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FLORIDA - Florida has ranked 44th overall in WalletHub's 2025 study of the best and worst states for having a baby, landing near the bottom in several important categories.
Wallethub's analysis assessed 50 states and the District of Columbia on 31 factors, including healthcare access, birth costs, and family-friendliness.
In the study, Florida received poor rankings for both cost and healthcare, placing 48th for the cost of having a baby and 47th for healthcare.
This includes factors such as the state’s infant mortality rate and birth rates.
The state also ranked 36th for hospital cesarean delivery charges and 37th for conventional delivery charges, showing high costs for childbirth.
Additional rankings included 34th for infant mortality rates, 37th for the rate of low birth weight, and 31st for the average annual cost of early child care.
However, Florida did rank 15th for midwives and OB-GYNs per capita, suggesting better access to maternal healthcare professionals.
Florida also performed moderately well in parental leave policy, securing the 21st position.
WalletHub’s findings highlight the challenges many Florida families face regarding affordability and healthcare access.
In comparison, states like Massachusetts, North Dakota, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Maine topped the list as the best states to have a baby, offering more supportive environments.