Having a baby is both a joyful and stressful occasion - but the stress side is more amplified in 2025 as inflation pushes the cost of adding an extra family member higher and higher. One of the biggest expenses to keep in mind is medical bills. The average conventional delivery in the U.S. costs over $2,600 with insurance, and without insurance it could cost nearly $15,000.
Birthing costs, however, won’t hit your wallet as badly in some states as they will in others. Expenses can vary significantly, considering the wide disparities in cost of living. They can also differ from one pregnancy to another, given that some women experience delivery complications. There’s more to think about than just cost, though. Some states provide better quality health care services and better environments in which to care for children.
To determine the most ideal places in the U.S. to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key measures of cost and health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita.
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 | 73.64 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | North Dakota | 67.65 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 3 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 67.44 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 65.82 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 5 |
| 5 | Maine | 64.26 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 63.40 | 38 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| 7 | Vermont | 60.30 | 40 | 2 | 26 | 14 |
| 8 | Washington | 60.26 | 44 | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| 9 | Iowa | 59.65 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 12 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 59.56 | 30 | 28 | 1 | N/A |
| 11 | Connecticut | 59.31 | 47 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| 12 | Oregon | 57.93 | 33 | 5 | 10 | 22 |
| 13 | Nebraska | 56.98 | 15 | 42 | 29 | 4 |
| 14 | Utah | 56.97 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 20 |
| 15 | New York | 56.73 | 50 | 22 | 8 | 6 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 56.33 | 41 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
| 17 | Colorado | 55.80 | 46 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
| 18 | Maryland | 54.78 | 6 | 23 | 34 | 19 |
| 19 | Illinois | 54.53 | 35 | 26 | 36 | 7 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 53.66 | 10 | 20 | 43 | 17 |
| 21 | Hawaii | 52.93 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 25 |
| 22 | Virginia | 52.80 | 19 | 34 | 12 | 21 |
| 23 | South Dakota | 52.52 | 13 | 33 | 41 | 15 |
| 24 | Idaho | 51.86 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 34 |
| 25 | Ohio | 51.33 | 5 | 27 | 35 | 24 |
| 26 | Montana | 50.45 | 22 | 13 | 49 | 23 |
| 27 | Delaware | 50.43 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 36 |
| 28 | New Jersey | 49.38 | 49 | 29 | 15 | 18 |
| 29 | Michigan | 46.81 | 12 | 21 | 30 | 38 |
| 30 | Kentucky | 46.26 | 9 | 44 | 18 | 32 |
| 31 | California | 44.56 | 51 | 15 | 22 | 28 |
| 32 | Alaska | 43.28 | 39 | 17 | 20 | 39 |
| 33 | North Carolina | 43.15 | 20 | 31 | 42 | 37 |
| 34 | Arizona | 43.10 | 26 | 30 | 19 | 41 |
| 35 | Tennessee | 43.05 | 37 | 38 | 25 | 31 |
| 36 | Missouri | 42.57 | 17 | 46 | 47 | 27 |
| 37 | Texas | 42.29 | 42 | 35 | 31 | 30 |
| 38 | Kansas | 41.93 | 32 | 41 | 38 | 29 |
| 39 | Indiana | 41.44 | 16 | 45 | 32 | 35 |
| 40 | Wyoming | 41.09 | 45 | 37 | 40 | 26 |
| 41 | Louisiana | 39.92 | 1 | 48 | 21 | 43 |
| 42 | West Virginia | 39.84 | 21 | 32 | 27 | 48 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 38.08 | 18 | 40 | 39 | 46 |
| 44 | Florida | 37.40 | 48 | 47 | 23 | 33 |
| 45 | Arkansas | 37.27 | 7 | 51 | 14 | 44 |
| 46 | New Mexico | 37.01 | 28 | 25 | 37 | 50 |
| 47 | Georgia | 36.89 | 27 | 39 | 46 | 40 |
| 48 | South Carolina | 33.77 | 31 | 43 | 50 | 42 |
| 49 | Nevada | 33.31 | 34 | 36 | 48 | 47 |
| 50 | Alabama | 29.39 | 29 | 49 | 51 | 45 |
| 51 | Mississippi | 27.99 | 24 | 50 | 44 | 49 |
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. New Hampshire
- 3. Delaware
- 4. North Dakota
- 5. West Virginia
- Highest
- T-36. Arizona
- T-36. California
- T-36. Florida
- T-36. Nevada
- T-36. New Jersey
- Lowest
- 1. New Hampshire
- 2. North Dakota
- 3. Maryland
- 4. Delaware
- 5. Nebraska
- Highest
- 36. New York
- 37. Florida
- T-38. California
- T-38. Nevada
- T-38. New Jersey
- Lowest
- 1. South Dakota
- 2. South Carolina
- 3. Mississippi
- 4. Kentucky
- 5. Idaho
- Highest
- T-46. Washington
- T-46. Rhode Island
- T-46. Massachusetts
- T-46. New York
- T-46. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- 1. New Hampshire
- 2. Vermont
- 3. Massachusetts
- 4. New Jersey
- 5. Wyoming
- Highest
- 47. Louisiana
- 48. Alaska
- 49. Alabama
- 50. Arkansas
- 51. Mississippi
- Most
- 1. District of Columbia
- 2. Delaware
- 3. North Dakota
- 4. Vermont
- 5. Rhode Island
- Fewest
- 47. South Carolina
- 48. Kentucky
- 49. Missouri
- 50. Louisiana
- 51. Alabama
- Most
- 1. Delaware
- 2. Massachusetts
- 3. Vermont
- 4. California
- 5. Nebraska
- Fewest
- 47. Louisiana
- 48. Alabama
- 49. West Virginia
- 50. Nevada
- 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 eighth-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 second-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.
