A national study ranks New Jersey as one of the best states to raise a family. WalletHub just released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family and ranked NJ number 7 overall on its list based on 51 indicators of family-friendliness, such as child care costs, median annual family income, vaccination against COVID and crime rates.
For the ranking, number 1 is best and number 25 is average. Jersey’s appearance on the list includes:
17th – Percentage of families with young children
5th – Childcare costs (adjusted for median family income)
4th – Infant mortality rate
4th – Median annual family income (adjusted for cost of living)
5th – Violent crimes per capita
17th – Percentage of families in poverty
1st – Unemployment rate
3rd – Separation and divorce rate
8th – Percentage of residents age 12 and older who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
“Education will be a top priority – what are the public schools like, how well funded are they and what types of options do they offer?” said Tovah P. Klein, PhD, associate professor and director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York. “For working families, having options for afterschool care and programs will be important, too. If families have younger children they will want to know about the quality, access to, and affordability of child care and other early childhood programs. Parents will also want to know about the outdoor opportunities for their family if there are parks, summer recreation such as community-run day camps, a community pool, and what other green community spaces are available. If the family has a particular religion they may want to know about the available resources and communities that would fulfill that need. Cost is essential, is this a community that the family can afford to buy or rent a home or apartment, and will they be able to move to a bigger place if or when their family grows? Can they afford the amenities they will want such as recreation, and the necessities, such as health care and child care, that this area offers?”
The Top 10 best states to raise a family are:
1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. New York
4. North Dakota
5. Vermont
6. New Hampshire
7. New Jersey
8. Nebraska
9. Iowa
10. Connecticut
Check out a video about the best states to live in!
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