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Mass. named best state to raise a family — again
For the sixth year in a row, WalletHub says strong schools and high incomes outweigh the state’s steep costs.
Massachusetts has once again been crowned the best state in the country to raise a family, marking its sixth straight year at No. 1, according to a new WalletHub analysis.
The personal finance site scored all 50 states across five categories, including education and child care, health and safety, affordability, family fun, and socio-economics.
Drawing on data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, TripAdvisor, and others, the study found the Bay State continues to outperform the nation on factors the ranking says matter most to families.
What sets Massachusetts apart?
“It provides a good blend of economic opportunities and safe conditions for children,” wrote Adam McCann, WalletHub financial writer.
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McCann noted that Massachusetts ranks third in job security and ninth in poverty rate, which increases the likelihood that parents will be able to provide for their children.
While Massachusetts is not the cheapest state — with high housing and child care costs compared with the rest of the nation — McCann said that residents make up for it with high incomes.
In addition, Massachusetts has the fifth-best water quality in the country, the highest rate of children with health insurance, and the third-lowest infant mortality rate. The state also has the second-highest overall life expectancy and fourth-lowest property crime rate.
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When it comes to education, McCann wrote, “Massachusetts isn’t just famous for universities like Harvard and MIT — it also ranks first among the states with the best public school systems for children.”
The top 10 rankings:
New England fared well overall in the rankings, with four of the top 10 coming from the region.
| Ranking | Got High Marks For |
| 1. Massachusetts | Education & Childcare (1), Affordability (3), Health & Safety (3) |
| 2. Minnesota | Affordability (4) |
| 3. North Dakota | Socio-economics (2), Education & Child Care (4), Health & Safety (7) |
| 4. Wisconsin | Socio-economics (7) |
| 5. Nebraska | Education & Childcare (6), Socio-economics (8) |
| 6. New York | Family Fun (5), Education & Childcare (8), Affordability (9) |
| 7. Connecticut | Affordability (1), Education & Childcare (5) |
| 8. New Hampshire | Health & Safety (2), Socio-economics (5), Education & Childcare (7) |
| 9. Illinois | Family Fun (3) |
| 10. Maine | Education & Childcare (3), Health & Safety (6), Socio-econimics (6) |
Rhode Island ranked lower on the list at No. 16 overall, but took second in affordability. Vermont ranked No. 17 overall, but ranked No. 1 in health and safety.
Here’s a map of the complete ranking:
Source: WalletHub
Other studies tell a different story:
Of course, this ranking comes with some caveats. Other recent rankings have told quite a different story.
A SmartAsset report found that Massachusetts is the most expensive state for a family of four to live comfortably, saying a family would need an income of over $300,000 to do so.
SmartAsset also ranks Massachusetts as the most expensive state for raising a child under five, with an annual cost of $44,221 in 2025, up 5.72% from 2024. The costs include additional housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and child care for working parents. Massachusetts costs are almost double the national average of $27,743.
In addition, a recent Suffolk poll found that one in three people in Massachusetts have considered leaving over costs.
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