There are many things to consider when you plan to have a child. From figuring out how to cover extra expenses to finding the best pediatrician in your area, there is a lot to think about. However, did you know that the state you are in can actually make a big difference in a variety of issues when it comes to a baby? Birthing costs, doctor access, and other pregnancy issues are all affected by the area in which you live. You might want to check this list to see if your state is one of the best or worst places to have a baby in the United States!
BEST
In 2017, the state of Vermont was listed as the best state in the entire United States in which to have a baby. Although it is one of the more expensive states in which to have a baby (it’s listed as number 40 for costs), the price is definitely worth it. Vermont is also listed as number one for overall health care rank, number four for baby-friendliness rank and number three for family-friendliness rank. It also on the list of lowest infant mortality rate, and it has the most midwives, OBGYNS, and pediatricians per capita. Vermont is definitely a state to consider living in if you want to have a family. If you already live there, consider yourself lucky!
Minnesota
Minnesota made it as the number two best state in the United States to have a baby in 2017. With the variety of methodology used, it achieved a score of 69.62. It was ranked 25th for cost, second for overall health care, number five for baby-friendliness and number four for family-friendliness. It is also listed as having the most midwives and OBGYNS per capita in the state. Like Vermont, it is rated high for a variety of reasons, but it also comes at a lower price. Minnesota is definitely a state where you are given access to great healthcare at an affordable cost.
New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire is number three on the best side of the list. The state has a number of things working in its favor when it comes to choosing to have a baby. It’s on the list for having the lowest hospital Cesarean costs. It also is on the list for the lowest regular delivery cost. And most importantly it is also on the list for the lowest infant mortality rate. Because of all this, New Hampshire was rated number ten for overall costs, number four for overall healthcare quality, number 28 for family-friendliness and number two for baby-friendliness.
Connecticut
In 2017, Connecticut was rated number four of the best states to have a baby in the United States. Although it also made it on the list for having the highest average infant care costs, the quality of care is probably enough to outweigh the prices. It ranked number 42 for costs but shot up the list for being ninth as far as general healthcare quality, number three for overall baby friendliness and number nine for overall family friendliness. This is not the first time the state has landed on the list and has been named one of the best states to have a baby since at least 2015.
North Dakota
North Dakota came in at number five on the list and is certainly one of the most budget-friendly states to have a baby. In fact, the state has also regularly been listed as one of the cheapest places to have a baby since 2013. The state was listed number four for overall cost and also made the list for the lowest hospital Cesarean cost as well as having the lowest regular delivery cost. In order to round out the score, North Dakota also ranked at number 13 for overall quality of healthcare and as number one for family-friendliness.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a great choice to have a baby as it comes in as number six on the list, however, the great care will come with a hefty price tag. The state has been listed as having some of the highest average infant care costs. However, Massachusetts has also been noted for having one of the lowest infant mortality rates as well as having the most pediatricians per capita. It was listed as 44th for costs, but number nine for health care quality as well as number three for baby-friendliness. We think having quality care certainly outweighs the cost!
Maine
Maine’s state slogan is “the way life should be” and that definitely may be true when it comes to having a child. The state rings in at number seven of the best places to have a baby. It made the lists for having some of the lowest regular delivery costs as well as having the most midwives and OBGYNS per capita. For overall costs it ranked 12th, for the quality of healthcare it ranked 7th and for baby-friendliness, it ranked ten. It definitely sounds like you might get the experience of how having a baby “should be” in the state of Maine!
Utah
The state of Utah makes the best part of the list, ranked as the eighth best places to have a baby. Utah comes in as one of the states to have the lowest hospital Cesarean costs, which can be quite high in other places. It comes at number six for healthcare costs, 15 for the quality of healthcare and 12 on overall family friendliness. Although it has also been reported that based on which hospital you choose to deliver at within the state, costs can widely vary. Either way, Utah still remains as one of the best places to have a baby in the United States.
Iowa
Iowa, the “field of opportunity state,” made the list for being the ninth best state in which to have a baby in 2017. Iowa is listed as 19th for overall costs and number 11 for its overall healthcare rank. The state is also ranked as 22nd for baby-friendliness and number eight for overall family-friendliness. Iowa is yet another state that might have higher costs but is rated quite high for the quality of healthcare. The state is also known to have excellent schools and a pretty low cost of living, making it a wonderful choice for your family.
Nebraska
Nebraska’s state motto is “The Good Life” and you will certainly be living it if you choose to have a family in this state. Nebraska is known for having both big cities and rural areas and it comes in as tenth on the list of the best places to have a baby. The state comes in at fifth for being family-friendly, 22nd for healthcare, 22nd for overall costs and 30th for baby-friendliness. It is also listed as one of the top places for having the most pediatricians per capita. Nebraska is also known for being an affordable place to live as well as having great schools. This state is definitely a place to live the good life!
