Best States to Raise a Family in 2025
Wondering where your kids will thrive? Our 2025 ranking analyzes twelve factors — from school quality and safety to air quality and housing costs — to reveal the five happiest states for families: Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and New Hampshire. Explore the data and see why they excel.
Family comes first, and choosing the right place to settle is a huge decision. We examined life expectancy, median household income, national parks, school metrics, air quality, safety, obesity rates, housing prices, and cost of living for all 50 states, creating a combined Family Score to find America’s happiest places to raise children.
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1. Minnesota – 7.07 Family Score
Minnesota tops our list thanks to excellent life expectancy (80.4 years), salaries that beat the national median, and schools that score sixth for quality. With scores of family‑friendly parks and a child obesity rate of just 11.7 percent, the North Star State shines for health, learning, and outdoor fun.
2. Washington – 6.94 Family Score
Washington combines high school safety rankings with three stunning national parks. Median household income is roughly $8 000 above the national average, helping soften its steeper housing costs. Healthy lifestyles flourish here too – adult obesity is among the 10 lowest nationwide.
3. Massachusetts – 6.87 Family Score
Education is Massachusetts’ superpower, leading the nation for both school quality and safety. The state also posts the lowest firearms death rate and boasts an 80.4‑year life expectancy. Yes, housing is pricey – but families gain exceptional learning and safety benefits in return.
4. Nebraska – 6.70 Family Score
America’s heartland offers the lowest typical house prices in our top five, plus friendly communities and wide‑open spaces. Nebraska ranks well for air quality and keeps childhood obesity at just 12.6 percent, making it a budget‑smart and healthy choice for young families.
5. New Hampshire – 6.60 Family Score
New Hampshire pairs New England charm with remarkable safety – boasting the lowest homicide rate in the country. Solid school safety scores, below‑average obesity, and an above‑average life span land it firmly in our happy‑family top five.
Key Takeaways
- Safety matters most – low crime and secure schools lifted every high‑scoring state.
- Healthier lifestyles correlate with lower obesity and longer life expectancy.
- Outdoor access, from lakes to national parks, supports active family time and learning.
- Budget counts – Nebraska proves you do not need sky‑high incomes to create a happy home base.
How We Scored Each State
We gathered publicly available 2022–2024 data for twelve family‑centric metrics, normalized each to a 10‑point scale, then averaged those to produce one Family Score per state. Full weighting and calculations are available on request.
Full Data & Sources
All data were retrieved March 17 2024 from the following:
- CDC Life Expectancy
- National Park Trips
- The Ascent – House Prices
- World Population Review – Income, Air Quality, Crime, Cost of Living
- WalletHub – School Metrics
- State of Childhood Obesity
Ready for peace of mind wherever you live? Explore our smart breathing monitors and nursery temperature guide to keep your little ones safe.
