With rampant inflation and the ever-rising cost of living, raising a family is more expensive than ever before. Many families are finding it increasingly difficult to afford everyday necessities like food and housing, let alone frivolities like going on vacation. Naturally, some states are a lot more expensive to live in than others and this makes raising a family all the more difficult. So here’s a comprehensive list of the 10 most expensive states for families to live in and the 10 most affordable.
1. Hawaii
Consistently atop the list of the most expensive states to live in, the Aloha State is plagued by a staggering cost of living. The island state’s high cost of living is primarily driven by expensive housing, higher-than-average utility costs, and pricey groceries resulting from Hawaii’s relative isolation from the rest of the United States.
2. California
Sadly, the Golden State is riddled with costly expenses that significantly outpace the national average. In addition to having the most expensive housing market in the country (particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco), California residents also contend with exorbitant taxes and costly healthcare, leading to an untenable financial burden for many families.
3. New York
The Empire State, particularly its capital New York City, certainly has a lot of things going for it — but the cost of living is not one of them. The Big Apple in particular is widely recognized for having the steepest housing costs and taxes in the entire country. On top of that, many families are forced to reckon with prohibitive childcare and education costs that make raising a family in New York exceedingly hard.
4. Massachusetts
The Bay State, particularly the Boston metro area, is plagued with exorbitant housing and healthcare costs. Although Massachusetts’ stellar education system and fair wages serve to offset these expenses to some degree, many Massachusetts residents are also burdened with high utility and transportation costs, which make the prospect of raising a family even more daunting.
5. Maryland
Much of Maryland suffers due to its close proximity to Washington D.
C., particularly places like Bethesda and Rockville, which experience staggeringly high costs of living. Despite the Old Line State’s relatively high household incomes, many families in the state simply can’t keep up with the rising housing prices and costs of transportation and childcare.
6. Connecticut
Many Connecticut residents suffer from high property taxes and unaffordable housing costs. The Constitution State is easily one of the most costliest states to live in and this is primarily due to its exceedingly affluent and well-to-do communities which regularly drive up the price of goods and services, making it far more difficult for people of lesser means to adequately live there.
7. Alaska
Alaska’s beautiful and pristine picturesque landscapes may be a selling point for some, but they certainly come at a cost. Due to the Last Frontier’s remote location, the cost of importing goods is extremely high, leading to exorbitant fuel and grocery prices. On top of that, Alaska’s extreme climate conditions also necessitate higher utility usage which drives up expenses ever more.
8. New Jersey
Due to its proximity to New York City, residents of the Garden State regularly experience high housing costs and property taxes. Even New Jersey’s high median income isn’t enough to help contend with the state’s increasing transportation and healthcare prices, all of which culminate in creating an untenable situation for many families.
9. Rhode Island
Cities like Providence are plagued with rising housing prices and substantial property taxes.
On top of that, residents of the Ocean State also experience grocery, utility, and healthcare costs that are well above the national average, in effect burdening many families who simply can’t afford to keep up with the state’s high cost of living.
10. Vermont
Although Vermont’s housing market isn’t rife with the same issues as other states on this list, there are several other factors which contribute to the state’s untenable cost of living for many families. Chief among them is the state’s ruthless property taxes and heating costs, as well as grocery and transportation prices which add to the financial burden experienced by many families living in the Green Mountain State.
1. Mississippi
Widely cited for its ideal housing costs, which are among the lowest in the country (19% lower than the average), Mississippi offers one of the best costs of living compared to other states. The Magnolia State is a great place for families to live comfortably. Its affordable grocery and utility costs, in addition to its cheaper housing market, make budgeting and saving a far more realistic endeavor.
2. Arkansas
This appealing option for would-be families features a cost of living that is well below the national average. Thanks to its low housing prices (among the lowest in the country at about 25% less), as well as its affordable utilities, groceries, and healthcare, Arkansas is a place where families can feasibly afford to live and thrive.
3. Oklahoma
Boasting low housing costs and reasonable utility prices, Oklahoma is the cheapest state in America. Along with an overall cost of living that’s about 15% less than the rest of the country, Oklahoma offers insanely cheap housing prices that come out to around 31% less than the national average. The Sooner State also offers residents affordable healthcare and sensible grocery costs, all of which culminate in a situation where families can thrive and live comfortably.
4. West Virginia
Families looking for a house can look no further: the Mountain State is home to some of the lowest housing costs in the nation (33% lower than the average). Moreover, West Virginia also offers residents relatively low transportation and utility costs, in addition to healthcare and grocery expenses which fall well below the national average, in effect making it a low-cost place to start a family.
5. Kentucky
Thanks to its affordable housing market (27% below the average), Kentucky is a great place to raise a family. Although the Bluegrass State has some expenditures that are slightly above the national average, it also boasts budget-friendly groceries and healthcare, all of which culminate in a reasonably low cost of living that most families can afford to contend with.
6. Alabama
As one of the cheapest states in America, Alabama is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to affordably raise a family.
Although, the Yellowhammer State does boast utility costs that are slightly higher than the national average (by about 2.4%), it more than makes up for it with everything else, which is markedly cheaper than the rest of the country. This is especially true for housing.
7. Indiana
Certainly among one of the cheapest states in America, Indiana (much like Alabama) also boasts slightly higher utility costs. That being said, the Hoosier State is still a more-than-viable place for a family to live and thrive thanks to its low housing costs, which come about 24.2% under the national average.
8. Missouri
Given that it boasts a lower cost of living on every metric across the board, it’s pretty safe to say that Missouri is a worthwhile consideration for anyone looking for a place to raise their family. The Show-Me State not only offers lower housing costs (about 23% lower to be exact), but it also boasts cheaper expenses to the tune of 5-10 percentage points lower than the national average in nearly every metric.
9. Iowa
All in all, the Hawkeye State is a remarkably affordable place to raise a family. This is because Iowa’s overall cost of living is well below the national average in practically every single category. This is especially true with the state’s housing marketing, which is staggeringly low compared to the rest of the country (about 26% lower).
10. Ohio
Boasting an overall cost of living that’s about 5% lower than the rest of the country, it’s pretty clear that Ohio just might be the place you decide to have a family. The Buckeye State features reasonably low costs across the board — including housing, which comes in almost 19% less than the national average.
