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Georgia and South Carolina: Not The Best States For Families

In life, we’re sometimes presented with opportunities that may require us to move to a new state.  There are a variety of reasons: careers, schools, financial issues, to be closer…

Best States for Families - poster map of United States
iStock / Getty Images Plus

In life, we're sometimes presented with opportunities that may require us to move to a new state.  There are a variety of reasons: careers, schools, financial issues, to be closer to family, or just looking for a change.  And if you have a family, it can be a tough decision to make.  While there may be pros to moving to a different state, there may also be cons.  The true question is which one outweighs the other. And what are the best states for families?

You may run into a situation where a state may have a low income tax rate, but the education system could use some work. But not all moves will require you to make sacrifices in areas that are important to you and your family.

Research

WalletHub put in the work to look at the best and worst states to raise a family.  They compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of family friendliness.  The main 5 key dimensions include: family fun, health & safety, education & child care, affordability, and socio-economics.

Unfortunately, Georgia and South Carolina didn't rank well in this study.  Georgia ranked at number 41 out of 50. Sadly, Georgia ranked in the top 5 states with the highest infant mortality rate.  South Carolina was even further down the list at 47 out of 50; but did rank in the top 5 states with the lowest child care costs.

While Georgia was ranked in the middle for family fun, the state didn't fare well in the areas of health & safety, or affordability. As for the areas of education & child care and socio-economics, the numbers aren't stellar.

At 47 out of all the states, the numbers definitely don't look great for South Carolina.  The state ranked very low in all of the 5 areas, with the best ranking in socio-economics (36 out of 50).

Check out the top 10 best and the top 10 worst states listed below!

Source: WalletHub

Top 10 Best States for Families

10. New Jersey

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
57.0121141441
Sayreville NJ town aerial panoramic view is a small town in USAGetty Images/iStockphoto

9. North Dakota

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
57.5731173152
 Aerial View of the Tourist Town of Medora, North Dakota outside of Theodore Roosevelt National ParkGetty Images/iStockphoto

8. Washington

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
57.5881826316
 A view of the skyline of Bellevue, Washington.Getty Images/iStockphoto

7. Connecticut

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
57.672977138
 Hartford, Connecticut, USA downtown skyline at dusk in early autumn.Getty Images/iStockphoto

6. New Hampshire

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
58.383429245
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA townscape.Getty Images/iStockphoto

5. Nebraska

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
58.49171012144
 Welcome to NebraskaGetty Images/iStockphoto

4. Minnesota

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
58.791392297
A Wide Angle Sunset Shot over Rural Red Wing, MinnesotaiStock / Getty Images Plus

3. Vermont

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
59.154414301
Montpelier, Vermont Town SkylineiStock / Getty Images Plus

2. New York

 Night New York, reflective city lightsGetty Images/iStockphoto
Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
61.81285646

1. Massachusetts

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
65.21932224
 Boston, Massachusetts, USA cityscape with the State House at dusk.Getty Images/iStockphoto

Top 10 Worst States for Families

10. Georgia

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
39.832546394235
Atlanta Georgia USA downtown skyline.Shutterstock

9. Nevada

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
38.96445494949
 Aerial view of Las Vegas strip in Nevada as seen at night USAGetty Images/iStockphoto

8. Alabama

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
38.344744411731
Huntsville, Alabama, USA SkylineGetty Images/iStockphoto

7. Arkansas

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
37.914843362928
 Little Rock, Arkansas, USA skyline on the river at twilight.Getty Images/iStockphoto

6. West Virginia

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
37.695022434122
Charleston, West Virginia, USAiStock / Getty Images Plus

5. Oklahoma

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
37.194148443634
 Detail of a US route 66 road sign in a town in the State of Oklahoma, USA. Concept for road trip in the USA.Getty Images/iStockphoto

4. South Carolina

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
37.094241424636
Richest Places in South Carolinaf11photo/Shutterstock
 A welcome sign at the South Carolina state line.Getty Images/iStockphoto

3. Louisiana

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
34.661849483150
 Shreveport, Louisiana, USA skyline over the Red River at dusk.Getty Images/iStockphoto

2. New Mexico

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
30.793542504548
 Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA downtown cityscape and street at twilight.Getty Images/iStockphoto

1. Mississippi

Total Score Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics 
30.474950373247
 Jackson, Mississippi, USA skyline over the Capitol Building.Getty Images/iStockphoto
CodyEditor
“Cody” Blaine Jackson is one half of the Kicks Wake Up Krew on Kicks 99. Her passions include fitness and anything to do with animals, as she has two fur babies, her dogs, Harley and Waylon. Cody likes to write about pets, fitness, and Augusta local events.