MN Among Best States To Have A Baby, New Study Says

Minnesota is the second-best state in the country to have a baby, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics ranging from affordability and health care access to baby- and family-friendliness.

“The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. "They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier.”

Minnesota topped the rankings by landing at fourth for health care, seventh for baby-friendliness and second for family-friendliness. The Gopher State fared least well in the cost category, sitting at 21st.

"Minnesota is the second-best state to have a baby in, partly because it has the third-lowest health insurance premiums in the nation, at $437 per month," WalletHub noted. "It also has high quality care, leading to the second-lowest maternal mortality rate in the country and the 10th-lowest infant mortality rate."

Here's the full top 10:

1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. North Dakota
4. Rhode Island
5. New Hampshire
6. Maine
7. Connecticut
8. Vermont
9. Washington
10. District of Columbia

Read the full story at WalletHub.