With the average conventional birth costing over $2,600 for mothers with insurance and nearly $15,000 for mothers without insurance, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best & Worst States to Have a Baby, as well as expert commentary, to identify where prospective parents will experience the highest quality care at the best cost.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key measures of cost, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness. The data set ranges from conventional-delivery charges at hospitals to average annual infant-care costs to the number of pediatricians per capita.
| Best States to Have a Baby | Worst States to Have a Baby |
| 1. Massachusetts | 42. Arkansas |
| 2. North Dakota | 43. Oklahoma |
| 3. Minnesota | 44. Louisiana |
| 4. Rhode Island | 45. West Virginia |
| 5. New Hampshire | 46. Nevada |
| 6. District of Columbia | 47. Georgia |
| 7. Maine | 48. New Mexico |
| 8. Vermont | 49. South Carolina |
| 9. Utah | 50. Alabama |
| 10. Washington | 51. Mississippi |
Best vs. Worst
- West Virginia has the lowest average annual cost for early child care, which is 3.2 times lower than in New York, the highest.
- New Hampshire has the lowest share of childbirths with low birth weight, which is 1.9 times lower than in Mississippi, the highest.
- Hawaii has the most obstetricians and gynecologists (per 100,000 residents), which is 18.7 times more than in Missouri, the fewest.
- Massachusetts has the highest parental leave policy score, 160, while 9 states, such as Alabama, Michigan and South Dakota, tie for the lowest at 0.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/
“The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers. They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier.”
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“Massachusetts is the best state to have a baby, in large part because it has the lowest infant mortality rate in the country and the fourth-lowest maternal mortality rate. Massachusetts also has the sixth-lowest food-insecurity rate for children and the seventh-highest share of children under three years old with all seven recommended vaccines. In addition, after giving birth in Massachusetts, you can benefit from the best parental leave policies in the nation.”
- Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Expert Commentary
When planning to have a child, what financial considerations should be taken into account?
“As any parent can tell you, children cost a lot of money. There are planned expenses, such as childcare, diapers, wipes, formula or breastfeeding supplies, toys and furniture, etc. but also plenty of unplanned expenses. Unplanned expenses include healthcare costs in the event of illness or injury, school related expenses (field trips and special activities), extracurricular activities and more. Parents should ensure they have adequate health insurance for the family and keep some money in savings in event of an emergency or unplanned expense.”
Julia Kroeker, Ph.D. – Professor, Florida SouthWestern State College
“The biggest immediate financial consideration when planning for a birth or adoption is related to childcare expenses in the early years. As the only high-income country without federal paid parental leave, responsibility in the United States falls to individual parents to determine if they can afford to take time off work to care for an infant or young child and to consider the costs of childcare if they will be working outside the home.”
Jennifer E. Lansford, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Professor; Director, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
What is the biggest financial mistake that prospective parents make?
“The biggest is assuming that one parent can stay home for a few years without any difficulty returning to the labor force later, or that the cost of infant care is so high that it makes no sense for a mother to work. That may be true in the short run, but once the orthodontist bill comes due and college tuition starts to feel close, most parents regret giving up lucrative employment and having to start all over after several years out of the labor force. The second biggest mistake is buying all kinds of new baby gear and clothing for the first year of life – get gently used equipment and supplies whenever you can. Babies grow so fast that most stuff will never get used enough to justify the price.”
Jennifer Glass, Ph.D. – Professor & Executive Director, Council on Contemporary Families, University of Texas, Austin; President, Population Association of America
“The biggest mistake prospective parents make financially is to fail to plan financially before having children. Prospective parents should save up, and research costs of having children. Some prospective parents may need to find ways to create additional streams of income to support their children.”
Julia Kroeker, Ph.D. – Professor, Florida SouthWestern State College
What can local authorities do to make their cities more baby-friendly?
“Local authorities can significantly improve their cities’ baby-friendliness by investing in high-quality infant and early childcare. Many parents struggle to find affordable, quality care, but research shows this is crucial during the early years of a child's life. In addition to childcare, several other factors contribute to a baby-friendly city. Working parents need paid time off, which is often unavailable to hourly or lower-paid workers. Low crime rates, excellent K-12 schools, and safe, affordable housing are essential. Housing should be free from hazardous materials like lead and asbestos. Families also need access to clean air and water, as well as parks and public spaces. Cities should be walkable and pleasant, with easy access to shopping and recreational activities. Quality healthcare and mental health services are also vital, as parents need to maintain their own well-being to effectively care for their children.”
Pamela A. Schulze, Ph.D. – Professor; Director, Center for Family Studies, University of Akron
“This is a no-brainer – offer all 3- and 4-year-olds the option of public pre-kindergarten (with enrollments declining, many schools will have both space and staff); and lobby your state for paid parental leave of four months or more that covers at least 80% of lost wages due to childbearing and early care. You could also try to tax consumption less (sales and property taxes) in favor of income taxes based on ability to pay. Consumption taxes hit families with children particularly hard because so much of their income goes to consumption.”
Jennifer Glass, Ph.D. – Professor & Executive Director, Council on Contemporary Families, University of Texas, Austin; President, Population Association of America
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