The Worst States to Have a Baby, According to a New Study
Bringing a baby into the world has never been cheap, but 2025 takes it to another level. The average hospital delivery now runs more than $2,600 even with insurance, and nearly $15,000 without. But not every state hits new parents’ wallets (or nerves) equally hard.
WalletHub compared all 50 states plus D.C. across 31 metrics spanning four key categories: cost, health care, baby-friendliness, and overall family-friendliness. The data factored in everything from hospital delivery charges and child-care costs to access to pediatricians, vaccination rates, and parental leave policies.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions. The states’ weighted averages across these dimensions determined the final ranking. In short, this list reflects not only where it’s most expensive to give birth, but where families face the toughest environments for raising infants in 2025.
10. West Virginia
West Virginia ranks near the bottom for prenatal and pediatric care access, and many rural areas have seen maternity wards close in recent years. Low developmental screening rates mean potential delays in early childhood often go undetected, and paid family leave options are limited.
9. Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s low cost of living can’t make up for its high maternal and infant mortality rates. The state also has one of the lowest vaccination rates for young children and limited postpartum support, leaving new parents with more out-of-pocket costs and fewer resources.
8. Florida
Florida parents face steep delivery costs and inconsistent access to affordable child care. The state ranks poorly for both maternal and infant health outcomes, and many working parents struggle to find family leave options or nearby pediatric care — especially outside major metros.
7. Arkansas
Arkansas ranks last for health-care quality overall, including maternal outcomes. Hospital access is limited in much of the state, and affordable infant care is hard to find. While some costs are lower than the national average, the lack of support services makes early parenthood a financial and logistical grind.
6. New Mexico
New Mexico’s affordability doesn’t carry over to its health metrics. The state’s infant mortality rate remains high, postpartum depression is common, and access to neonatal specialists is limited outside Albuquerque. Rural families, in particular, face long drives for both prenatal and pediatric visits.
5. Georgia
Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S., driven in part by gaps in postpartum care and health-care deserts across rural counties. Even with major hospitals in Atlanta, many residents struggle to access consistent prenatal services or affordable child care.
4. South Carolina
In South Carolina, high delivery costs meet limited health-care infrastructure. Maternal health outcomes lag behind the national average, and child-care availability remains low. Parents here often pay more for less, with minimal leave options and rising costs across the board.
3. Nevada
Nevada ranks near the bottom in baby-friendliness and family-friendliness alike. Delivery and C-section costs are among the highest in the country, and parental-leave policies are weak. Access to pediatricians and early-childhood programs is spotty, especially outside the Las Vegas and Reno corridors.
2. Alabama
Alabama’s maternal mortality rate is among the highest nationwide, and prenatal care access is inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. Paid family leave is virtually nonexistent, and new parents often face high costs with little institutional support once they leave the hospital.
1. Mississippi
Mississippi lands last overall, weighed down by high infant mortality, low vaccination coverage, and a shortage of pediatricians and OB-GYNs. Medical and child-care access remain limited, and despite lower overall living costs, the lack of family support systems makes early parenthood especially hard here.
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