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Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s most exciting milestones, but it’s also becoming more expensive. In 2025, inflation continues to drive up the cost of raising a family, and one of the biggest upfront expenses is childbirth. The average conventional delivery in the U.S. costs more than $15,700 and families with employer-sponsored health insurance pay nearly $2,600 out of pocket on average.
The cost of having a baby varies widely depending on where you live. Differences in cost of living, health care prices, and the possibility of pregnancy or delivery complications can all affect what families pay. Beyond cost, access to high-quality health care, child-friendly resources, and family support also play an important role in determining the best places to welcome a new child.
To identify the most ideal states to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics covering affordability, health care accessibility, and baby- and family-friendliness. The analysis includes factors such as hospital conventional-delivery charges, annual average infant-care costs, and the number of pediatricians per capita.
“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.”
Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best States to Have a Baby
| Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Cost Rank | Health Care Rank | Baby-Friendliness Rank | Family-Friendliness Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 74.96 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 69.66 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 3 | North Dakota | 65.53 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 3 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 63.68 | 35 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 63.34 | 8 | 5 | 44 | 8 |
| 6 | Maine | 63.11 | 36 | 14 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 61.75 | 40 | 11 | 10 | 7 |
| 8 | Vermont | 61.74 | 37 | 1 | 25 | 17 |
| 9 | Washington | 60.20 | 46 | 10 | 4 | 13 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 59.82 | 26 | 29 | 1 | N/A |
| 11 | Iowa | 58.96 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 19 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 58.03 | 42 | 27 | 17 | 4 |
| 13 | Utah | 57.95 | 12 | 21 | 15 | 18 |
| 14 | Hawaii | 57.67 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 23 |
| 15 | Nebraska | 57.52 | 22 | 37 | 29 | 5 |
| 16 | New York | 57.00 | 50 | 22 | 8 | 6 |
| 17 | Oregon | 56.80 | 31 | 8 | 9 | 22 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 56.48 | 7 | 19 | 43 | 12 |
| 19 | Idaho | 56.31 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 30 |
| 20 | Colorado | 55.70 | 41 | 18 | 12 | 15 |
| 21 | Illinois | 55.46 | 28 | 23 | 37 | 9 |
| 22 | South Dakota | 54.96 | 9 | 35 | 41 | 11 |
| 23 | Maryland | 54.41 | 6 | 25 | 33 | 20 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 54.33 | 45 | 20 | 16 | 14 |
| 25 | Ohio | 53.34 | 4 | 26 | 35 | 21 |
| 26 | Delaware | 52.22 | 14 | 13 | 22 | 32 |
| 27 | Virginia | 51.92 | 18 | 32 | 13 | 26 |
| 28 | Montana | 50.46 | 20 | 15 | 48 | 25 |
| 29 | Michigan | 49.11 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 35 |
| 30 | California | 47.14 | 51 | 7 | 23 | 29 |
| 31 | Arizona | 44.58 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 39 |
| 32 | Missouri | 44.33 | 13 | 43 | 46 | 27 |
| 33 | Indiana | 43.53 | 19 | 46 | 31 | 31 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 43.25 | 17 | 44 | 18 | 38 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 43.24 | 15 | 34 | 42 | 36 |
| 36 | Wyoming | 42.20 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 24 |
| 37 | Alaska | 41.49 | 48 | 24 | 20 | 37 |
| 38 | Tennessee | 41.34 | 44 | 39 | 26 | 33 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | 40.86 | 11 | 38 | 39 | 43 |
| 40 | Kansas | 40.61 | 38 | 47 | 38 | 28 |
| 41 | Louisiana | 39.49 | 1 | 48 | 21 | 45 |
| 42 | West Virginia | 38.81 | 23 | 36 | 27 | 49 |
| 43 | Arkansas | 38.25 | 16 | 50 | 14 | 44 |
| 44 | Georgia | 38.21 | 29 | 31 | 47 | 41 |
| 45 | Texas | 37.97 | 47 | 42 | 34 | 34 |
| 46 | South Carolina | 37.12 | 34 | 33 | 50 | 42 |
