The birth rate in the U.S. is finally seeing an uptick after falling during the recession. Births tend to fall during hard economic times because having a baby and raising a child are expensive propositions.
Costs are not the same everywhere, though. Some states are better than others for family budgets, and health care quality varies widely from place to place.
A new report from WalletHub looks at the cost of delivering a baby in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as overall health care quality and the general “baby-friendliness” of each state – a mix of variables including average birth weights, pollution levels and the availability of child care.
Mississippi ranks as the worst state to have a baby, despite having the lowest average infant-care costs in the nation. Unfortunately, the Magnolia State also has the highest rate of infant deaths and one of lowest numbers of pediatricians per capita.
Related: Which States Have the Most Unwanted Babies?
On the other end of the scale, Vermont ranks as the best state for having a baby. Vermont has both the highest number of pediatricians and the highest number of child centers per capita. But before packing your bags, it’s worth considering the frigid winters in the Green Mountain State and the amount of money you’ll need to spend on winter clothing and heat.
Here are the 10 worst and 10 best states for having a baby:
Top 10 Worst States to Have a Baby
1. Mississippi
-
Budget Rank: 18
-
Health Care Rank: 51
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 29
2. Pennsylvania
-
Budget Rank: 37
-
Health Care Rank: 36
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 51
3. West Virginia
-
Budget Rank: 13
-
Health Care Rank: 48
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 50
4. South Carolina
-
Budget Rank: 22
-
Health Care Rank: 43
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 49
5. Nevada
-
Budget Rank: 39
-
Health Care Rank: 35
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 46
6. New York
-
Budget Rank: 46
-
Health Care Rank: 12
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 47
7. Louisiana
-
Budget Rank: 8
-
Health Care Rank: 50
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 26
8. Georgia
-
Budget Rank: 6
-
Health Care Rank: 46
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 43
9. Alabama
-
Budget Rank: 3
-
Health Care Rank: 47
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 44
10. Arkansas
-
Budget Rank: 12
-
Health Care Rank: 49
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 37
Top 10 Best States to Have a Baby
1. Vermont
-
Budget Ranks: 17
-
Health Care Rank: 1
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 5
2. North Dakota
-
Budget Rank: 10
-
Health Care Rank: 14
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 10
3. Oregon
-
Budget Rank: 38
-
Health Care Rank: 2
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 14
4. Hawaii
-
Budget Rank: 31
-
Health Care Rank: 25
-
Baby Friendly Environment Rank: 1