WalletHub recently ranked Texas 45th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia as a place to have a baby, with a score of 37.97 out of 100. However, this ranking is based on a combination of 31 measurements, including some that reward states for adopting specific government programs, which may not accurately reflect the state’s medical outcomes or childbirth costs.

Methodology Questioned

The cost category, which accounts for 20% of the score, does not solely measure costs. Instead, it gives equal weight to a state’s decision on general Medicaid expansion as it does to hospital delivery charges, child care expenses, insurance premiums, nanny prices, and newborn-screening costs. Additionally, government parental-leave policy receives twice the weight of most measurements in the baby-friendliness category.

WalletHub’s own rankings in other areas, such as economy and job market, paint a more positive picture of Texas. The state was ranked eighth nationally for its economy in 2025 and seventh among the best states for jobs. Several Texas cities, including McKinney, Richardson, and Plano, have also been recognized for their strong real estate markets and family-friendly environments.

Population Growth and Migration

Despite the low ranking, Texas has experienced significant population growth, with 391,243 new residents added from July 2024 to July 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates. The state has also gained 112,481 net residents through interstate migration, along with $5.54 billion in adjusted gross income associated with movers.

Texas has made efforts to support new mothers, including extending postpartum Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage from two months to 12 months. However, WalletHub’s ranking does not take this policy into account, instead focusing on general Medicaid expansion.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.