WORST
If you are thinking about having a baby, you might want to steer clear of the state of Mississippi. The state ranked as the worst state to have a baby in the United States in 2017. While the state makes the list for having the lowest average infant care costs, in this case it seems you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, Mississippi also has the highest infant mortality rate, the fewest midwives and OBGYNS per capita, and the fewest pediatricians per capita. Not to mention, it also has the highest number of babies born with a low birth weight. These are things to consider before deciding where to settle down and have a family.
Louisiana
Here's another southern state to come in on the worst side of the list. Louisiana takes the second-to-worst spot out of the entire United States in 2017. Like Mississippi, Louisiana makes the list for having the lowest average infant care costs. But that comes at a higher price to pay as far as health goes. The state is known to have the fewest pediatricians per capita. It also ranks at number 50 for health care quality, 48th for family-friendliness and 35th for baby-friendliness. Sometimes it might be better to shell out the money for better healthcare when it comes to caring for your infant.
Nevada
Home of the party capital of the United States (Las Vegas) is the state of Nevada. Perhaps it’s all the attention to partying that made the state come in at number 49 for the worst places to have a baby in the United States in 2017. The state is also cited to have some of the highest hospital cesarean costs, as well as the highest regular delivery costs. Additionally, it comes as number 44 for costs and 41 for healthcare. Also, probably unsurprisingly, the state comes in as 50th for baby-friendliness and 43rd for family-friendliness!
West Virginia
West Virginia, the “Wild and Wonderful” state, came in at number 48 on the list as one of the worst states to have a baby. Although the state is noted for having one of the lowest costs for hospital cesarean sections you might want to end up choosing a state with a bit of a higher cost. West Virginia is also said to be one with the fewest pediatricians per capita. Additionally, the state is low on options for childcare once your bouncing bundle has arrived. As one of the best places to have a baby, the state of Vermont has the highest number of day-care centers per capita, while West Virginia only offers nine centers per 100,000 people, which is totally outlandish!
Alabama
Alabama is another Southern state that made it to the worst part of the list, sitting at the 47th worst place to have a baby in the United States in 2017. Although like Mississippi, it was second on the list as far as overall cost goes, that low price comes at a risk to your health as well as your infant’s. Alabama was also cited as having one of the highest infant mortality rates. Additionally, good healthcare is difficult to access because the state is said to have the fewest midwives and OBGYNS per capita as well as the fewest pediatricians per capita.
South Carolina
South Carolina is another state that was cited for having some of the lowest average infant care costs, however, it still made its way to the bottom of the list. This state came in at number 46 as the worst places to have a baby in the United States in 2017. The state was 26th for costs, however, it was 46th for its quality of health care. South Carolina was also cited as being 49th for its baby-friendliness and 41st for family-friendliness. These are definitely not ideal numbers when considering where to settle down and start or grow your family.
Florida
Florida, “The Sunshine State,” came in as 45th on the list, making it one of the worst states to have a baby in 2017. Florida is one of the most expensive places to have a baby, with some of the highest hospital cesarean costs and highest regular delivery costs, rounding it out at 46th for costs. The state also suffers in quality of health care, at 44th on the list. While it is relatively baby-friendly, coming in at 16th, it is not as family-friendly... dropping down to the 40th slot.
Georgia
In 2017, the state of Georgia came in as 44th on the list, landing it on the very worst part of the list in the bottom ten. Interestingly, the state is relatively high for overall costs, coming at number eight. The low prices come at a far steeper cost as Georgia has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation. It is also 43rd in overall healthcare quality. Not to mention, it’s not too baby- or family-friendly, coming in at 27th and 44th, respectively. Although you might have “Georgia on your mind” you might want to look at a different state when it comes to having a baby.
New Mexico
The state of New Mexico came in at 43, giving it a spot in the top ten worst places to have a baby in 2017. The state fared well as far as costs go, coming in at number 11 for the overall costs of having a baby. However, it suffered where it matters and was listed as 39th in overall healthcare quality. It also had the 21st spot for baby-friendliness and, even worse, it garnered the very last spot of 51st when it comes to family-friendliness. It might be known as the “land of enchantment”, but the state needs to work on its family-friendly factors to give it a higher standing next year.
Arkansas
Another Southern state, Arkansas, landed on the 42nd spot and in the ten worst. Like some of the other states, Arkansas is cost-friendly, coming in at 13th for overall costs. However, sometimes you get what you pay for and the state was listed as 47th for overall quality of healthcare. Ouch. It was listed as being 26th for being baby-friendly, which is right in the middle and landed at 38th for being family-friendly which is toward the bottom. With a little bit of work, “the land of opportunity” might rise out of the bottom ten for next year.
