What state is best to raise a family?

Massachusetts is often cited as the best state for raising a family due to top-tier education, strong economy, good health outcomes, and safety, though expensive housing, with Minnesota and North Dakota also ranking high for income, affordability, and family stability, according to recent WalletHub analyses. Midwest states like Wisconsin and Nebraska also feature in top rankings, balancing cost with quality of life, but factors like housing costs vs. income and childcare quality heavily influence the overall "best" state for your family's needs.

What is the best state to raise a family in the US?

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Minnesota frequently rank as top states for raising families in 2025/2026 reports, excelling in areas like health, safety, education, and affordability, with Vermont and North Dakota also scoring high, though affordability can vary significantly between the top contenders, making a personalized choice based on priorities (like lower cost vs. top schools) key. 

What is the most affordable state to raise a family?

• Arkansas. #1 in Affordability. #44 in Best States Overall. ...
• Mississippi. #2 in Affordability. #48 in Best States Overall. ...
• West Virginia. #3 in Affordability. #46 in Best States Overall. ...
• South Dakota. #4 in Affordability. ...
• Oklahoma. #5 in Affordability. ...
• Louisiana. #6 in Affordability. ...
• Iowa. #7 in Affordability. ...
• Alabama. #8 in Affordability.

What state is financially best to live in?

The best state to live in financially depends on your priorities, with Wyoming, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee often cited for low taxes and affordability, while states like Utah, Iowa, and Georgia excel in fiscal stability, and North Dakota offers a low cost of living. For those prioritizing high wages and opportunities, states like Massachusetts might be better, despite higher costs. 

What is the best state to start over with a family?

Key Findings. Massachusetts is the No. 1 Best State to Start a Family: despite being one of the worst states for affordability, Massachusetts took the top spot due to its strength across healthcare (with the lowest rate of uninsured children and the highest rate of pediatrician employment per capita), education (No.

10 best states for raising a family: You won't believe what we found

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are frequently cited as top states for quality of life due to factors like health, safety, environment, and strong communities, with Vermont often leading for its balance of nature and low crime/stress, while Massachusetts excels in health and education, and New Hampshire boasts great air quality and community engagement. 

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

The number one cheapest state to live in is consistently ranked as Mississippi, due to exceptionally low housing costs (median home prices significantly below the national average), low transportation expenses, and affordable groceries, making overall living costs substantially lower than the national average, though it's important to note lower wages and a higher poverty rate also exist. Other very affordable states often near the top include West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, all offering low housing and everyday expenses. 

Where can I retire on $2000 a month in the United States?

You can retire on $2,000 a month in affordable U.S. cities, especially in the Midwest and South, focusing on areas with lower housing, taxes, and living costs like Fort Wayne (IN),>> El Paso (TX), >> Dayton (OH), >> Chattanooga (TN), or >> Augusta (GA), where you'll find lower expenses for rent, groceries, and healthcare, allowing your budget to stretch further for amenities and a good quality of life.
 

Which state is worth moving to?

Popular states to move to often include Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee for job growth and lower taxes, while Utah, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are frequently ranked high for overall quality of life, family, and economic factors. The "best" state depends on your priorities, like job opportunities (Texas, NC), warm weather (FL, AZ), affordability, or lifestyle (CO, OR, UT). 

Which US state is the most tax-friendly?

South Dakota and Wyoming have no corporate or individual income tax; Alaska and New Hampshire have no individual income or state-level sales tax; Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have no individual income tax; and Montana has no sales tax.

What is the happiest state to live in?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the happiest state in the U.S., followed by states like Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Utah, according to recent WalletHub studies, due to strong emotional well-being, good work environments, and positive community factors, with Hawaii often praised for high life satisfaction, low depression, and active lifestyles despite potential economic factors.
 

Which states have no state income tax?

Nine U.S. states currently have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, though Washington has a capital gains tax for high earners. These states often rely more heavily on sales, property, and other taxes to fund public services, so a lower income tax doesn't always mean lower overall taxes, requiring residents to consider cost of living and other factors before moving, according to sources like Investopedia, Rippling, and Bankrate.
 

What is the safest state for kids?

