The Best and Worst Places to Have a Baby

The U.S maintains the highest birthing costs in the world.

Starting a family is one of the most challenging and exciting undertakings of a person’s life. But no one brings a child into this world thinking a little bundle of joy will make life easier. As priceless and rewarding as parenthood may be, there are opportunity and, of course, financial costs. Big ones.

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WalletHub, a personal finance website, put their data analysts to the test to find out which states are the most and least ideal for child rearing. Using 20 key cost measures, health care accessibility and family-friendliness as criteria, WalletHub’s data range from hospital conventional-delivery charges to child care costs and number of pediatricians per capita.

If you’re determined to have children of your own in the near future, you may want to consider relocating to one of these top ranked states, according to WalletHub’s analysis.

Best States to Have a Baby

1. Vermont

2. Minnesota

3. New Hampshire

4. Connecticut

5. North Dakota

6. Massachusetts

7. Maine

8. Utah

10. Nebraska

Worst States to Have a Baby

1. Mississippi

2. Louisiana

3. Nevada

4. West Virginia

5. Alabama

6. South Carolina

7. Florida

8. Georgia

9. New Mexico

10. Arkansas

Study Highlights

·Maryland, New Hampshire, North Dakota, West Virginia and Utah offer the lowest C-section-delivery costs

·New Jersey has one of the highest costs for both conventional and C-section delivery

·Despite being some of the overall worst places to have a baby, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama boast the lowest average annual infant-care costs.

·Washington, D.C., Delaware, Vermont, Massachusetts and Nebraska average the most pediatricians and family doctors per capita

·Washington, D.C., Vermont, Maine, Alaska and Minnesota boast the most OB-GYNs and Midwives per capita.

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