MAP MONDAY: Worst States to Have a Baby

Whether it’s your first, your last or somewhere in between, having a baby is not only stressful, but also expensive. The Economist reports that the average conventional delivery in the U.S. costs over $10,000 and that’s before you factor in things needed to get the baby back home – clothing, diapers, strollers, car seats, etc.

Financial literacy website WalletHub recently conducted a study to evaluate which states deal the softest blow to the pocketbook when it comes to baby delivery. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key measures of cost, health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness.

Taken into account were delivery costs, annual child care costs, infant mortality rates, Medicaid expansion status, food security, vaccination status, and more. (See details here)

So…which states are the best and worst states for having a baby? And where does Georgia fall in the rankings? In this week’s Map Monday, we take a look.

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1. Vermont
2. Massachusetts
3. North Dakota
4. Rhode Island
5. Minnesota
6. New Hampshire
7. Washington
8. Colorado
9. Connecticut
10. Utah