Top 10 Best US States to Raise a Family

ConsumerAffairs’ October report compared all 50 U.S. states to determine the ranking of the best states to raise a family.

States were analyzed across five weighted categories worth a total of 100 points.

Affordability (30 points) Safety (25 points) Education (20 points) Healthcare (15 points) Quality of life (10 points)

ConsumerAffairs did not include Washington, D.C., in this year’s rankings.

According to the report, the best states to raise a family are primarily in the Northeast.

Jaylin Rodriguez, chief researcher in the Department of Consumer Affairs, told CNBC Make It that it’s no surprise that the top states are clustered in the Northeast, continuing last year’s trends.

“We know that northeastern states generally have a higher cost of living,” she says. “Overall, states did not perform well in terms of affordability.”

Rodriguez points out that what these states lack in affordability, they make up for in other areas.

“Families in the Northeast will benefit from lower crime rates. They will benefit from enhanced access to quality education, health care and a higher quality of life.”

A 2023 study by LendingTree estimates that average annual child support costs will rise to $21,681, an increase of 19% from 2016, for an estimated total cost of $389,000 per child over 18 years.

“At the end of the day, you can’t just focus on where it’s going to be most affordable,” Rodriguez says. “There are many factors to consider that directly shape a child’s life.”

The Granite State ranked as the best state to raise a family with a total score of 68.98. New Hampshire moved up from 4th place in 2024 to take the No. 1 spot this year, overtaking Pennsylvania, Maine, and Vermont.

New Hampshire ranks first in safety and third in quality of life, according to the report. The state ranks 34th in the affordability category and 22nd in education.

Rodriguez said New Hampshire’s high safety scores helped it earn the top spot in the overall rankings. The state also has some of the best air quality in the country, great access to parks, and one of the strongest public library systems per capita.

“All of this ultimately helps shape a healthy childhood outside of school,” she says.

A report from ConsumerAffairs names New Hampshire as the best state to raise a family, but a study by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute found that the state’s cost of living has exceeded most households’ incomes over the past decade.

The typical New Hampshire household now earns nearly $100,000 a year, but a family of four with this income still falls about $2,000 short to cover basic needs each year, the report said.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator, the basic cost of living for a family of two working adults and two children in New Hampshire is comparable to $129,768 per year in some of the most expensive states, including Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Connecticut, New York, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska.

Maine has been ranked the second best state to raise a family for the second year in a row. With a score of 66.85, it ranked first in the quality of life category and second in the safety category.

The state ranked 35th for affordability, 19th for education and 13th for health care. The report found that the area had the lowest proportion of children living in poverty and the lowest rate of violent crime. Maine also offers a state child tax credit.

Like New Hampshire, Maine also has some of the cleanest air in the nation and one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country.

“States are choosing to invest in local resources and prioritize learning outside of the classroom. For parents who want to find a state where their children will grow up safe and feel supported, Maine is one of the top choices for doing so,” Rodriguez said.

In 2025, the Pine Tree State ranked No. 2 for quality of life in CNBC’s annual Top States for Business survey.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the median household income in Maine is currently $90,730, based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

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