| 47 | Nevada | 36.06 | 33 | 30 | 49 | 47 |
| 48 | New Mexico | 35.64 | 25 | 40 | 36 | 50 |
| 49 | Florida | 35.52 | 49 | 45 | 24 | 40 |
| 50 | Alabama | 30.75 | 27 | 49 | 51 | 46 |
| 51 | Mississippi | 29.23 | 32 | 51 | 45 | 48 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Lowest
- 1. Maryland
- 2. Delaware
- 3. North Dakota
- 4. Montana
- 5. Vermont
- Highest
- T-38. Alaska
- T-38. California
- T-38. Florida
- T-38. Nevada
- T-38. New Jersey
- Lowest
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. Maryland
- 3. Delaware
- 4. Nebraska
- 5. Montana
- Highest
- 38. Alaska
- 39. California
- 40. Florida
- 41. New York
- 42. New Jersey
- Lowest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. South Dakota
- 3. Idaho
- 4. Kansas
- 5. Alabama
- Highest
- 47. California
- 48. New York
- 49. Washington
- 50. Massachusetts
- 51. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- 1. New Hampshire
- 2. New Jersey
- 3. Massachusetts
- 4. New York
- 5. California
- Highest
- 47. Oklahoma
- 48. Louisiana
- 49. Delaware
- 50. Arkansas
- 51. Mississippi
- Most
- 1. Delaware
- 2. Vermont
- 3. Minnesota
- 4. Rhode Island
- 5. District of Columbia
- Fewest
- 47. Mississippi
- 48. Alabama
- 49. Louisiana
- 50. Arizona
- 51. Oklahoma
- Most
- 1. Massachusetts
- 2. Delaware
- 3. California
- 4. Vermont
- 5. Alaska
- Fewest
- 47. Alabama
- 48. Mississippi
- 49. Nevada
- 50. Arkansas
- 51. Kansas
- Most
- 1. Vermont
- 2. Maine
- 3. Iowa
- 4. Arkansas
- 5. Connecticut
- Fewest
- 47. West Virginia
- 48. New Mexico
- 49. Illinois
- 50. Utah
- 51. Indiana
In-Depth Look at the Best States to Have a Baby
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the best state to have a baby, in large part because it has the third-lowest infant mortality rate in the country and the third-lowest maternal mortality rate. It also has the best neonatal hospitals in the country (for premature births or babies with health problems).
The Bay State has the sixth-lowest share of households with infants or toddlers experiencing food insecurity, and the sixth-highest share of children under three years old with all seven recommended vaccines.
In addition, parents in Massachusetts benefit from the best leave policies in the nation after the birth of a child. You can also take advantage of parenting programs that are covered by Medicaid.
To top things off, in addition to being the best state for having a baby, Massachusetts is also the best state for raising a family.
Minnesota
Minnesota is the second-best state to have a baby in, partly because it has the third-lowest health insurance premiums in the nation, at $437 per month. It also has high quality care, leading to the second-lowest maternal mortality rate in the country and the 10th-lowest infant mortality rate.
In addition to high-quality medical care, Minnesota also has a large number of medical professionals. The state has the fifth-most nurse midwives, fourth-most obstetricians and gynecologists, and 14th-most pediatricians per capita, giving parents lots of choices and potentially helping them get seen quicker.
Lastly, Minnesota has the fourth-highest share of child-care centers that are nationally accredited, and it ranks second among the best states for raising a family.
North Dakota
North Dakota is the third-best state to have a baby, with low costs being a major factor. The state has the lowest costs in the country for a conventional delivery with no complications, at an average of just $9,700. For comparison, in the most expensive states, that can cost you as much as $32,000. North Dakota also has the second-lowest costs for a conventional birth with complications, and the third-lowest cesarean section costs.
The cost savings don’t stop at the hospital, either. North Dakota also has the third-lowest average hourly rate for a babysitter in the country, at just $17.76. In addition, the state has the ninth-most child care centers per capita and fifth-most mom groups per capita, giving plenty of options for care and support.
Finally, North Dakota continues to be a great state for raising a family long-term, ranking as the third-best in the country.
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
