Americans growing their family tree should consider one affordable 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, health care quality, crime rate and quality of education.
Four out of the top five slots were taken by famously cost-effective Midwestern states. But one in the Northeast secured the top spot.
Midwestern states like Wisconsin ranked highly in the new report. Southport Images – stock.adobe.com
The cost of raising a child in the US has exceeded the price of some starter homes. didesign – stock.adobe.comThe Department of Agriculture estimated that the cost of raising a child to 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.
Massachusetts claimed the top spot thanks to a combination of a strong job market and a high public safety score. Mark Lotterhand – stock.adobe.com
Idyllic towns like Leicester, Mass., attract families looking for a safe and quiet community. Belia – stock.adobe.comMassachusetts 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 system, they may also look forward to sending their children to Massachusetts’ top-notch institutions, including Harvard and MIT.
Colder US climates seem to go hand-in-hand with affordable prices — Midwestern states dominated the WalletHub report. Annie – stock.adobe.comMidwestern states took up every other slot in the top five rankings, however. Second-place Minnesota was followed by North Dakota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
Despite its harsh winters, Minnesotans are warmed by the country’s second-highest median income at over $109,000, adjusted for the cost of living, as well as the second-lowest poverty rate.
North Dakota residents shopping around for two-bed rentals can expect the country’s lowest rent burden. Tom – stock.adobe.com
New York’s famously pricey housing market is nicely balanced out by factors like its excellent health care and socio-economic prospects. Aurora East Media – stock.adobe.comThe average annual rent for a two-bedroom in North Dakota costs less than 12% of the state’s median income — the lowest percentage in the country, according to WalletHub.
New York ranked sixth, thanks to high rankings in health and safety and socioeconomics — a lack of affordable housing remained a sticking point.
