SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Californians trying to raise happy and healthy families are finding affordability a challenge, a study shows.
WalletHub ranked states based on feedback from psychology, social work and child studies experts at several universities, and statistics from each region. States were given grades in categories including the cost of housing, child care, and unemployment.
California ranked 19th overall. The individual category rankings are as follows:
- 5th: Percent of families with young kids
- 5th: Infant mortality rate
- 15th: Separation and divorce rate
- 34th: Percent of families in poverty
- 36th: Violent crime rate
- 38th: Unemployment rate
- 46th: Child care costs
- 49th: Median family salary (adjusted for cost of living)
- 50th: Housing affordability
Minnesota, Massachusetts and North Dakota filled the top three spots for family-friendly states. The worst states for families were New Mexico, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Housing prices, a problem for western states, were at their best levels in the Midwest. Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Ohio topped the list. California's median home price as of November 2018 was $547,900, Zillow reported. The median rent price in California was $2,750.
Each state’s affordability was based in part on median mortgage debt, credit score, housing costs, share of people who save money for their child’s education, and annual family health insurance premium.
See the full study here.
