Living a rich life doesn't just mean your family is wealthy — it means having access to opportunities that can increase your quality of living.
Finding the right place to live a richer life isn’t easy, so GOBankingRates researched and evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify which states provided the best income, housing, healthcare and schooling opportunities.
Twelve factors were analyzed and divided up into five categories as follows:
Jobs and income: Median household income and state unemployment rate
Housing: Median home listing price and effective state property tax
Lifestyle: State tax rate, annual child care costs, cost of groceries and school district grades
Healthcare: Average family health insurance premium and percentage of employer contribution to employee health insurance
Safety: Violent crime rates and property crime rates
Each category was scored on a normalized scale from 0 to 100, with 0 being the worst and 100 the best. The national average scores for each category are as follows: (1) jobs and income, 46; (2) housing, 68; (3) lifestyle, 57; (4) healthcare, 55; (5) safety, 60.
Click through to find out whether your state is one of the worst or one of the best states for families to live a richer life.
51. District of Columbia
Jobs and Income Score: 52
Housing Score: 46
Lifestyle Score: 29
Healthcare Score: 56
Safety Score: 25
Coming in at No. 51 is the District of Columbia, which has many factors working against it. D.C. has the fourth-highest unemployment rate and second-highest median home price, $549,900, which drags its housing score down to the bottom 10 in the country.
D.C. ranks the worst in the U.S. for its lifestyle score. Buying groceries for the family is costly, and child care costs in D.C. are the highest in the nation by far: $40,473 a year. Just to make the situation a little worse, D.C. also suffers from the highest rates of violent and property crimes per year.
50. California
Jobs and Income Score: 48
Housing Score: 49
Lifestyle Score: 38
Healthcare Score: 40
Safety Score: 62
California doesn't make it easy to raise a family in a rich life. Its scores are brought down by bad housing, lifestyle and healthcare scores. At $475,000, California has the second-highest median home list price, while its average family health insurance premium is among the top 10 most expensive in the U.S.
California’s lifestyle score is the second worst behind D.C. Cost of child care and groceries in the state are on the high end too, while its school districts rank toward the bottom 10 in the country.
49. Illinois
Jobs and Income Score: 32
Housing Score: 43
Lifestyle Score: 53
Healthcare Score: 45
Safety Score: 67
Illinois is not one of the best states to live in if you’re looking for a richer family life. The state has a poor showing when it comes to jobs and income, in part owed to its 6.2 percent unemployment rate, which is tied for the third highest on the list.
Illinois housing can be a roadblock to a richer life, but not because of list prices. The median home list price is $209,500. The 2.32 percent property tax, on other hand, is the nation’s second highest, which hurts Illinois’ housing score.
48. Connecticut
Jobs and Income Score: 55
Housing Score: 42
Lifestyle Score: 47
Healthcare Score: 59
Safety Score: 70
Housing and lifestyle costs hurt Connecticut’s chances of being one of the best states for families to live richer. You won’t save much money on housing considering Connecticut has the 11th-highest median home listing at $293,948. And the state’s property tax, the fourth highest nationwide, only makes the housing situation worse.
The cost of living and raising children is high in Connecticut, with the price of groceries and child care ranking among the top five highest in the U.S. On the positive side, low crime rates and quality schooling keep Connecticut from sinking lower on the list.
47. Nevada
Jobs and Income Score: 22
Housing Score: 74
Lifestyle Score: 40
Healthcare Score: 61
Safety Score: 60
Families living in Nevada can benefit from below-average property taxes. A median home list price of $249,000 falls near the middle among the 50 states and D.C. Beyond that, Nevada families face many factors that limit their ability to live a richer life.
Nevada comes in with the fifth-worst jobs and income score, mainly because of the state’s 6.4 percent unemployment rate — the second highest in the country. The state’s sales tax is the fourth highest while its groceries and child care costs are on the more expensive side. Combined with the worst school district grade and tied with Alaska for the second-highest violent crime rate in the country, Nevada is not one of the best states for families.
46. Washington
Jobs and Income Score: 41
Housing Score: 62
Lifestyle Score: 47
Healthcare Score: 50
Safety Score: 45
Washington doesn’t provide the best setting for families to live a richer life due to a number of reasons. The state’s housing score is one of the worst on the list, thanks in part to the state having the eighth-highest median home price at $299,999. Although its property tax isn’t too bad, at 1.09 percent, Washington ties with Arkansas for the fifth-highest sales tax.
