As you start a family, it’s worth considering which States in the USA are considered the best States for families.
Deciding where to live within the United States plays a huge role in helping you plan for the future. The contributing factors involved in such a decision are complex and different for every family, but many can be boiled down to federal and state policy. As you investigate places around the country to settle, consider the following.
Deciding Factors for Determining: Best States for Families
Many factors contribute to making a state a positive place for families to settle. Most commonly, deciding factors may include cost of living, education and childcare options, health and safety, and overall quality of life. Poverty levels may also come into play as well as reported levels of violence inside and outside the home. Determine which of these many factors matter most to you and review local and state policy to see how laws affect these components—for better or worse.
In one comprehensive review done by WalletHub, they ranked every state by more than fifty determining factors. The considerations included family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socio-economics. With these aspects all taken into account, WalletHub determined the overall best states for families are Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Minnesota. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decided which State is the best State for your family.
Religious Considerations
Some policies are intricately woven with belief systems of a religious nature. If you are religious, consider your own beliefs and which values and policies are most important to you. Many states have laws in place to protect religious freedom—but others believe this isn’t the only way to adequately put families first through lawmaking.
Depending on your personal beliefs, you may be looking for a state with policies against abortion, that prioritize religious freedom, or that strive to keep girls’ sports reserved to those individuals assigned female at birth.
If these policies are important to you, the Family Policy Alliance recommends considering states like Montana, Iowa, Arkansas, and West Virginia. In these places, politicians and voters both show their support for pro-life and religious freedom policies.
Policies and Local Government Participation
State and federal policies to assist families are widespread. Federally, you can consider policies like the Child Tax Credit; Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) programs; Child Health Insurance Programs (CHIP); Social Security benefits; and food stamp programs (SNAP).
One specific example is the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). This policy enables states that meet certain requirements to qualify for financial assistance—to be given to families in poverty who require funds for child care and to be used to improve the conditions of child care in the state overall. This policy works to help create better circumstances for families in states without the necessary means to do so.
On a state level, consider child care licensing. Each state requires different measures to be met in order for a child care center to be adequately licensed. These differing policies can make a difference in your decision to relocate if you require daycare for your child. Other state policies that might affect families include raising minimum wage and expanding Medicare for the elderly. The Center for American Progress explains that in states with these two factors in play, the infant mortality rate is 32% lower and the divorce rate is 28% lower.
Education
As a parent, providing the best possible education for your child can be a high priority. States prioritize education differently, but Massachusetts is ranked number one in education in the United States. In addition to having good public schools, most residents have a bachelor’s degree and the state has some of the highest test scores in the country for reading and math. Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and Vermont are also in the top five states for education.
Cost of Living
Perhaps overall cost of living is an important factor in deciding where your family should settle. With inflation steadily on the rise, the amount you’ll spend on day-to-day items while raising a family is significant. According to the World Population Review, Mississippi is the cheapest state to live in currently, followed by Kansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
Overall Thoughts
While the ultimate decision for where to raise your family falls to you, understanding state and local policies can help you make a choice best suited for your lifestyle and values. If you move somewhere that does not reflect your values, you might ask yourself whether you’re willing to be involved in local politics and vote for policies you support.
Continue to learn more about United States policies at Policy vs Politics with us.
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