Baby-Friendly States: Massachusetts Among Best and Worst
The expense of having a baby can get very expensive, very quickly. Medical bills are a major consideration. In the U.S., giving birth can cost $18,000 to $27,000, Forbes reports. But birthing expenses differ by state and living costs. They can also vary due to pregnancy complications. However, cost isn’t the only factor. Some states offer better healthcare and child-friendly environments.
WalletHub, a financial advisory website, created a ranking of the best and worst states for giving birth. They assessed the best locations in the U.S. for having a baby by comparing all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 31 key metrics. These criteria included costs, healthcare access, and family-friendliness. They considered factors like hospital delivery fees, yearly infant care expenses, and the number of pediatricians per person in their analysis.
Massachusetts ranks as the best state to have a baby.
According to the study, Massachusetts is the top state for having a baby. It achieved a score of 69.31 out of 100. Massachusetts also excelled in several areas, with a low infant mortality rate and strong ratings for healthcare, baby-friendliness, and family-friendliness. However, the state didn’t perform as strongly in the category of average infant care expenses. In fact, it had one of the highest costs in this area.
After Massachusetts, the second spot is claimed by Minnesota. Vermont secures the third rank. Moving down the list, Rhode Island occupies the fourth position. Lastly, completing the top five is North Dakota.
What about the worst states to have a baby?
Towards the lower end of the ranking, West Virginia is placed at number 47, with Louisiana behind at number 48. South Carolina follows at number 49, and Alabama is ranked at number 50. Lastly, Mississippi holds the final position in the ranking. Interestingly, Mississippi has the best score for average annual infant care costs. However, it has the highest infant mortality rate and the fewest midwives and OB-Gyn’s per capita, according to the study.
See how other states performed by checking out the complete study here.