North Dakota
North Dakota is the second-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 $7,500. For comparison, in the most expensive states, that can cost you as much as $27,000. North Dakota also has the second-lowest costs for a conventional birth with complications, and the fourth-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 $17.56. 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.
Minnesota
Minnesota is the third-best state to have a baby in, partly because it has the second-lowest health insurance premiums in the nation, at $355 per month. It also has high quality care, leading to the second-lowest maternal mortality rate in the country and the 15th-lowest infant mortality rate.
In addition to high-quality medical care, Minnesota also has a large number of medical professionals. The state has the 10th-most nurse midwives, 12th-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.
Ask the Experts
Parenthood readiness requires financial preparedness. To help expectant parents with the planning process and provide policy insight to local governments, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:
- When planning to have a child, what financial considerations should parents take into account?
- What is the biggest financial mistake that new parents make?
- What can local authorities do to make their cities more baby friendly?
- What makes low-income children in some states do better than those in other states?
- What is driving the downward trend in the U.S. birth rate?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D. – Norwood and Frances Berger Professor of Psychology, Business and Society, Department of Psychological Science; Director, Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development - Claremont McKenna College
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Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Child, Youth & Family Studies; Director, Nebraska Strong Families Lab; Coordinator, Human Development & Family Science and Associate Editor, Family Process - University of Nebraska–Lincoln
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Ph.D. – Professor and Department Chair, Associate Dean of Research, School of Public Affairs - American University
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MSW, LCSW - Assistant Professor/Director of Field, School of Social Work - Carthage College
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PhD, CFLE – Associate Professor, Family Science, Vice-Chair of the Institutional Review Board, President of the Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations - Towson University
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MS, CFLE, Certified Family Life Educator, eLearning Coordinator & Instructor, Department of Family Science & Social Work - Miami University
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Methodology
In order to determine the best and worst states to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across four key dimensions: 1) Cost, 2) Health Care, 3) Baby-Friendliness and 4) Family-Friendliness.
We evaluated those dimensions using 31 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for expectant parents and newborns.
Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Cost – Total Points: 20
- Hospital Cesarean-Delivery Charges: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Average Annual Cost of Early Child Care: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Average Health-Insurance Premiums: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Current Status of Medicaid Expansion Decision: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: We included this metric because Medicaid Expansion helps cover a greater amount of birthing costs. - Cost of Babysitter/Nanny: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Cost of Newborn Screening: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Health Care- Total Points: 40
- Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 Live Births): Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 Live Births): Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Rate of Low Birth-Weight: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Rate of Preterm Births: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Low or Very Low Food Security for Babies: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Share of Children with All Seven Recommended Vaccines: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: “Recommended vaccines” include the following: DTaP vaccine; polio vaccine; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine; Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine; varicella (chicken pox) vaccine; hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine; and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). “Children” include the population aged 0 to 35 months. - Quality of Women’s Hospitals: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: This metric is based on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals for Gynecology” score. - Quality of Pediatric Neonatology Facilities: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: This metric is based on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals for Pediatric Neonatology” score. - Midwives & Obstetrician-Gynecologists per Capita: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Pediatricians & Family Doctors per Capita: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Fertility Clinics per Capita: Quarter Weight (~0.62 Points)
- mPINC Survey Score: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: The mPINC (Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care) survey is a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “to monitor and examine changes in practices over time at all hospitals and birth centers with registered maternity beds in the United States and Territories.” - Prenatal Care Access: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
- Share of Children Aged 9-35 Months who Received Developmental Screening using a Parent-Completed Screening Tool: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: A parent-completed screening tool is a survey given to parents that may help identify developmental delays in their children. - Rate of Postpartum Depression: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms. - State Medicaid Policy for Maternal Depression Screening in Well-Child Visits: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures if a state has or does not have a policy regarding maternal depression screening in well-child visits. - State Policy for Medicaid-Covered Dyadic Treatment: Full Weight (~2.46 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures if a state has or does not have a Medicaid-covered dyadic (parent-child) treatment.
Baby-Friendliness - Total Points: 20
- Parental-Leave Policy Score: Double Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Mom Groups per Capita: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Child-Care Centers per Capita: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Nationally Accredited Child-Care Centers: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Birth Rate: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- State Policy for Medicaid-Covered Parenting Programs: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures if a state has or does not have a Medicaid-covered parenting programs.
Family-Friendliness - Total Points: 20
- Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst States to Raise a Family” ranking.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 7, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, U.S. News & World Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health, The National Academy for State Health Policy - Healthy Child Development State Resource Center, National Center for Children in Poverty, Child Care Aware of America, Kaiser Family Foundation, Indeed, United Health Foundation, National Partnership for Women & Families, ZeroToThree.org, BabyCenter.com and WalletHub research.
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