What’s the best state in the US to have a baby? Here’s where California ranked
California is one of the best states in the nation to have a baby — but it’s not the top 10, according to Forbes Advisor.
The personal finance website recently ranked all 50 states in the United States based on childbirth costs, access to medical care and risks associated with delivery.
“In some states, expecting mothers are more likely to encounter high childbirth costs, a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, and increased risks during delivery,” Forbes Advisor contributor Meera Pal wrote in a Sept. 4 article titled “The Worst (And Best) States to Have a Baby, Ranked.”
In a recent Harris Poll, less than half of women surveyed — 42% — said they had access to the best possible medical care while pregnant, while 44% said they had access to the best possible medical care during delivery.
According to Forbes Advisor, Vermont is the No. 1 state in the nation for expecting mothers.
It had an overall score of 0 out of 100, with the lowest score being the best.
The Green Mountain State has the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in the nation, the study found, as well as the second highest percentage of needs for obstetricians and gynecologists met.
Rhode Island was the second-best state to start a family, and Massachusetts came in third place.
Why is California one of the best places in US to have a baby?
California fell just short of Forbes Advisor’s list of the 10 best places in the United States to have a baby, landing at No. 11. The state had an overall score of 30.55 out of 100.
The Golden State had an infant mortality rate of 4.03 deaths per 1,000 live births and a maternal mortality rate of 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The Forbes Advisor study predicted that 83.4% of needs for obstetricians and gynecologists in California would be met in 2030.
According to the study, it costs $1,955 to deliver a baby in California with health insurance.
If you don’t have health insurance or go through an out-of-network health care provider, childbirth costs rocket up to about $43,458.
Forbes Advisor’s findings stand in contrast to a recent WalletHub study about the best and worst places to have a baby.
In that study, published Aug. 5, California ranked No. 30 out of all 50 states due to its high birthing costs.
Where are the best states in US to give birth?
These are the best states to have a baby, according to Forbes Advisor:
- Vermont
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Wyoming
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Illinois
What are the worst US states to start a family?
Here are the worst states to have a baby, the Forbes Advisor study found:
- Arkansas
- South Dakota
- Alaska
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Missisippi
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Arizona
- Georgia
How did Forbes Advisor come up with its rankings?
To find out which are the worst and best states to have a baby, Forbes Advisor looked at five factors.
- Infant mortality rate: Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
- Maternal mortality rate: Number of deaths among pregnant women or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births.
- Percentage of needs met for obstetricians and gynecologists in 2030
- Average cost of childbirth
Median cost of childbirth without health insurance or through an out-of-network provider
Data came from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Health Care Cost institute and Fair Health.
This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 8:12 AM with the headline "What’s the best state in the US to have a baby? Here’s where California ranked."