The safest states for children are Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, and Utah, thanks to their low crime rates, strong investments in education, and high-quality healthcare systems. These states consistently appear among the safest states to raise a family nationwide.

Which state has the happiest kids?

Massachusetts (FHI: 75): Massachusetts has the highest index for children's health and well-being at 77.8. Massachusetts residents have to spend a larger part of their income on childcare, but the statistics show strong families, with a lower divorce rate of 2.75.

What is the kindest state in the US?

While subjective, recent studies often name Minnesota, Tennessee, and South Carolina as America's friendliest states, with Minnesota often topping lists due to its "Minnesota nice" reputation, and Southern states like Tennessee and South Carolina praised for hospitality. Other top contenders include Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and Hawaii, with rankings varying slightly by source, like World Population Review or tourist surveys. 

What is the most kid friendly state?

Massachusetts often tops lists of family-friendly states thanks to its exceptional education system and safe communities. With some of the best public schools in the nation, your children will have access to strong academics, extracurricular activities, and innovative programs.

What is the no. 1 state to live in?

10 Best US States to Live In, According to a New Study

1. Massachusetts. According to WalletHub's study, Massachusetts is the best state to live in, excelling in all key factors—and earning the top spot in the ranking.
2. Idaho. ...
3. New Jersey. ...
4. Wisconsin. ...
5. Minnesota. ...
6. Florida. ...
7. New Hampshire. ...
8. Utah. ...

What is the #1 state people are leaving?

While it varies by report, New York, California, and Illinois consistently rank as top states people are leaving, often due to high costs, taxes, and housing, with New Jersey also frequently appearing, especially in percentage-based data. New York often leads in absolute population loss, while California loses massive numbers, and Illinois sees significant outflows, primarily to Southern states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas.
 

Which state pays you to move there?

Kentucky. If you currently work from home and want to move to Eastern Kentucky, there is a program that will pay you up to $5,000 in cash to relocate. Eastern Kentucky has a small-town feel and a close proximity to nature.

What is the $27.40 rule?

The "27.40 rule" is a simple personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in a year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, which adds up to $10,001 annually, making a large savings goal seem more manageable and achievable through daily micro-savings and habit-building. 

What is the cheapest and safest state to retire in?

For the cheapest and safest retirement, West Virginia consistently ranks high for affordability (low housing/living costs) and also scores well for safety, while Mississippi and Arkansas are other very affordable options; for safety combined with low costs, look at states like New Hampshire, but remember "safest" often means lower crime but can have higher overall cost, so it's a balance between low expenses and low risk. 

How much money do you need to retire with $70,000 a year income?

To retire on $70,000 a year, you'll likely need a nest egg between $1.4 million and $2.8 million, depending on your desired retirement lifestyle, combining sources like Social Security, and using rules of thumb like the 4% rule (multiply your needed income by 25) or the 25x rule (12-25 times your final salary), factoring in that $70k today needs to cover future inflation to maintain your living standard. 

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the US?

The cheapest and best places to live in the U.S. depend on your priorities, but consistently affordable areas with good livability include cities in the Midwest (like Decatur, IL, Fort Wayne, IN) and the South (like Brownsville, TX, Harlingen, TX, Hickory, NC, Huntsville, AL), offering low housing costs, lower taxes (like Texas's no income tax), and access to amenities, with West Virginia and Mississippi often cited as top cheap states overall. 

What states offer the best quality of life?

• Utah. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• New Hampshire. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
• Idaho. #3 in Best States Overall. ...
• Minnesota. #4 in Best States Overall. ...
• Nebraska. #5 in Best States Overall. ...
• Florida. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
• Vermont. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
• South Dakota. #8 in Best States Overall.

What state has the worst cost of living?

5 states with the highest cost of living

• New Jersey: 108.9. ...
• Hawaii: 108.6. ...
• Washington: 108.6. ...
• Arkansas: 86.5. ...
• Mississippi: 87.3. ...
• South Dakota: 88.1. ...
• Oklahoma: 88.3. ...
• Louisiana: 88.3. Louisiana has one of the lowest costs of living at 11.7% below the national average.