Washington’s jobs and income score gets hurt by its 5.8 percent unemployment rate. In terms of lifestyle, living expenses are high as well: The cost of groceries is near the top 10, and Washington has the 10th-highest child care cost.
45. Texas
Jobs and Income Score: 46
Housing Score: 49
Lifestyle Score: 53
Healthcare Score: 31
Safety Score: 55
Texas has a lot of positives and some notable negatives when it comes to living a richer life with a family. On the positive side, Texas has a moderate unemployment rate of 4.5 percent and the second-cheapest cost of groceries. Its child care expenses aren’t too bad either, at $15,489 annually.
Despite these positives, Texas ranks among the worst states for its lifestyle and housing scores, while its healthcare score is the worst in the nation. The high average property tax in Texas will impact your wallet, and poor marks for schooling could harm your children’s education.
44. Rhode Island
Jobs and Income Score: 39
Housing Score: 51
Lifestyle Score: 52
Healthcare Score: 48
Safety Score: 66
Rhode Island, like Texas, has a few bright spots, but ultimately isn’t one of the best states for families to live a richer life. Home prices are a bit above average — the 16th highest — and you'll get hit with one of the highest property tax rates around.
Rhode Island scores well for education, but expensive child care and the nation’s second-highest sales tax, 7 percent, undermines the state’s lifestyle score. And while crime rates are low, Rhode Island suffers from the ninth-highest unemployment rate and one of the lowest healthcare scores.
43. Florida
Jobs and Income Score: 36
Housing Score: 68
Lifestyle Score: 53
Healthcare Score: 35
Safety Score: 49
Like Connecticut, Florida suffers from one of the worst healthcare scores on this list, tied for the worst state in terms of employer contribution to health insurance. Florida's safety score doesn't help its case, with both violent crime and property crime rates ranking among the highest in the country. Housing prices and property taxes aren’t too bad, but Florida’s median household income is less than three-quarters of the U.S, at $47,212.
42. New Mexico
Jobs and Income Score: 14
Housing Score: 81
Lifestyle Score: 52
Healthcare Score: 53
Safety Score: 47
Housing can be a benefit to New Mexico families, though other factors drag the state down toward the bottom of the list. With the eighth-best housing score, New Mexico features the 10th-lowest property tax.
New Mexico’s job and income score, however, is the third worst in the nation, tied with Louisiana. The state has the seventh-lowest median household income and the country's third-highest unemployment rate, alongside Louisiana and Illinois. The state’s poor safety score might repel families too, considering New Mexico features violent crime and property crime rates that are higher than roughly 90 percent of the U.S.
Find Out: How to Get Rich While Raising a Family
41. New Jersey
Jobs and Income Score: 67
Housing Score: 32
Lifestyle Score: 60
Healthcare Score: 49
Safety Score: 72
New Jersey is a mixed bag of great benefits and costly expenses for living a richer family life. New Jersey ranks in the top 10 states for the best jobs and income score, notably boasting the second-highest median household income, $72,062. New Jersey also provides good education opportunities for children, scoring the second-highest school district grade.
What brings the state down are high taxes, healthcare and housing. New Jersey, unfortunately, sees the second-highest sales tax, the second-highest average health insurance premium as well as costly child care. Worse, New Jersey has the lowest housing score — at $299,900, it has the ninth-most expensive median home price and the nation’s highest property tax, 2.38 percent.
40. Arizona
Jobs and Income Score: 26
Housing Score: 74
Lifestyle Score: 50
Healthcare Score: 48
Safety Score: 52
Families in Arizona can benefit from the state’s solid housing score, especially its low average property tax rate of 0.80 percent. Another boon to families is the state’s affordable health insurance premiums.
Healthcare in Arizona, however, comes up short in terms of how much employers contribute to health insurance. The state also falters because of its poor jobs and income score, no thanks to the 5.8 percent unemployment rate. Arizona also scores the seventh-lowest school district grade in the country.
39. New York
Jobs and Income Score: 53
Housing Score: 44
Lifestyle Score: 58
Healthcare Score: 59
Safety Score: 72
New York offers plenty of benefits for families, but they come at a high cost. The state puts up good numbers for its median household income and unemployment rate. Families can enjoy New York’s top-rated education system, as well as an above-average employer contribution to employee insurance percentage.
