Buckeye Babies: Ohio Ranks in Top 10 Best States to Start a Family
For growing families, Ohio might just be one of the best places to call home. A new study from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling ranks the Buckeye State as the sixth-best state in the country to have a baby in 2025.
The study analyzed eight key factors related to childbirth and parenting— including delivery costs, babysitter rates, Medicaid-funded births, and infant mortality rates. Data was sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and FAIR Health.
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Ohio earned its ranking thanks to its relatively low childcare costs. Married couples spend an average of 8.4% of their income on raising a child and affordable babysitter rates at $15.54 per hour. The average cost of a conventional delivery in Ohio is $22,843.13, lower than the national average of $28,654.71.
However, the state’s high infant mortality rate of 7.11%, the eighth highest in the nation.
Rhode Island took the top spot, boasting one of the lowest maternal mortality rates (0.017%) and an infant mortality rate of just 3.90%. Iowa, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Maryland rounded out the top five.
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Nevada ranked as the worst state to start a family. The Silver State faces high delivery costs, averaging $39,160.55 per birth, and has the highest percentage of families struggling to pay medical bills (14%). South Carolina, Alaska, New Jersey, and Nebraska also ranked among the least favorable states for new parents.
While Ohio’s affordability makes it a strong contender for growing families, experts stress that continued improvements in healthcare access and infant mortality rates could push the state even higher in future rankings.
Buckeye Babies: Ohio Ranks in Top 10 Best States to Start a Family was originally published on ronemycolumbusmagic.staging.go.ione.nyc