FL Ranks Low Among Top States For Raising Families

FLORIDA — A new look at the best states to raise a family in had Florida ranked among the bottom 20 states on personal finance website WalletHub's list for 2025.

WalletHub released its rankings on Jan. 13, grading each state on family fun, health and safety, housing affordability, healthcare quality, family income, crime rate, child-care costs and education.

Florida ranked No. 33 overall on the list.

The Sunshine State earned its highest marks for family fun. But, the state earned low scores for affordability and personal income, affecting its ranking as a good state in which to raise a family, according to WalletHub.

Here are the top 10 states to raise a family in, according to WalletHub:

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

The ideal state is one that’s affordable to live in that also offers a high degree of safety and good job prospects, on top of quality education, healthcare and entertainment, WalletHub's editors said.

To help people find cities with the perfect combination of those factors, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 50 key indicators of family-friendliness.

“Raising a family has become significantly more expensive in recent years as the cost of living has risen quickly. In fact, it can cost a family well over $300,000 to raise a child to age 18, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 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,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst.

See the full list at WalletHub.