New York doesn’t shine as brightly when it comes to cost of living. Families face the nation’s sixth-highest median home price as well as high property taxes. High family health insurance premiums and costly child care, at an average $25,844 a year, bring New York down to No. 39 on the list.
38. Massachusetts
Jobs and Income Score: 72
Housing Score: 49
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 42
Safety Score: 70
Similar to New York, Massachusetts offers a good environment for families, but the cost is high. Parents can take comfort in the state’s low crime rates, especially property crime, as well as its No. 1 ranking school district grade.
However, living as a family in Massachusetts isn’t cheap. The median home price, $389,000, is the fourth highest in the U.S. Adding to the cost of living are Massachusetts’s high insurance premiums and expensive child care, which costs just under $30,000 a year to afford.
Find Out: The Cost of Renting vs. Owning a Home in Every State
37. Mississippi
Jobs and Income Score: 10
Housing Score: 85
Lifestyle Score: 51
Healthcare Score: 50
Safety Score: 56
Where the cost of living was quite high in Massachusetts, Mississippi makes it far more affordable to live a richer life with your family. Mississippi scores well in housing, featuring a lower-than-average property tax and an inexpensive median home list price of $160,000. The average family health insurance premium is also cheaper than most states, at $15,092.
Unfortunately, Mississippi holds a couple of No. 1 positions that are not good. The state’s high unemployment rate of 5.9 percent, combined with the country’s lowest median household income, $39,464, puts Mississippi at the bottom for jobs and income. Meanwhile, the state earned the second-worst school district grade, though it does boast the cheapest annual child care costs.
36. Alaska
Jobs and Income Score: 47
Housing Score: 63
Lifestyle Score: 65
Healthcare Score: 48
Safety Score: 58
Alaska can be a tricky place for families to live richer lives. In the healthcare category, employer contribution to insurance ranks first in the nation, yet Alaska also has the most expensive health insurance premiums on average. Income is among the top three in the nation, but home prices are in the top 15 and Alaska’s 6.7 percent unemployment rate is the highest in the U.S.
That said, there is at least one reason Alaska is one of the best states for families: It has zero sales tax.
35. West Virginia
Jobs and Income Score: 12
Housing Score: 90
Lifestyle Score: 54
Healthcare Score: 57
Safety Score: 68
West Virginia can’t beat Alaska’s 0 percent sales tax, but it does have a lower average property tax and far cheaper housing. Annual child care is more affordable as well. However, high unemployment and the nation’s third-lowest household income keep West Virginia in the bottom half of the best states for families.
34. South Carolina
Jobs and Income Score: 24
Housing Score: 84
Lifestyle Score: 52
Healthcare Score: 64
Safety Score: 49
South Carolina ranks in the top 10 best states for both housing and healthcare. Insurance premiums are just below average, and employer insurance contribution is a competitive 74 percent. Home prices are cheaper than in most other states, and South Carolina’s 0.57 percent property tax is one of the lowest nationally.
Families might have a problem, however, with South Carolina’s safety score. The state's crime rate runs high on the list, especially property crime, which is the fourth highest in the U.S. On top of that, South Carolina's school districts grade in the bottom 10, and the state's median household income of $45,033 is the ninth lowest.
33. Louisiana
Jobs and Income Score: 14
Housing Score: 88
Lifestyle Score: 62
Healthcare Score: 39
Safety Score: 49
Louisiana's housing and lifestyle scores help families live a richer life, but the cons might outweigh the pros in this Southern state. Low home prices and property taxes make housing quite appealing, and cheap grocery and child care expenses can put more money back in your wallet.
Living expenses might be low, but Louisiana’s safety and jobs and income scores cancel out these benefits. The state’s unemployment rate clocks in at the third highest in the country at 6.2 percent. And like South Carolina, Louisiana suffers from some of the highest violent crime and property crime rates in the U.S.
32. Tennessee
Jobs and Income Score: 40
Housing Score: 84
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 34
Safety Score: 54
Safety is also an issue in Tennessee, where property crimes are higher than average and violent crime rates break the top five. Median household income in Tennessee is poor too, at $44,621, and the state ties with Florida for the lowest percentage of employer contribution to healthcare, at 67 percent.
