Here are the 15 best states for women
What makes a state great for women?
Is it job opportunities? Income equality? Educational opportunities? Available and affordable healthcare?
How about: All of the above.
A new study by personal finance research institution WalletHub sought to quantify which states were optimal for women.
To do so, the researchers at WalletHub looked primarily at two wide-reaching categories: women’s economic and social well-being, and women’s health care.
Each of these categories took into account a number of factors. To determine women’s economic and social well-being, for example, researchers looked at average earned income for female workers, the unemployment rate and the number of women-owned businesses (among many other things).
For the women’s health care category, they looked at the uninsured rate among women, which states were best to have a baby, and women’s average life expectancy.
All of these factors were tallied up, and WalletHub assigned a score for each category. That score, which has also been weighted for various factors, helped determine which states overall are best for American women.
Here, we’ve compiled WalletHub’s top 15 states according to their data. We’ve included the two scores provided by the study, as well as the state’s score in last year’s ranking of “Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality” and WalletHub’s “Best and Worst States for Working Moms.”
#15 New York
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 10
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 26
2014 Equality Rank: 2
“Working Mom”Rank: 5
#14 North Dakota
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 17
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 9
2014 Equality Rank: 21
“Working Mom”Rank: 24
#13 Iowa
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 26
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 8
2014 Equality Rank: 32
“Working Mom”Rank: 40
#12 District of Columbia
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 8
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 19
2014 Equality Rank: N/A
“Working Mom”Rank: 2
#11 Virginia
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 11
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 11
2014 Equality Rank: 43
“Working Mom”Rank: 25
#10 Wisconsin
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 9
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 12
2014 Equality Rank: 15
“Working Mom”Rank: 29
#9 Delaware
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 5
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 24
2014 Equality Rank: 6
“Working Mom”Rank: 6
#8 Hawaii
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 14
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 6
2014 Equality Rank: 1
“Working Mom”Rank: 29
#7 Connecticut
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 16
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 3
2014 Equality Rank: 25
“Working Mom”Rank: 17
#6 Maine
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 7
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 7
2014 Equality Rank: 4
“Working Mom”Rank: 4
#5 New Hampshire
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 4
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 5
2014 Equality Rank: 16
“Working Mom”Rank: 14
#4 Maryland
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 1
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 14
2014 Equality Rank: 3
“Working Mom”Rank: 12
#3 Vermont
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 6
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 1
2014 Equality Rank: 11
“Working Mom”Rank: 3
#2 Massachusetts
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 3
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 2
2014 Equality Rank: 13
“Working Mom”Rank: 9
#1 Minnesota
Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being” Rank: 2
“Women’s Health Care” Rank: 4
2014 Equality Rank: 7”Working Mom”Rank: 11
JJ Feinauer is a web producer for Moneywise and Opinion on DeseretNews.com. Email: jfeinauer@deseretdigital.com, Twitter: jjfeinauer.
