Every parent will tell you that raising a child is expensive.
The United States is the third most populous country in the world, and having a baby here is more expensive than anywhere else in the world, according to the International Federation of Health Plans.
Even if you get the big-ticket items — crib, car seat, stroller — as gifts, you can look forward to at least 18 years of food, clothing, school supplies and medical costs.
But the cost of raising a child varies from state to state.
WalletHub "ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions, including: 1) Budget, 2) Health Care and 3) Baby-Friendly Environment. We then compiled 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights" to determine the best and worst states to have a baby.
The site's analysis drew on several sets of data, including from government agencies, such as the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and other sources, such as BabyCenter.com.
The best state to have a baby, according to WalletHub? Vermont.
The worst? Mississippi.
Georgia fell into the bottom 10, ranked at 44.
WalletHub ranked Georgia 46 in health care and 43 in "baby friendly environment."
A May study by WalletHub ranked Georgia 45 among the best states for working mothers.
In the categories of child care and professional opportunities, the state is ranked at 20 and 38, respectively.
Regarding work-life balance, however, the Peach State came in last.
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