Fortunately, grocery and child care costs keep expenses low, as does Tennessee’s relatively cheap homes and property tax.
31. North Carolina
Jobs and Income Score: 33
Housing Score: 77
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 49
Safety Score: 57
North Carolina ranks pretty average when it comes to the best states for families to live a richer life. Housing prices, child care costs and the unemployment rate score in the middle.
The factors that stand out the most, however, aren’t positive. North Carolina has the 11th-lowest median income and a school district grade that falls in the bottom third of the country.
30. Oregon
Jobs and Income Score: 40
Housing Score: 61
Lifestyle Score: 61
Healthcare Score: 52
Safety Score: 56
Oregon has a school district grade on the low end of the spectrum. Luckily, the state’s zero sales tax keeps it from falling lower on the list. Otherwise, Oregon’s median home list price of $309,500 and above-average grocery and child care costs could drag down the state in this list.
29. Pennsylvania
Jobs and Income Score: 33
Housing Score: 65
Lifestyle Score: 60
Healthcare Score: 76
Safety Score: 69
Pennsylvania is at its best when it comes to healthcare and safety scores. The state’s property crime rate is among the top 10 lowest in the country, while a generous employer contribution rate to health insurance boosts its healthcare score.
Pennsylvania stumbles with jobs and income, posting a middle-of-the-road household income but a 5.6 percent unemployment rate.
28. Indiana
Jobs and Income Score: 37
Housing Score: 86
Lifestyle Score: 56
Healthcare Score: 52
Safety Score: 60
Indiana puts up fairly pedestrian numbers for most factors, though there are some that stand out. The state offers the fourth-cheapest grocery index but also the second-highest sales tax rate. In terms of housing, families will find it hard to beat Indiana’s $140,000 median home price, tied for the lowest in the U.S.
27. Wisconsin
Jobs and Income Score: 50
Housing Score: 56
Lifestyle Score: 61
Healthcare Score: 68
Safety Score: 67
Wisconsin just barely missed making the top half of the list. Child care costs more in Wisconsin than most other states, and its average health insurance premium ranks No. 12 among the most costly.
But Wisconsin makes up for those faults by offering a number of benefits to families. The state hosts a solid school system, a 4.2 percent unemployment rate and the second-highest employer contribution to healthcare. The main factor that prevents Wisconsin from being one of the best states for families is its property tax rate, 1.96 percent, which is the fifth highest in the U.S.
26. Michigan
Jobs and Income Score: 40
Housing Score: 63
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 71
Safety Score: 68
Wisconsin’s neighbor took the No. 26 spot despite holding the 10th-worst lifestyle score on the list. A poor school district grade and middle-of-the-road child care expenses balanced Michigan’s low cost of groceries.
Healthcare and housing helped Michigan overcome such drawbacks. Families can save a little money on healthcare thanks to a combination of the nation’s 10th-lowest average insurance premium and the fifth-highest employer contribution percentage. Meanwhile, Michigan boasts one of the lowest median home prices at $149,000, behind only Ohio and Indiana.
25. Maryland
Jobs and Income Score: 80
Housing Score: 64
Lifestyle Score: 56
Healthcare Score: 34
Safety Score: 62
Maryland kicks off the upper half of the best states for families to live a richer life. On the downside, Maryland’s healthcare score is the third lowest on the list, due to high insurance premiums and one of the lowest percentages of employer contribution.
On the positive side, Maryland racked up the fourth-highest school district grade. The state's unemployment level is just about in the middle at 4.3 percent, and its median income tops all other states and D.C. at $74,149.
See Why: Maryland Is Among the Best States for a Mortgage Loan
24. Ohio
Jobs and Income Score: 35
Housing Score: 70
Lifestyle Score: 57
Healthcare Score: 78
Safety Score: 58
Unlike Maryland, household income is not Ohio’s strong suit, with the median income sitting at $48,849. Despite this, Ohio earns its place as one of the best states for families. Employer contribution to employee insurance is tied for the second-highest rate in the country, giving Ohio the third-best healthcare score overall. To make the state even more enticing for families, Ohio ties with Indiana for the lowest median home list price.
