13 of the Best States to Have a Baby, Massachusetts is On Top!
Having a baby soon? Thinking of having a baby? Well, you’re in the right place according to Wallet Hub. In a recent study, Wallet Hub found that Massachusetts doesn’t just…
PRODUCTION – 02 May 2023, Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel: Infant Henry, born May 1, yawns and grasps a finger of his mother Kristin in a room of the obstetrics ward in the women’s clinic at Kiel Municipal Hospital. Effective immediately, there is a new on-site service offered by the city administration at Kiel Municipal Hospital. With the new service, birth certificates can be issued there and also at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel (UKSH), in the future in a registry office room upon presentation of all necessary documents and taken away immediately. In addition, paternity acknowledgments can be notarized and parents’ questions answered in a personal consultation. Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa (Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
(Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images)Having a baby soon? Thinking of having a baby? Well, you're in the right place according to Wallet Hub. In a recent study, Wallet Hub found that Massachusetts doesn't just rank high on its list. Massachusetts actually TOPS the list at #1. Another interesting fact about the list, 5 of the 6 New England states are in the top 10. Maine is the only state that did not make Wallet Hub's top 10 states to have a baby. So how did they come up with this list? What factors are they looking at? Before we divulge the top 13, let's take a look at all the factors that went into Wallet Hub's findings.
A big factor into this list is medical costs. Many people don't think about medical costs when they think babies when in fact, that is a major detail. The charges and fees for just delivering the baby alone can be astronomical. These are some of the categories that were looked at when doing the study: Hospital Cesarean-Delivery Charges: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Average Annual Cost of Early Child Care: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Average Health-Insurance Premiums: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Current Status of Medicaid Expansion Decision: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Cost of Babysitter/Nanny: Full Weight (~2.86 Points), Cost of Newborn Screening: Full Weight (~2.86 Points).
The other two categories looked at in the study are health care, baby friendliness (mom groups, child care centers etc.) and family friendliness. Each of these metrics were then graded on a 100 point scale to determine the rankings. So it seems if you're reading this, you most likely live in New England so once again, you are in the right place to have a baby. So best of luck and GET TO PRACTICING! Here is the top 13 states that are the best to have a baby, according to Wallet Hub.
#13 Hawaii
With a total score of 58.24, Hawaii actually ranks 5th for baby friendliness.
#12 Montana
With a total score of 58.26, Montana actually ranks #7 for health care.
#11 Oregon
With a total score of 58.37, Oregon actually ranks #6 for baby friendliness
#10 Washington
With a total score of 60.23, Washington actually ranks #3 for baby friendliness.
#9 Connecticut
With a total score of 60.67, CT actually ranks #9 for health care.
#8 Utah
With a total score of 61.42, Utah actually ranks 11th for baby friendliness
#7 Iowa
With a total score of 62.19, Iowa actually ranks #5 for health care.
#6 New Hampshire
With a total score of 64.15, NH actually ranks #2 in cost.
#5 North Dakota
With a total score of 64.21, North Dakota ranks #4 for family friendliness.
#4 Rhode Island
With a total score of 65.64, RI actually ranks #2 for baby friendliness
#3 Vermont
With a total score of 65.74, Vermont actually ranks #1 in health care
#2 Minnesota
With a total score of 67.86, Minnesota actually ranks #2 for family friendliness
#1 Massachusetts
With a total score of 69.31, MA actually ranks #1 for family friendliness and #2 for health care.
