and enjoy a high quality of life.

There’s so much to consider, including schools, safety, and the cost of living. To help simplify the decision-making, WalletHub released its Best and Worst States to Raise a Family report for 2026. It evaluated all 50 states using 50 key indicators.

As Chip Lupo, an analyst for WalletHub, points out, being a parent is extremely expensive, and it’s “important to live in a city that is affordable while still providing quality health care, education, safety, and opportunities for enrichment.”

Here’s what the company found and why it matters.

The Best States To Raise a Family

Here are all the states that made the top 10:

• 1. Massachusetts
• 2. Minnesota
• 3. North Dakota
• 4. Wisconsin
• 5. Nebraska
• 6. New York
• 7. Connecticut
• 8. New Hampshire
• 9. Illinois
• 10. Maine

The Bay State is still No. 1

Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family, thanks to its blend of economic opportunities and a strong safety record for children. The state boasts the third-best job security in the nation and has the ninth-lowest poverty rate. Although it’s not the least expensive state, low poverty rates combined with high income opportunities mean parents can afford to give their children the lifestyle they dream of. 

On the health and wellness front, Massachusetts has the highest number of children with health insurance and the lowest infant mortality rate. When it comes to education, Massachusetts ranks first among public school systems. All of these factors combined helped the Bay State hold on to its No. 1 ranking for the second year in a row.

Minnesota is more than its winter

Don’t let the cold winters deter you. This upper Midwest state is a great place to raise families. Minnesota has the second-highest median family income after adjustment for cost of living and the second-lowest poverty rate. This narrow wealth gap places Minnesota high in the affordability ranks. Not only do companies in Minnesota offer competitive salaries, but the state also ranks high in reliable long-term benefits.  

Living in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” offers some significant health benefits, too. This state ranks fifth in life expectancy at birth and boasts the sixth-best public hospitals in the United States. It also has the eighth-highest percentage of children with close access to a park or playground. Minnesota also holds on to the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive year.

North Dakota is a hidden gem

Although this north-central state is one of the least densely populated in the country, it’s one of the best states for families. It has a high number of child care centers per capita and the fourth-highest daycare quality. Low unemployment and poverty rates, and high-quality options for child care and education place North Dakota solidly in the top three. 

Notably, it offers huge savings on rent with a two-bedroom apartment costing under 12% of the state’s median income. If you’re ready to take on a mortgage, the median home price is the ninth-cheapest relative to median annual family income. It’s also worth noting that North Dakota has one of the lowest separation and divorce rates. All of this and more enabled it to hold on to the third spot on the list.

States That Struggle

Where there are states that shine, there are ones that struggle, and according to WalletHub, New Mexico ranks as the most challenging state to raise a family in 2026. It came in last in education and child care and in the bottom five in socioeconomics. It’s followed closely by West Virginia and Mississippi. These two states nearly tied in their overall score, with low ranks, high poverty rates, and low marks in health and safety.

Here is the complete list of states in the bottom 10:

• 41. Georgia
• 42. South Carolina
• 43. Oklahoma
• 44. Arkansas
• 45. Louisiana
• 46. Alabama
• 47. Nevada
• 48. Mississippi
• 49. West Virginia
• 50. New Mexico

What’s Behind the Rankings?

The states were evaluated on 50 factors. These were all indicators of family-friendliness, such as median income, housing affordability, health care quality, crime rates, and schools. They were scored across the following categories to determine the school’s overall ranking.

• Family Fun: The number of attractions, fitness and recreation centers per capita, as well as the share of children living within walking distance of a park or playground, were considered.
• Health and Safety: Water and air quality, violent and property crime rates per capita, and road safety ratings around schools were among the factors evaluated in this category.
• Education and Child Care: The quality of public school systems, parent graduation rates, and the number of child care workers available per child were all weighed.
• Affordability: This includes things like housing, credit scores, mortgage debt, and college savings.
• Socioeconomics: Poverty rates, along with separation and divorce rates, are driving factors, along with foreclosure rates and the wealth gap. 

Data was gathered from multiple sources, including the Census Bureau, the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. News & World Report, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Why It’s Important

The report also consulted several experts to answer questions on what families should look for when choosing where to settle down and why it even matters. The state a family decides to raise their children directly impacts their quality of life and their children’s development, according to M.H. Raza, PhD, associate professor at Missouri State University. 

Stephanie Gonzalez Guittar, PhD, associate professor at Rollins College, reminds us that “proper child development necessitates a supportive environment at home, school, and community.” This is especially true of families with children with special needs who require additional support, something that varies widely from state to state.

If states want to rise in the rankings and become more appealing to new families, Cassandra D. Chaney, PhD, of Louisiana State University, says they should invest in their education systems and in accessible child care. Family-friendly policies, such as expanded paid parental leave, would also help. 

You Can Be a Great Parent Anywhere

Although these rankings can help guide parents, ultimately, our decisions depend on our personal circumstances and the unique dynamics of our families. The most important thing is to be the best parent you can be, both at home and in the broader community, wherever that is.