23. Georgia
Jobs and Income Score: 34
Housing Score: 77
Lifestyle Score: 61
Healthcare Score: 55
Safety Score: 51
Georgia coasts into 23rd place by putting up better-than-average numbers where it counts. Georgia’s 0.95 percent property tax falls below the combined average of all 50 states, and its median home list price is on the lower end, at $199,900. Child care costs are among the lowest too, though Georgia suffers from the eighth-highest property crime rate in the nation.
22. Oklahoma
Jobs and Income Score: 34
Housing Score: 83
Lifestyle Score: 59
Healthcare Score: 50
Safety Score: 55
Oklahoma offers appealing housing to families, including the ninth-cheapest median home price, $166,407. Though its school district grade ranks among the 10 lowest states, Oklahoma balances this with affordable child care and grocery costs.
Like Georgia, however, one category to watch out for is safety. Both property crime and violent crime rates are higher in Oklahoma than in most U.S. states.
21. Hawaii
Jobs and Income Score: 84
Housing Score: 50
Lifestyle Score: 40
Healthcare Score: 91
Safety Score: 54
Hawaii takes first place for the best healthcare score in this list. Families can benefit from low health insurance premiums and high employer contribution. The state’s jobs and income score is the second best in the U.S., thanks to the sixth-highest median household income and the fifth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation.
Hawaii would place higher on the list if it weren’t for its lifestyle and housing scores. Though child care costs and school districts rank about average, the cost of groceries is the highest in the U.S. In terms of housing, Hawaii families enjoy the lowest average property tax rate, but the highest median home price.
20. Minnesota
Jobs and Income Score: 67
Housing Score: 69
Lifestyle Score: 50
Healthcare Score: 61
Safety Score: 64
Minnesota's jobs and income score helps carry the state to the No. 20 spot of the best states for families to live a richer life. Its median household income, $60,828, is high enough to beat out most other states. And to make the jobs situation even better, Minnesota has a 3.8 percent unemployment rate, the seventh lowest in the country.
19. Kentucky
Jobs and Income Score: 27
Housing Score: 84
Lifestyle Score: 62
Healthcare Score: 58
Safety Score: 65
If you're looking to cut your family's housing costs and living expenses, then Kentucky could be the state for you. With the nation's eighth-lowest median home price and a reasonable property tax of 0.85 percent, Kentucky ties Tennessee and South Carolina for the sixth-best housing score.
Kentucky does have a noticeably poor score for jobs and income, however. The state claims the fourth-lowest median household income, just $4,000 above the lowest and around $30,000 less than the highest.
18. Kansas
Jobs and Income Score: 54
Housing Score: 71
Lifestyle Score: 54
Healthcare Score: 65
Safety Score: 58
Kansas certainly has a higher household income than Kentucky, but it's far from being the best at $51,872. Instead, Kansas puts up its best numbers in housing. At $159,900, the state boasts the sixth-cheapest median home price.
Kansas scores better-than-average numbers for its cost of groceries, unemployment rate and average family insurance premium. The main downsides for families is the state's above-average cost of child care.
17. Alabama
Jobs and Income Score: 15
Housing Score: 92
Lifestyle Score: 61
Healthcare Score: 61
Safety Score: 52
Alabama has many factors that can help families live a richer life. Alabama scores second for the cheapest health insurance premiums, at $14,352. Plus, families can take advantage of Alabama’s No. 1 housing score, which features affordable housing and the country’s second-lowest property tax.
Balancing out Alabama’s positives are its poor jobs and income and safety scores. The state suffers from a 6 percent unemployment rate and one of the lowest income levels in the U.S. Crime rates run relatively high while poor grades for schooling undermines Alabama’s cheap child care.
16. Vermont
Jobs and Income Score: 65
Housing Score: 55
Lifestyle Score: 60
Healthcare Score: 59
Safety Score: 75
Unlike Alabama, Vermont has the highest safety score in the U.S. Families can rest easy knowing that Vermont has both the lowest property crime and violent crime rates.
In education, Vermont comes in at No. 3 among states with the best school district grades. Adding to the state's appeal is its low 3.2 percent unemployment rate, which helps boost Vermont's jobs and income score.
