New York ranked among the top ten best states for women, according to a new WalletHub study.
WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 indicators of women’s living standards, ranging from median earnings for female workers to the quality of women’s health care and the female homicide rate.
“Despite improvements the U.S. has made over the years, women still lag behind men when it comes to economic prospects, executive positions and political representation,” WalletHub Analyist Milvionne Chery Copeland said. “On top of tackling these important issues, the best states for women also ensure that they have access to high-quality health care, receive the same educational opportunities as men, and live in safe communities.”
Here’s what to know about NY’s ranking.
Why New York is considered one of the best states for women
The Empire State ranked 9th-best for women in the United States, with an overall score of 66.99, according to WalletHub’s study.
Why?
Well, New York is one of the best states for median earnings for female workers and has one of the lowest female homicide rates, ranking at No. 5 in both categories. New York also has one of the highest life expectancies at birth rates, tying for third place with California and Connecticut.
WalletHub assessed women’s economic and social well-being, which New York ranked No. 12, and ranked No. 2 for women’s healthcare and safety.
March is International Women’s History Month
WalletHub’s new study is very timely, considering March is International Women’s History Month. The month honors women’s contributions in history, according to the National Women’s History Museum.
The National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme for the month every year, and 2026’s theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” This theme, according to the National Women’s History Alliance, looks at sustainability beyond just environmental concerns, but also financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession, and intergenerational equity.
“Whether developing green technologies, advancing economic justice, strengthening education systems, or building civic power – women are designing blueprints for sustainable transformation,” the National Women’s History Alliance wrote on its website. “This theme affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both people and the planet.”
International Women’s Day falls on March 8, and the theme for 2026 is “Give to Gain,” which highlights the importance of mindsets centering collaboration and generosity, according to the International Women’s Day website.
WalletHub’s top 10 states for women in the U.S.
WalletHub’s bottom 10 states for women in the U.S.
How WalletHub assessed best and worst states for women
To assess the best and worst states for women, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across two metrics: women’s economic & social well-being and women’s health care & safety.
The women’s economic & social well-being category analyzed these factors:
The women’s health care & safety category analyzed these factors:
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of Feb. 2, 2026, and the information was sourced from multiple entities, including the 2026 U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Education Statistics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Council for Community and Economic Research and more.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New York ranks among best states for women. Here’s why
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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