GA among 5 worst states to have a baby, new study says. Here’s where it ranks & why

If you are having a baby in 2025 or 2026, it may be good to know how much a birth costs in your state, as well as other factors such as daycare costs, maternity care and the overall family-friendliness (or lack of) in your area.

Well, good news for expecting and new parents, WalletHub just released their 2025 study for the best and worst states to have a baby.

However, if you live in the Peach State, the news might not be the best because according to the study, Georgia is ranked the 5th worst state to have a baby. Why is that?

Why is GA the 5th worst state to have a baby?

WalletHub’s study shows that Georgia ranked the fifth worst state to have a baby, with an overall score of 36.89 out of 100. But why?

WalletHub experts evaluated four key dimensions (Cost, Health Care, Baby-Friendliness and Family-Friendliness) with factors such as delivery charges, infant mortality rate, quality of hospitals, parental leave policies and more.

In Georgia, the cost to have a baby and costs associated with maternity care was scored somewhat in the middle, at 27. Likewise, the healthcare system in Georgia isn’t the worst, but not the best either, as the state’s healthcare score was a 39. However, the overall baby and family friendliness of the state was ranked very low, with scores sitting at 46 and 40.

So, how could the Peach State improve that number?

“Local and state governments can make cities more baby friendly by making them more family friendly. That is, folks could be advocating and voting for legislation that prioritizes the needs of young children as well as other members of their larger family system. From an urban planning perspective, this could include safe, walkable and/or accessible spaces that are engaging and promote intergenerational pro-social interaction,” said Bethany Willis, PhD, associate professor at Towson University. “These could look like more green spaces, playgrounds, and natural areas accessible to all; prioritization of low-speed driving zones and pedestrian and bike-friendly lanes, and wheel-friendly safe crossings near places where families live, work, and play.”

Of course, other factors that go into baby and family friendliness are larger level aspects like affordable housing and high-quality childcare options that aren’t too expensive.

Which states are the best to have a baby?

According to the study, here are the best states to have a baby:

• Massachusetts (score of 73.64 out of 100) - best 
• North Dakota (67.65)
• Minnesota (67.44)
• New Hampshire (65.82)
• Maine (64.26

Which other states are the worst to have a baby?

The WalletHub study ranked these states as the worst to have a baby:

• Mississippi (score of 27.99 out of 100) - worst 
• Alabama (29.39) 
• Nevada (33.31)
• South Carolina (33.77)

What do you think of this study? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.