WalletHub study puts Peach State fifth from the bottom, sparking concern over costs, healthcare, and access
Having a baby in Georgia might come with more than just sleepless nights and diaper bills — it could also mean navigating one of the least supportive environments for new parents in the country. That’s according to a fresh 2025 report from personal finance firm WalletHub, which ranks Georgia as the fifth worst state in the U.S. to have a baby.
The state’s low marks stem from a mix of high costs, limited pediatric care, and relatively poor access to healthcare services — a sobering snapshot for expecting parents in the Peach State.
Where Georgia Stumbled
Georgia’s overall score in the WalletHub study was 36.89 out of 100. To put that in perspective, Massachusetts — the highest-ranking state — scored 73.64, nearly double.
The report broke down its findings into four key categories:
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Cost: 27 out of 100
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Healthcare: 39 out of 100
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Baby-Friendliness: 46 out of 100
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Family-Friendliness: 40 out of 100
That cost category? It’s a real problem. The state’s high average delivery expenses, paired with costly infant care and insurance premiums, weighed heavily on the final score.
One sentence here: Georgia isn’t exactly giving new parents a break.
WalletHub’s study looked at 31 specific factors across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, including hospital delivery charges, daycare costs, and the number of pediatricians per capita.
A Closer Look at the Top and Bottom States
The gap between the top 10 and bottom 10 states in the report is hard to ignore — and Georgia finds itself near the bottom of that list.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Rank | State | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 73.64 |
| 2 | Vermont | 71.82 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 70.94 |
| … | … | … |
| 47 | Alabama | 35.21 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 34.88 |
| 49 | South Carolina | 33.45 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 32.73 |
| 51 | Arkansas | 31.82 |
Georgia sits at 46th place — a tough pill to swallow for a state with a booming population and a fast-growing metro area like Atlanta.
What’s Behind Georgia’s Low Ranking?
The report didn’t pull punches. Among the biggest red flags for Georgia:
• Fewer pediatricians per capita compared to the national average
• High average charges for hospital deliveries
• Lower insurance coverage for prenatal care
• Limited maternity leave protections beyond federal standards
It’s not just rural areas feeling the pinch, either. Even metro Atlanta residents report challenges accessing affordable childcare and postnatal support.
One new mom in Gwinnett County told local media, “We spent more on daycare than our mortgage this year. And getting a pediatrician close to home? Nearly impossible unless you’re on a waitlist.”
The Bigger Picture: Health Outcomes Lag Too
It’s not just about convenience or money. Georgia has struggled with maternal and infant health outcomes for years.
The state consistently ranks among the worst for maternal mortality, especially among Black women. According to CDC data from 2024, Georgia had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, at nearly 30 deaths per 100,000 live births.
That’s not just a statistic — it’s a crisis.
And it feeds directly into WalletHub’s health-related scoring. Lower prenatal care availability, inconsistent Medicaid expansion efforts, and lack of statewide maternity initiatives all drag the state’s healthcare score down.
What Can Be Done?
Experts say it’s not too late to fix this — but it’ll take political will and real investment.
“We need to stop thinking of maternal health and childcare as ‘extras,’” said Dr. Leslie Ruiz, a public health researcher based in Atlanta. “These are basic services. If we want Georgia to be a good place to raise a family, we need to make it safer and more affordable to start one.”
Possible steps being discussed:
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Incentives for pediatricians to serve rural areas
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Expanded Medicaid coverage for mothers up to 12 months postpartum
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Increased childcare subsidies or tax credits
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Strengthening workplace parental leave requirements
So far, the Kemp administration has remained mostly quiet on the report, though local lawmakers have voiced interest in reviewing the findings more closely.
One lawmaker tweeted, “Georgia families deserve better than 46th place. Let’s do something about it.”
