A recent report by ConsumerAffairs has ranked the best U.S. states to raise a family in 2025 by evaluating all 50 states across five critical categories: affordability, safety, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Washington, D.C., was excluded from this year’s list.
The states dominating the top rankings are largely clustered in the Northeast, with New Hampshire leading the way. Known as the Granite State, New Hampshire offers families a blend of low violent crime rates, minimal childhood poverty, affordable food costs, and abundant parks and libraries, making it the top choice for raising children this year. Close behind are states like Maine, which boasts the lowest rates of child poverty and violent crime and ranks highest in quality of life and safety.
Other noteworthy states on the list include Wisconsin, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Wyoming, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Many of these states do not rate highest in affordability but excel in providing secure environments, quality education, and robust healthcare, factors that weigh heavily in family wellbeing beyond simple cost considerations.
The report highlights a sharp increase in the cost of raising children, which recently rose to an average of $21,681 annually, totaling nearly $390,000 over 18 years. However, experts emphasize that focusing exclusively on affordability overlooks essential elements crucial to a child’s healthy development, reinforcing the importance of safety, education, and quality of life when choosing where to raise a family.
