These States Are the Best for Single Parents to Raise Children

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey is the best state for single parents to raise children, a new study finds. Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and surrounding southern states offer the least support and financial security for single parents.

In order to determine which states are best for single-parent support, personal finance website GOBankingRates analyzed eight key factors in 50 U.S. states:

• Each state's median household income
• Average home listing price
• Average cost of groceries for a family
• Average employee contribution amount for employer-sponsored family health insurance
• Annual childcare costs for an infant and 4-year-old
• Whether the state offers a paid family leave insurance program
• Whether the state offers an earned-income tax credit on top of the federal credit
• Whether the state has adopted the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act

For full study results and more details on methodology, visit: Best and Worst States for Single Parents to Raise a Family

Best States for Single Parents to Raise Children

1. New Jersey
   Median Household Income: $72,093 (third-highest in the nation)
   State Support: Expanded Medicaid, earned-income tax credit and paid family leave program
2. Rhode Island
   Median Household Income: $56,852
   State Support: Expanded Medicaid, earned-income tax credit and paid family leave program
3. Michigan
   Average home listing price and grocery costs are among the lowest in the nation
   State Support: Expanded Medicaid and earned-income tax credit
4. Washington
   No state income tax allows single parents to keep more of their pay
   State Support: Expanded Medicaid, earned-income tax credit and paid family leave program (effective 2019)
5. Illinois
   Fourth-lowest employee contribution amount for employer-sponsored family health coverage
   State Support: Expanded Medicaid and earned-income tax credit

Worst States for Single Parents to Raise Children

1. Florida
   Low median household income: $47,507
   Does not offer single-parent support systems*
2. Mississippi
   Lowest median household income in the nation: $39,665
   Does not offer single-parent support systems
3. Alabama
   Fourth-highest family health coverage costs: $5,606
   Does not offer single-parent support systems
4. South Carolina
   Ninth-lowest median household income: $45,483
   Does not offer single-parent support systems
5. North Carolina
   10th-lowest median household income: $46,868
   Does not offer single-parent support systems

*Single-parent support systems include expanded Medicaid, an earned-income tax credit or a guaranteed paid family leave program.

Additional Study Insights

• Only three U.S. states offer paid family leave: New Jersey, Rhode Island and California. Washington and New York will join the list of states that offer paid family leave by 2019.
• Michigan offers the lowest employee contribution amount for family health coverage of any state.
• Only 19 states have yet to expand Medicaid to give more low-income families access to health coverage.

About GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates.com is a personal finance news and features website dedicated to helping visitors live a richer life. From tips on saving money to investing for retirement or finding a good interest rate, GOBankingRates helps turn financial goals into milestones and money dreams into realities. Its content is regularly featured on top-tier media outlets, including MSN, MONEY, AOL Finance, CBS MoneyWatch, Business Insider and dozens of others. GOBankingRates specializes in connecting consumers with the financial institutions and products that best match their needs. Start your journey toward a rich mind and full wallet with us here.

Contact:

Natalie Richter, Media Relations
GOBankingRates.com
nrichter@consumertrack.com
310-297-9233 x137

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SOURCE GOBankingRates