Keystone state named third best for raising families in latest 2025 rankings

Pennsylvania came out on top in a recent report ranking the best states to raise a family in 2025. The commonwealth received high marks in affordability, safety, education, and pediatric healthcare.

When relocating, or looking for a new place to live, families often look for an area that is affordable and safe, has good educational opportunities, and good healthcare options. Based on the findings from a recent report, Pennsylvania checks all of those boxes.

The commonwealth ranked third in the nation for best states to raise a family in 2025, according to a report from ConsumerAffairs. The report evaluated all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., across five key categories: affordability, safety, education, pediatric healthcare, and quality of life.

Pennsylvania ranked third, according to the report, because the commonwealth provides a safe, nurturing environment for families, with high scores in public education, safety, and pediatric health care. Vermont ranked first and Maine came in second.

Here’s how the commonwealth measured up in each of the categories.

Education

Pennsylvania ranked fifth nationwide for public education, with the second-highest public high school graduation rate in the country, at 96%. The report cited Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget that included $1.1 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education, saying the funding prioritized equitable distribution, special education enhancements, and a new adequacy formula to ensure every child has access to quality education.

Public safety

In the area of public safety, Pennsylvania ranked 10th, with positive scores in crime statistics, driving safety, and climate safety. Last year, the state added close to 400 new state troopers, bringing the total to 800 additional troopers to patrol the commonwealth in the last two years.

Through grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the state also helped fund the hiring of 700 local police officers.

Pediatric healthcare

Pennsylvania also came in the 10th position for pediatric healthcare, providing 147 pediatricians per 100,000 children, ensuring children in the state have adequate access to medical care. Last year, Shapiro signed a bill into law that expanded telemedicine services to serve more Pennsylvanians.

Affordability

Pennsylvania came in the top 20 for affordability. The report mentioned the state’s creation of the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which helps businesses support the childcare expenses of employees.

The state’s current fiscal budget also increased the funding cap for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund from $60 million to $100 million. Additional provisions in the budget expand tax credits for the creation of affordable housing, increase funding for legal counsel for tenants, and raise funding for homeless assistance programs.