Raising a family is hard anywhere, but it may be easier to do in New York, a WalletHub study revealed.
The WalletHub study that some states offer more support than others when it comes to raising a family. Access to affordable groceries, childcare, work opportunities and affordable housing can make a huge impact on raising a family, but which states offer these resources?
“Raising a family has become significantly more expensive in recent years as the cost of living has risen quickly,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. “In fact, it can cost a family as much as $320,000 to raise a child to age 18, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
To determine the best and worst states to raise a family, WalletHub evaluated all 50 states across 50 metrics ranging from the median annual family income to housing affordability to healthcare quality.
Here’s what to know about New York’s rank.
Is NY a good state to raise a family?
Yes, New York was ranked among the top 10 best states to raise a family, according to the WalletHub story.
The Empire State was ranked the No. 6 best state for families, with an overall score of 59.71. It scored the No. 5 spot for the family fun rank, No. 19 for the health and safety rank, No. 8 for the education and child care rank and No. 9 for the affordability rank.
Although New York was ranked as a pretty good state to raise a family, it also has its downfalls. NY placed in the No. 47 spot for the least affordable housing and the socio-economics rank.
New York also has the second-highest child care costs out of all 50 states, only placing behind New Mexico, according to the WalletHub study.
WalletHub’s 10 best states for raising a family
WalletHub’s 10 worst states to raise a family
How WalletHub assessed best states to raise a family
To determine the best and worst states to raise a family, WalletHub compared the 50 states across five dimensions: family fun, health & safety, education & child care, affordability and socio-economics.
The family fun category analyzed these factors:
The health & safety category analyzed these factors:
The education & child care category analyzed these factors:
The affordability category analyzed these factors:
The socio-economics category analyzed these factors:
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of October 27, 2025, and was sourced from multiple entities, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics and the Child Care Aware of America.
— Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY ranks among best states to raise a family, study finds
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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