MA Named Second-Best State To Raise A Family: WalletHub

When it comes to finding the best place to raise a family, there are a lot of factors to consider, from the cost of childcare to the quality of public education. In a new ranking from WalletHub, Massachusetts was named among the top-10 best states to raise a family, coming in second place.

To determine the ranking, WalletHub considered several factors: family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability and socioeconomics, ranking states in each category and determining an overall score out of 100.

Minnesota came in first, with an overall score of 63.71. Massachusetts was a fraction of a point behind at 63.22, followed by North Dakota, Vermont and New Hampshire.

The interactive map below shows how states across the country ranked.

Here's how Massachusetts fared in each of the categories:

• Overall Rank: 2
• Overall Score: 63.22
• Family Fun: 8
• Health and Safety: 4
• Education and Childcare: 4
• Affordability: 20
• Socioeconomics: 15

"The state in which [families] live significantly influence children's development and a family's quality of life," said Kelly Chandler, an associate professor at Oregon State University. "Raising a healthy, stable family sometimes requires moving to a new state. And the reasons for moving are often similar: career transitions, better schools, financial challenges or a general desire to change settings."

See the full ranking on WalletHub.