Monday, November 17, 2025

Parenting Pointers - Best States to Start a Family

 With U.S. birth rates at a record low and many Americans delaying having children due to costs and affordability concerns, a new study highlights Minnesota as one of the strongest states in the country for starting a family.

Ivy Surrogacy - a private organization that helps would-be parents with egg donors and other services - ranked Minnesota at No. 3 overall, after analyzing affordability, healthcare access, education, and safety across all 50 states and D.C.

Why Minnesota stands out:

  • Safer environments for families: One of the lowest vehicle fatality rates in the country (No. 2) and relatively low homicide rates (No. 13)
  • Strong longevity & health access: Life expectancy: 78.8 years (No. 6) and low uninsured rates for children under 19 (3.7% — No. 13)
  • Solid education performance: Combined reading & math scores rank among the top 10 nationally (No. 9)
  • Affordability advantage: The median housing price vs. income ratio better than many top-ranking states (No. 18) and the cost of living is below the national average (No. 22)

Why now: The U.S. fertility rate fell to 1.6 births per woman in 2024 (CDC) — the lowest on record — underscoring how affordability, access to care, and state support are shaping family decisions more than ever.

Full report + methodology: https://www.ivysurrogacy.com/best-and-worst-states-to-start-a-family/

No comments:

Post a Comment