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Cost of raising a child in each US state in 2025

In 2025, the average annual cost of raising a child under five in the United States reached $27,743. These costs — which cover additional housing, food, transportation, healthcare, miscellaneous items and childcare for a working couple — rose 4.5% between 2024 and 2025, slightly outpacing the 2.82% inflation rate during the same timeframe. But costs vary by up to tens of thousands of dollars in either direction depending on the state a family calls home, and some states saw large swings in the cost of raising a child over just one year.

With this in mind, ranked 50 states based on the estimated additional annual income needed by two working adults to support a child under five years old.

• The cost of raising a child in Massachusetts now tops $44,000 per year. Two working parents in the Bay State should aim to earn at least $124,842 between them to support themselves and a preschooler, versus $80,621 for just themselves. In just one year, the cost of raising a child increased 5.72% from $41,828 to $44,221.
• Vermont and New Jersey join the top 10 most expensive states to raise a child. Vermont ranked third most expensive for raising a child this year, up from 11th just a year prior. The estimated annual cost jumped from $30,542 to $38,272, the highest increase nationwide. Meanwhile, New Jersey jumped from 13th last year to fifth this year, with an increase from $30,184 to $35,069.
• The cost to raise a child remains below $20,000 per year in one state. Mississippi remains the most affordable state to raise a child, despite a 10% increase in costs year over year. The estimate now sits at $19,178 per year. Alabama ($20,550); Kentucky ($20,758); South Dakota ($21,174); and Georgia ($21,299) are also among the least expensive states for raising a child.
• This year, it became more affordable to raise a child in 10 states. Despite double-digit percentage increases in other states, parents saw lower costs in 20% of the U.S. Costs in ±á²¹·É²¹¾±â€˜i declined the most, dropping $8,116 year over year. Costs also dropped in Delaware (-$4,792); Iowa ($-3,667); Michigan (-$2,772); Nevada ($-2,480); New York (-$1,551); Georgia (-$1,407); North Carolina (-$570); Alabama (-$51); and Arizona (-$35).

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Cost of Raising a Child by State

States are ranked based on the estimated cost of raising a young child for two working parents in 2025.

1. Massachusetts

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $44,221
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $41,828
• One-year change: 5.72%

2. Connecticut

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $41,808
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $38,995
• One-year change: 7.21%

3. Vermont

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $38,272
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $30,542
• One-year change: 25.31%

4. California

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $35,651
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $33,441
• One-year change: 6.61%

5. New Jersey

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $35,069
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $30,184
• One-year change: 16.18%

6. Washington

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $35,027
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $30,671
• One-year change: 14.20%

7. Colorado

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $34,986
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $34,616
• One-year change: 1.07%

8. ±á²¹·É²¹¾±â€˜i

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $33,363
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $41,479
• One-year change: -19.57%

9. New York

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $33,280
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $34,831
• One-year change: -4.45%

10. Minnesota

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $33,197
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $31,789
• One-year change: 4.43%

11. Oregon

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $33,114
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $30,954
• One-year change: 6.98%

12. Alaska

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $32,947
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $29,538
• One-year change: 11.54%

13. New Hampshire

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $32,739
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $30,721
• One-year change: 6.57%

14. Rhode Island

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $32,614
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $31,187
• One-year change: 4.58%

15. Pennsylvania

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $31,741
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $27,859
• One-year change: 13.93%

16. Maryland

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $31,283
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $27,802
• One-year change: 12.52%

17. Montana

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $28,954
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $23,514
• One-year change: 23.13%

18. Maine

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $28,912
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $28,207
• One-year change: 2.50%

19. Virginia

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $28,330
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $27,293
• One-year change: 3.80%

20. Wisconsin

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $27,955
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $27,426
• One-year change: 1.93%

21. Indiana

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $27,914
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $23,837
• One-year change: 17.10%

22. Ohio

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $27,706
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $25,454
• One-year change: 8.85%

23. Illinois

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $27,206
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $26,962
• One-year change: 0.91%

24. Nevada

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $27,123
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $29,603
• One-year change: -8.38%

25. Utah

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $26,957
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $23,667
• One-year change: 13.90%

26. Arizona

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $26,624
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $26,659
• One-year change: -0.13%

27. Missouri

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $26,042
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,409
• One-year change: 16.21%

28. Nebraska

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $25,709
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $25,369
• One-year change: 1.34%

29. New Mexico

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $25,210
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,452
• One-year change: 12.28%

30. Oklahoma

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $25,210
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $21,567
• One-year change: 16.89%

31. North Dakota

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $24,752
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $23,297
• One-year change: 6.25%

32. Delaware

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $24,544
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $29,336
• One-year change: -16.33%

33. Idaho

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $24,378
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $23,609
• One-year change: 3.26%

34. Florida

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $24,045
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,986
• One-year change: 4.61%

35. North Carolina

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $23,587
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $24,157
• One-year change: -2.36%

36. Michigan

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $23,587
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $26,359
• One-year change: -10.52%

37. South Carolina

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $23,296
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,129
• One-year change: 5.27%

38. Wyoming

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $22,755
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,022
• One-year change: 3.33%

39. Texas

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $22,672
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,194
• One-year change: 2.15%

40. West Virginia

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $22,422
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $21,807
• One-year change: 2.82%

41. Iowa

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $22,173
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $25,840
• One-year change: -14.19%

42. Arkansas

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,840
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $19,212
• One-year change: 13.68%

43. Louisiana

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,798
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $19,483
• One-year change: 11.88%

44. Kansas

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,757
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $21,480
• One-year change: 1.29%

45. Tennessee

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,424
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $20,755
• One-year change: 3.22%

46. Georgia

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,299
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $22,706
• One-year change: -6.20%

47. South Dakota

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $21,174
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $20,143
• One-year change: 5.12%

48. Kentucky

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $20,758
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $20,423
• One-year change: 1.64%

49. Alabama

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $20,550
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $20,601
• One-year change: -0.25%

50. Mississippi

• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2025: $19,178
• Annual cost of raising one young child, 2024: $17,444
• One-year change: 9.94%

Data and Methodology

SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults in 50 U.S. states. The data is as of February 2025 and compares to data from February 2024. Costs include additions for food, , childcare, healthcare, transportation and other necessities.

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