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Mapped: The Income Needed to Raise a Family in Each State
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Over 13 million families in the U.S. have two children living at home.
This graphic illustrates the income needed to raise a family of four in each state. GOBankingRates compiled the data as of December 2024.
Hawaii and Massachusetts at the Top
A six-figure household income is required to raise a family of four in 26 states.
High taxes, strict land-use rules, and shipping costs make Hawaii the priciest state for families. The state is followed by Massachusetts and California at the top of the list.
| Rank | State | Salary Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $259K |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $200K |
| 3 | California | $188K |
| 4 | New York | $156K |
| 5 | Alaska | $137K |
| 6 | Maine | $136K |
| 7 | New Jersey | $135K |
| 8 | Vermont | $132K |
| 9 | Oregon | $132K |
| 10 | Arizona | $131K |
| 11 | Washington | $131K |
| 12 | Utah | $128K |
| 13 | Connecticut | $127K |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $124K |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $123K |
| 16 | Nevada | $113K |
| 17 | Colorado | $113K |
| 18 | Florida | $112K |
| 19 | Virginia | $111K |
| 20 | Idaho | $107K |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $107K |
| 22 | Delaware | $107K |
| 23 | North Carolina | $105K |
| 24 | Wyoming | $101K |
| 25 | Illinois | $100K |
| 26 | South Dakota | $100K |
| 27 | Ohio | $99K |
| 28 | Maryland | $99K |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $98K |
| 30 | South Carolina | $98K |
| 31 | Montana | $97K |
| 32 | Minnesota | $97K |
| 33 | New Mexico | $96K |
| 34 | Texas | $96K |
| 35 | Louisiana | $95K |
| 36 | North Dakota | $95K |
| 37 | Georgia | $95K |
| 38 | Nebraska | $94K |
| 39 | Michigan | $94K |
| 40 | Indiana | $94K |
| 41 | Kentucky | $93K |
| 42 | Tennessee | $92K |
| 43 | Missouri | $92K |
| 44 | Iowa | $92K |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $91K |
| 46 | Arkansas | $88K |
| 47 | Kansas | $88K |
| 48 | Alabama | $88K |
| 49 | Mississippi | $88K |
| 50 | West Virginia | $82K |
At the bottom, West Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi are the cheapest states to raise a family. In comparison, a family in Hawaii ($259,000) needs to earn more than three times what a family in West Virginia ($82,000) needs to raise a family of four.
Methodology
GOBankingRates analyzed 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate annual living expenses for a family of four across all 50 states. Costs included housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and transportation.
Learn More About Cost of Living From the Voronoi App 
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