Here Are the Best (and Worst) States for Families to Live a Richer Life

Study finds where families have the best access to not only money-making opportunities, but also to the means of living an affordable, healthy and fulfilling life

News provided by

GOBankingRates

Aug 15, 2016, 07:15 ET

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Is there a place in America where families can have it all– high income, job security, safe neighborhoods, affordable child care job and a good education? To help make that answer more clear, GOBankingRates surveyed all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on 12 different factors to find the places families can get the most out of life.

The factors span the following:

  • Jobs and income: median household income and state unemployment rate
  • Housing: median home listing price and effective state property tax
  • Lifestyle: state sales tax, annual child care costs, cost of groceries and school district grades
  • Healthcare: average family health insurance premium and percentage of employer contribution to employee health insurance
  • Safety: violent crime rates and property crime rates

10 Best States for Families to Live a
Richer Life

10 Worst States for Families to Live a
Richer Life

1. New Hampshire

1. District of Columbia

2. North Dakota

2. California

3. Delaware

3. Illinois

4. Montana

4. Connecticut

5. Wyoming

5. Nevada

6. South Dakota

6. Washington

7. Virginia

7. Texas

8. Arkansas

8. Rhode Island

9. Idaho

9. Florida

10. Colorado

10. New Mexico

Don't see your state? View the entire ranking here:

https://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/best-worst-states-families-live-richer-life/ 

Stand-out Study Insights:

  • The District of Columbia ranks the lowest on the list due in part to child care costs coming in at $40,473 a year, over twice the nation's average.
  • Although Mississippi (ranked 37th) has the lowest median income and a relatively high unemployment rate of 5.9%, the state has the lowest child care costs in the country.
  • Vermont (ranked 16th) has the nation's lowest rates of violent and property crimes. However, its east coast neighbor, District of Columbia, has the country's highest rates of similar crimes.
  • Ohio (ranked 24th) and Indiana (ranked 28th) are tied for the lowest median home price—$140,000.
  • While Oregon (ranked 30th), Montana (ranked 4th), Alaska (ranked 36th), Delaware (ranked 3rd) and New Hampshire (ranked 1st) all boast 0% statewide sales tax, California (ranked 50th) residents are stuck paying a state-level sales tax rate of 7.5%.
  • While Maryland's median household income is the highest on our list at $74,149 — over $20k more than the country's average — the state's crime rate, health insurance premium and median home list price are all higher than average, pushing it down to number 25 on our list.

"There really is no 'one size fits all' formula for those trying to decide the best place to raise their families today," said Kristen Bonner, lead researcher on the GOBankingRates study. "Our study examined some of the main concerns families have during this process and found that it is possible to live in states where the cost of living won't drain your bank account and your children can still attend good schools in a safe environment."

Methodology: Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed all 50 states and D.C., analyzing 12 data points that served as determining factors in the ranking: (1) median household income, sourced from the U.S. 2010-2014 Census Bureau estimates; (2) June 2016 preliminary unemployment rates, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; (3) median home listing price, sourced from Zillow in July 2016; (4) mean effective state property tax (referred to as "property tax"), sourced from Tax Foundation; (5) combined state and average local sales tax rates in 2015, sourced from Tax Foundation; (6) grocery index, sourced from Missouri Economic Research and Information Center; (7) annual child care costs for an infant and a 4-year-old, sourced from ChildCare Aware of America; (8) school district grades, sourced from Education Week; (9) average family health insurance premium, sourced from EdWeek.org; (10) employer health insurance contribution, sourced from Kaiser Family Foundation; (11) annual violent crimes per 1,000 residents, sourced from NeighborhoodScout.com; (12) annual property crimes per 1,000 residents, sourced from NeighborhoodScout.com

About GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates.com is a leading portal for personal finance and consumer banking information, offering visitors the latest on everything from finding a good interest rate to strategies for saving money, investing for retirement, and getting a loan. Its editors are regularly featured on top-tier media outlets, including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Business Insider, Daily Finance, and more. It specializes in connecting consumers with the best financial institutions and banking products nationwide.

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Katie Johnston, Media Relations
GOBankingRates.com
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