10 Worst US States to Raise a Family

For those looking to start a family, there's one part of the U.S. you might want to avoid.

In WalletHub's Best & Worst States to Raise a Family report, southern states consistently took the top spots among the worst places to raise a family.

The WalletHub ranking took into consideration things like affordability, safety and job opportunities as key factors. Additionally, education, health care and entertainment also played a role in which states were ranked as best and worst for families.

The 10 worst states for families:

1. New Mexico
2. Mississippi
3. West Virginia
4. Alabama
5. Arkansas
6. Louisiana
7. Nevada
8. Oklahoma
9. South Carolina
10. Arizona

On the other end of the list, the top 10 states were: Massachusetts, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Rhode Island and Vermont.

"It's crucial to consider economic factors when deciding where to raise a family, like the job market, average income and housing costs," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said. "It's also important to look beyond dollars and cents, as things like low-quality schools, a bad health care system, natural disasters, or a high crime rate can turn the already-stressful process of parenting into a nightmare."

While the top states like Massachusetts boasted high safety, low unemployment and unparalleled educational opportunities, the Southern often fell behind.

South Carolina had the highest infant mortality rate, while nearby Kentucky saw the highest percentage of families in poverty.

When it came to children's potential mental well-being, the southern states weren't in the best positions. Florida had the highest divorce and separation rates, with Mississippi and Louisiana right behind.

According to Cody Horvat, a real estate broker at The Scott Group in Chicago, the worst states ultimately came down to what areas suffer the most with health, safety and education.

"In the realm of housing, it's noteworthy that lower taxes in these states can result in limited funding for essential public resources like schools and education," Horvat said.

While the South has seen a considerable influx of businesses and jobs, that's also caused costs of living shoot up, and children might not be able to access the same level of education as elsewhere in the country.

"This can put a substantial stress on a family and make it more difficult for them to find comfortable, safe and affordable housing," Kristyn Carmichael, a divorce attorney and family mediator based in Arizona, told Newsweek.

As Arizona made the top 10 worst list, Carmichael said it might be due to the everyday financial strain families are feeling trying to make ends meet.

"We have seen a rise in families struggling to find affordable and adequate housing as they have been priced out by people and companies coming from other states like California and Washington," Carmichael said.

When a family struggles financially, they also might be more likely to struggle emotionally, often leading to higher-than-average divorce rates. Divorce is an adverse childhood experience that often has a long-standing negative impact on child development and family dynamics, she said.

"This heightened number of divorces may be caused by a number of factors, including age of individuals when they get married and more stereotypical, heteronormative relationship dynamics," Carmichael said. "Even under the law, we typically find these states don't have strong programs related to children during a divorce."

Many of the lowest-ranked states had the worst-rated education systems, with many underpaid educators. In recent rankings from WalletHub, West Virginia, Mississippi and their southern neighboring states have consistently come near dead last, reflecting high dropout rates and low median test scores.

"Education directly impacts our ability to succeed in society and develop as not only individuals but families," Carmichael said.

Financial expert Michael Ryan, of michaelryanmoney.com, said many connected problems are hitting southern states the hardest, ranging from poverty passed down to a lack of investment in local communities.

"You clearly see the effects on families," Ryan told Newsweek. "Money struggles from low pay and shaky economies, worse health and safety than other parts of the country, schools and training that don't stack up."

"Big change can't happen unless we're honest about these facts. The truth is southern parents have more barriers to stability than those elsewhere in the U.S."

Finances and the emotional well-being of children can be deeply connected, making it nearly impossible for a child to thrive if they don't have a parent caring for them without any financial burden weighing on the family.

"When a parent's energy is focused on survival, it does not leave room for providing for their own or their children's emotional needs," Elizabeth Key, a mental health counselor in Maine and New Hampshire, told Newsweek. "When emotional needs go unmet, it continues behavior patterns that will lead to continued poverty."

The law can also create additional challenges for families in the South, especially when it comes to social issues.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, passed an assortment of laws restricting gender-affirming treatments for minors as well as banning drag shows and different pronouns from being used in schools.

"I think states like Florida where legislators have made it dangerous to support your child's full identity, are very dangerous places for families to live," Sammy Lyon, an associate broker at Dow Capital in Los Angeles, told Newsweek.

"Families need to consider not just housing prices. The ability of a family to fully support each other, their parents and their children in all stages of life is key, including progressive state policies."