WalletHub recently ranked Texas 45th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia as the best state to have a baby, with a score of 37.97 out of 100. However, this ranking is based on 31 measurements, including several 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 ranking also imports methodology and policy assumptions from its separate ranking of the best states to raise a family, which accounts for another 20% of the score. This has led to concerns that the ranking may not accurately reflect the state’s performance in terms of medical outcomes or childbirth costs.
Contrasting Rankings
Interestingly, WalletHub has ranked Texas highly in other areas, such as its economy and job market. In 2025, Texas was ranked eighth nationally for its economy and fourth for economic activity. The state also ranked seventh among the best states for jobs and second for its economic environment.
At the city level, WalletHub has ranked several Texas cities highly, including McKinney, Richardson, Frisco, Denton, and Allen, which all reached the top 10 for the best real estate markets in 2025. Plano was also ranked fourth nationally among cities for raising a family in 2024 and 2026.
These contrasting rankings suggest that WalletHub’s conclusion about Texas being a poor state to have a baby may be overly broad and not entirely accurate. The state’s strong economy and job market, as well as its high-ranking cities, indicate that Texas may be a more desirable place to live and raise a family than the ranking suggests.
Population Growth
Furthermore, Texas has experienced significant population growth, with the state adding 391,243 residents from July 2024 to July 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates. The state’s major metropolitan areas, including Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, have also seen substantial population gains.
While Texas does face challenges related to maternal health, medical access, and child care, WalletHub’s ranking should not be taken as a definitive assessment of the state’s performance in these areas. A more nuanced understanding of the state’s strengths and weaknesses is necessary to accurately evaluate its suitability for families and new parents.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
