The Worst States for Having a Baby in 2026, According to Data
Massachusetts led the ranking on strong health outcomes and family support, while WalletHub said the average cost of raising a child topped $300,000.
- Massachusetts ranked as the best state to have a baby in 2026, according to a new WalletHub study comparing all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics.
- Rising inflation continues to push up costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth, prompting researchers to analyze factors like hospital delivery charges and health-insurance premiums in their rankings.
- The average cost of a conventional delivery exceeds $15,700, while raising a child over 18 years now tops $300,000, according to data from LendingTree.
- Minnesota finished second, bolstered by low health insurance premiums averaging $437 per month, while North Dakota placed third, driven largely by affordability.
- Conversely, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida ranked as the worst states to have a baby in 2026, highlighting significant regional disparities in care access and financial burden.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Nebraska ranked 15th best state to have a baby in
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — In a new study by WalletHub, different contributors were compared to decide what was the best state to have a baby in. Nebraska ranked 15th. Different contributing factors included affordability, access to health care and family friendliness. The number one rated state to have a baby in, according to this study, is Massachusetts. The worst state...
The Dallas Express News
wbap.comWalletHub Put Texas Near Bottom For Babies. Its Own Rankings Tell A Different Story
WalletHub placed Texas near the bottom of its 2026 ranking of the best states to have a baby, but the result differs sharply from several of the personal finance website’s own rankings and depends partly on government-policy choices that do not directly measure childbirth prices or medical outcomes. Texas finished 45th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a score of 37.97 out of 100. Only South Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Flo…
Helena Independent Record
Best & Worst States to Have a Baby (2026)
Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s most exciting milestones, but it’s also becoming more expensive. In 2025, inflation continues to drive up the cost of raising a family, and one of the biggest upfront expenses is childbirth. The…
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