15. Iowa
Jobs and Income Score: 53
Housing Score: 69
Lifestyle Score: 58
Healthcare Score: 61
Safety Score: 67
Iowa might not beat Vermont's jobs and income score, but it edges out the Green Mountain State for the 15th-best state to live in on this list. Families can take advantage of Iowa's cheap grocery costs and its low median home price of $159,900 to save money. Plus, Iowa can provide families with low-cost insurance premiums and below-average violent crime and property crime rates.
14. Nebraska
Jobs and Income Score: 65
Housing Score: 58
Lifestyle Score: 62
Healthcare Score: 56
Safety Score: 61
Similar to Iowa, Nebraska families benefit from cheap groceries and housing. The state's median home price is $179,900, which is less than three-quarters of the U.S. Its unemployment rate is even better. At 3 percent, its the third-lowest jobless rate in the country.
Nebraska families, however, do face some obstacles to living a richer life. The state's healthcare score is mediocre, and the median household income is $52,400. The biggest obstacle, though, is Nebraska's 1.84 percent property tax, the seventh-highest in the nation.
13. Utah
Jobs and Income Score: 63
Housing Score: 72
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 50
Safety Score: 56
Property taxes aren't much of an obstacle to living a richer life in Utah, given that 0.62 percent is the eighth-lowest in the country. What could give families trouble is Utah's sub-par school district grade, not to mention the state's home prices. The median listing price is $299,000, the 10th-highest in the U.S.
Utah families, however, still have many factors that can help them live a richer life. Income levels and the unemployment rate are both better in Utah than in most other states. Under lifestyle, the state's child care and grocery expenses run slightly on the cheaper side compared to other states.
Related: 35 Ways to Save Hundreds on Groceries
12. Missouri
Jobs and Income Score: 39
Housing Score: 81
Lifestyle Score: 59
Healthcare Score: 71
Safety Score: 56
Missouri's housing, lifestyle and healthcare scores carry the state to No. 12 in the best states for families to live. Though schools rank at No. 22 in this list, Missouri buoys its lifestyle score up with cheap groceries and a reasonable sales tax of 4.225 percent.
Missouri also puts up solid numbers for affordable health insurance premiums and employer insurance contribution. The kicker is Missouri's $154,900 median home listing price — the third lowest in the nation — which could be very attractive to a family looking to build wealth.
11. Maine
Jobs and Income Score: 51
Housing Score: 67
Lifestyle Score: 63
Healthcare Score: 63
Safety Score: 69
Missing out on the top 10 best states for families is Maine. Income is a little on the low side, at $48,804, but Maine's 3.7 percent unemployment rate is tied for sixth best in the country. The state's school district grade puts it above two-thirds of the U.S.
With the second-lowest violent crimes rate in the nation, Maine residents can raise their families in one of the safest states in America.
10. Colorado
Jobs and Income Score: 66
Housing Score: 66
Lifestyle Score: 60
Healthcare Score: 54
Safety Score: 61
Starting off the top 10 best states to live in is Colorado, which offers families the seventh-lowest property taxes and the second-lowest sales tax rate. The unemployment rate, 3.7 percent, is one of the lowest in the nation, and Colorado's median household income beats out most other states.
9. Idaho
Jobs and Income Score: 49
Housing Score: 78
Lifestyle Score: 53
Healthcare Score: 56
Safety Score: 70
Idaho matches Colorado’s 3.7 percent unemployment rate and then offers families a little more. Thanks to cheaper home prices than Colorado, Idaho scores better in housing.
Cost of living in Idaho is favorable to families. Grocery expenses are the third lowest in the country, and child care costs are affordable as well. Plus, Idaho boasts the third-lowest average health insurance premium, not to mention one of the best safety scores to boot, behind only three other states.
8. Arkansas
Jobs and Income Score: 39
Housing Score: 90
Lifestyle Score: 55
Healthcare Score: 81
Safety Score: 50
Arkansas doesn't boast a great jobs and income score, nor does it have a stellar school district score. But Arkansas still has plenty to offer families and their wallets.
You can find the nation's fourth-lowest median home list price in Arkansas. On top of that, its 0.62 percent property tax is lower than most other states.
7. Virginia
Jobs and Income Score: 74
Housing Score: 71
Lifestyle Score: 64
Healthcare Score: 33
Safety Score: 69
Virginia has great numbers when it comes to factors that benefit families. Virginia's school district grade is among the best 15 states, and grocery costs are the ninth cheapest.
