Why It Isn’t Good to Raise a Family in Idaho

Many families are moving to Idaho, and the population of the state has seen a major increase lately because of it. The housing market has gone up, but the market was affordable a few years ago and played a huge factor in so many people moving here. It can be due to job opportunities, wanting to move more inland, or perhaps people wanting to get away from the bigger cities, but for whatever reason, many young families have been moving to the Gem State, especially the Magic Valley. While most people may think Idaho is a great place to raise a family, that may not be true. Compared to other states, is Idaho the best place to be raising your children?

The Best and Worst States for Families

A recent list was released by WalletHub ranking the best and worst states to raise a family in and did so using criteria such as family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability, and socioeconomics. Using these criteria, it was determined that Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family in, with Minnesota coming in second, and New York coming third. The worst state to raise a family in is Mississippi, with New Mexico and West Virginia rounding out the bottom three.

Is Idaho a Good Place to Raise a Family?

While some may think that Idaho is a great place to raise a family, according to the list, that is not the case. Idaho ranks 35 as the best state to raise a family in, coming in at 39 in family fun, 18 in health and safety, 43 in education and child care, 44 in affordability, and 9 in socioeconomics. The most surprising part of this ranking is the affordability. Many young couples and families move to Idaho because of the cost of living, but according to this list, it is one of the worst in affordability. Education and child care have been a concern in Idaho and continue to be so, justifying the ranking in that category. 

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While this list claims that Idaho isn't the best for raising a family, that doesn't mean it isn't the right place for you and your children. Each family will have different priorities and what they want to enjoy life, and as long as you are happy, then no list should determine where is a good or bad place to raise your kids. Idaho offers a lot that other states can not, while this list disagrees, Idaho remains a great place to live and teach children how to enjoy the great outdoors and hard work.