The 5 best states in America to raise a family in 2026 — and the 5 worst

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Nebraska has the highest share of families with young children at 45.03% and strong access to children’s hospitals. Median family income is $96,100 after adjusting for the cost of living, and housing affordability ranks near the top. Job conditions are stable, with unemployment at 2.8% and relatively high job security.

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Wisconsin stands out for road safety around schools, ranking first nationally, and the state has one of the highest shares of children participating in extracurricular activities at 78.8%. Public high school graduation reaches 95.8%, one of the highest rates overall. Median family income is $97,120, paired with relatively low foreclosure and unemployment rates.

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North Dakota has one of the highest shares of families with young children, at 44.58%, and strong supportive-neighborhood indicators. Child-care costs are among the lowest relative to income, and the unemployment rate is just 2.4%.

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Minnesota posts one of the highest median family incomes at $109,151 and a high share of children in safe schools. It also ranks near the top for quality of public hospitals, with nearly 80% of patients giving top ratings. Child poverty is relatively low at 5.5%, and graduation rates exceed 79%.

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Massachusetts ranks first overall, driven by the lowest share of uninsured children and the highest number of pediatricians per capita at 42.62. Public hospital quality is strong, with 69.33% of patients giving ratings of 9 or 10, and life expectancy reaches nearly 80 years. Median family income is $96,944, and the state has paid family leave fully in place.

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Alabama has a low share of children living near parks or playgrounds at 52.8% and elevated child poverty at 11.3%. The infant mortality rate is high, as is the uninsured children rate. Median family income is $86,302 after adjusting for the cost of living.

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Nevada has one of the highest shares of uninsured children and low access to child-care services relative to need. Violent crime and property crime rates are among the highest, and job security is in the red. Plus, housing affordability is weak, with high foreclosure activity relative to other states.

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Mississippi posts the highest infant mortality rate and the lowest share of children living near parks or playgrounds at 46.1%. The share of families living in poverty is high at 14.3%, and the median family income is under $80,000. Public school quality and health access both rank near the bottom.

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West Virginia has the lowest share of families with young children at 36.1%, and limited access to attractions and recreation. Child poverty is elevated at 11.9%, and the divorce rate is high relative to most states. Job security is negative, and housing affordability is offset by low median income.

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New Mexico ranks last, with the highest share of families struggling to pay medical bills for children at 15.2% and the lowest-ranked public schools. Child poverty is high at 13.7%, and violent crime rates are among the highest. Median family income is $75,730, one of the lowest after cost-of-living adjustments.