In terms of jobs and income, Virginia's unemployment rate is a stellar 3.7 percent, and its median household income is $64,792. Though the state comes up short on employer contribution to insurance, at 68 percent, Virginia makes up for this with low crime rates.
6. South Dakota
Jobs and Income Score: 66
Housing Score: 68
Lifestyle Score: 62
Healthcare Score: 47
Safety Score: 70
South Dakota squeaks by Virginia to take sixth place among the best states for families. South Dakota families can get access to the nation's third-lowest child care costs.
The biggest asset to families is South Dakota's 2.7 percent unemployment rate, the lowest in the U.S. The state also offers the sixth-lowest property crime rates and an overall safety score that ranks third best in the nation.
5. Wyoming
Jobs and Income Score: 40
Housing Score: 81
Lifestyle Score: 73
Healthcare Score: 59
Safety Score: 69
Wyoming takes No. 5, largely thanks to strong scores in lifestyle and safety categories. In Wyoming, families can send their children to high-quality schools, while at the same time, take advantage of the state's affordable child care costs.
Wyoming also provides a safe environment for families. The state has low property crime rates as well as the country's third-lowest number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents. And just to give families a little more help, Wyoming has the seventh-lowest property tax.
4. Montana
Jobs and Income Score: 42
Housing Score: 70
Lifestyle Score: 73
Healthcare Score: 61
Safety Score: 62
Montana can't outdo Wyoming's low average property tax, but the Big Sky State beats it elsewhere. Families in Montana can reap the financial benefit of zero sales tax. In terms of healthcare, they get access to the nation's fifth-lowest family insurance premiums.
3. Delaware
Jobs and Income Score: 61
Housing Score: 79
Lifestyle Score: 71
Healthcare Score: 57
Safety Score: 55
Taxes in Delaware can really help a family save money, especially considering it has the fourth-lowest average property tax in the U.S. and zero sales tax. In healthcare, Delaware doesn't fare so well with providing cheap premiums, but employer contribution to health insurance, 76 percent, is on the higher end compared to most states.
Though the state's safety score isn't the best, Delaware has enough benefits to be the third-best state for families to live a richer life.
2. North Dakota
Jobs and Income Score: 67
Housing Score: 69
Lifestyle Score: 61
Healthcare Score: 68
Safety Score: 67
North Dakota doesn’t rank No. 1 in any category or data point, but when factors are taken altogether, the state finishes No. 2 on the list. North Dakota ranks in the top 10 for its healthcare and jobs and income scores. The state also has the country’s fourth-lowest unemployment rate.
1. New Hampshire
Jobs and Income Score: 87
Housing Score: 42
Lifestyle Score: 83
Healthcare Score: 39
Safety Score: 69
The No. 1 best state for families to live a richer life is New Hampshire, which has a lot going for it. Parents will enjoy the state’s low crime rates, highly rated schools and low child care costs. Groceries aren’t the cheapest, ranking sixth highest, but New Hampshire’s zero sales tax helps put the state in first place for lifestyle.
The main drawback to New Hampshire is its 2.15 percent average property tax, the third highest nationwide. Still, New Hampshire takes first place for jobs and income. Its unemployment rate is the second lowest in the nation, behind only South Dakota, while the state also posts the eighth-highest median income.
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Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed all 50 states and D.C., analyzing 12 data points that served as determining factors in the ranking: (1) median household income, sourced from the U.S. 2010-2014 Census Bureau estimates; (2) June 2016 preliminary unemployment rates, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; (3) median home listing price, sourced from Zillow in July 2016; (4) mean effective state property tax (referred to as "property tax"), sourced from Tax Foundation; (5) state sales tax rates in 2015, sourced from Tax Foundation; (6) grocery index, sourced from Missouri Economic Research and Information Center; (7) annual child care costs for an infant and a 4-year-old, sourced from Child Care Aware of America; (8) school district grades, sourced from Education Week; (9) average family health insurance premium, sourced from Kaiser Family Foundation; (10) employer health insurance contribution, sourced from Kaiser Family Foundation; (11) annual violent crimes per 1,000 residents, sourced from NeighborhoodScout.com; (12) annual property crimes per 1,000 residents, sourced from NeighborhoodScout.com.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Best and Worst States for Families to Live a Richer Life