These Are the Best States for Working Dads in 2024, Report Says

Father’s Day is just around the corner and for the 94 percent of dads in the workforce, having more time to spend with family might just be the best gift. But finding time for family amid a busy work schedule isn’t always easy, especially as more and more workplaces return to an in-office model and cut parental leave policies. Add in factors like access to affordable childcare and good school systems and it soon becomes pretty clear that where you live in the US can have a big impact on the support working dads do or don’t get

To help dads discern which states might be best for planting their roots, WalletHub, a personal finance website, looked at all 50 states and D.C., comparing them against across 21 key indicators of friendliness toward working dads. These indicators include the average length of the work day for men, childcare costs and the share of men in good or better health. Here’s what they found.

10 Best States for Working Dads

1. Massachusetts
2. District of Columbia
3. Connecticut
4. New Jersey
5. Minnesota
6. Rhode Island
7. Wisconsin
8. New Hampshire
9. Illinois
10. Virginia

So why did these states snag the top ten spots? A further look into the report shows that Massachusetts, the number one state, offers the great economic conditions, the best childcare and school systems in the nation and an impressive parental leave policy.

Meanwhile, runner-up District of Columbia, gets high marks for healthy and well-insured dads and kids, along with the highest number of pediatricians per capita. Connecticut rounds out the top three with the second-best school system in the country and a high percentage of nationally accredited childcare centers.

It’s no secret that a lot more needs to be done to help ease the burden on working parents, but, for some states, this is a start. To view the full report, visit WalletHub.com.