When it comes to the best and worst states to raise a family, Texas ranks squarely in the middle of the list. According to WalletHub’s 2023 report of the most family friendly states in America, Texas ranks 26th overall based on criteria like family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability and socioeconomics.

According to WalletHub’s analysis, Texas is the 3rd-best state in the country for family fun. However, the Lone Star State earns some of the lowest scores in the country for health and safety and socioeconomics, bringing down its overall score.

Additionally, the report notes that Texas is the state with the second-highest share of families with young kids, which offers some explanation for the ample amount of family-oriented activities available in-state.

Leading WalletHub’s list in 2023 is Massachusetts, which earned high scores in health and safety, affordability and education and childcare, although childcare costs in the state are the second-most expensive in the country. Massachusetts also boasts one of the lowest infant-mortality rates in the country.

On the flip side, Mississippi brings in the rear of the list — the southern state ranked dead last in the categories of health and safety and socioeconomics and scored similarly poorly in the categories of family fun and affordability. Mississippi also has the highest infant-mortality rate in the country, the highest percentage of families in poverty and one of the highest rates of separation and divorce.