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WalletHub released its 2024 Best & Worst States to Raise a Family ranking, and right near the top of the list is New York.
In spite of being ranked last among the 50 states in the study’s Child Care Costs category, The Empire State still managed to come in at No. 5 in the overall ranking, behind Massachusetts, North Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska, ranked one through four, respectively.
Helping overcome New York’s pricy child care dilemma was its No. 3 ranking in the Family Fun category. Another low point, though, is that New York ranked second-to-last in Affordable Housing, placing only above California, according to the study released by WalletHub on Monday.
High childcare costs on Long Island force many parents to resort to dropping off their babies and toddlers with unlicensed home daycare operators.
To determine which states are best to raise a family, WalletHub compared the states across five key dimensions: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socio-economics. Within these categories were individual metrics — such as the availability of parks and playgrounds, levels of air pollution and water quality, crime rates, parental leave, affordable housing, job security and graduation rates.
“It’s crucial to consider economic factors when deciding where to raise a family, like the job market, average income and housing costs. It’s also important to look beyond dollars and cents, as things like low-quality schools, a bad healthcare system, natural disasters, or a high crime rate can turn the already-stressful process of parenting into a nightmare.”
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst
Click around the map below to see the overall ranking for each state. You’ll notice that New Mexico ranks last in the overall ranking. Nearby, Connecticut is No. 12, New Jersey is No. 17 and Pennsylvania is No. 21.
Try moving to Utah or Montana if you desire to stay hitched. They’re ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, for lowest divorce rates. Closer to home, New Jersey has the third-lowest divorce rate among the 50 states.
WalletHub says New Mexico has the highest divorce rate. Ironically, Nevada, which is home to Las Vegas, the “Marriage Capital of the World” because of the ease of acquiring a marriage license there, has the second highest divorce rate.
