Here’s How MA Ranks For Raising A Family

Massachusetts is the second-best state in America to raise a family, according to a recent report by the folks at WalletHub.

To arrive at the rankings, WalletHub researchers looked at dozens of metrics in the following categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socio-economics. Many of the factors were weighted in the final calculations. The number of family-oriented attractions received a triple weight, for example, while quality of public schools and paid family leave both received a double weight.

Here’s a breakdown of the rankings for Massachusetts, which trailed only Minnesota as a great place to raise a family:

• Overall ranking: 2
• Family fun: 7
• Health and safety: 3
• Education and child care: 3
• Affordability: 21
• Socioeconomics: 19

The best state to raise a family is Minnesota, the study concluded. The Gopher State didn’t rank No. 1 in any single category, but it made the top 10 in four out of the five. Furthermore, Minnesotans have the highest median family salary in the country when adjusted for cost of living. The state also has one of the lowest percentages of families living in poverty and one of the lowest divorce rates.

Overall, northern states tended to perform better in the rankings. Six of the top 10 states were in the Northeast and three in the Great Plains. Here are the top 10 states to raise a family:

1. Minnesota
2. Massachusetts
3. North Dakota
4. Vermont
5. New Hampshire
6. New York
7. Wisconsin
8. New Jersey
9. Rhode Island
10. Nebraska

States in the South and Southwest tended to perform worst in the rankings. That includes New Mexico, which ranked dead last. New Mexico’s best ranking was 36th for family fun. The state placed in the bottom 10 in the other four rankings, including 50th for socio-economics.

Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia and Alabama rounded out the bottom five, with Mississippi ranking among the very worst in divorce rate, percent of families living in poverty and infant mortality.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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