New Jersey did not crack the top 10 on a new national list ranking the best states to raise a family, but the data behind the ranking helps explain why the Garden State still holds its ground.
WalletHub released its 2026 report this week, placing New Jersey at No. 14 overall. The study looked at all 50 states, weighing affordability, safety, education, health care, and economic conditions. New Jersey finished behind several nearby states, including New York at No. 6, Connecticut at No. 7, and Pennsylvania at No. 12.
Massachusetts ranked first. New Mexico came in last. Sorry, Heisenberg.
Where New Jersey stood out was not in affordability, but in long-term stability. The Garden State ranked in the top five nationally for median family income, infant mortality rate, and divorce rate—a combination that points to financial strength and household durability, even as costs remain high.
That tradeoff is familiar to most New Jersey families. Housing prices, taxes, and everyday expenses continue to push the state down the rankings, but income levels, access to health care, and school quality consistently pull it back up.
WalletHub’s analysts evaluated states across five broad categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability, and socio-economics. Each category was broken down into dozens of individual data points, including crime rates, housing costs, school performance, and employment figures. Scores were then weighted to produce the final rankings.
“Raising a family has become significantly more expensive in recent years as the cost of living has risen quickly. In fact, it can cost a family as much as $320,000 to raise a child to age 18, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In light of the expensive nature of being a parent and the responsibility it entails, it’s important to live in a city that is affordable while still providing quality health care, education, safety and opportunities for enrichment,” Analyst Chip Lupo said in the report.
For New Jersey, the report reinforces a familiar reality. The state remains a strong place to build a family if income, education, and health care are priorities. It is a harder sell when affordability is the deciding factor.
Still, ranking No. 14 nationally keeps New Jersey firmly in the upper tier. In a country where many states struggle to offer both economic opportunity and family stability, the Garden State continues to deliver enough of both to stay competitive—even as costs rise.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.