Massachusetts ranks No. 1 among the best states for women, new study says

Maria Papadopoulos
·2 min read
1

Massachusetts gets the top spot on a new list of the best states for women, a study has found.

The study Best & Worst States for Women in 2024, by the personal-finance website WalletHub, highlights the areas that provide an ideal living environment for women, and the places that are in need of improvement, researchers said.

“Women in the U.S. still face a lot of adversity, so living in the right state can greatly impact their quality of life. The best states for women provide equitable economic conditions, encourage robust political participation, have quality health care, and ensure safety for the women who reside there,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a statement.

In order to determine how women are faring and where they can find the best opportunities, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key indicators of living standards for women. The data set ranges from median earnings for female workers to women’s health care to the female homicide rate.

It also compared the share of women-owned businesses and the high school graduation rate for women across states, among other areas.

The Bay State took the top spot for overall “woman friendliness,” the study found. Washington, D.C. came in second, followed by Minnesota in third place, and Vermont and Maine in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Massachusetts also ranked No. 1 for the rate of unemployment among women and also for rate of uninsured women, the study found.

Woman-Friendliness of Massachusetts (1=Best, 25=Avg.):
Overall Rank: 1st
24th – Median Earnings for Female Workers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
1st – Unemployment Rate for Women
8th – Share of Women in Poverty
23rd – Share of Women-Owned Businesses
8th – High School Graduation Rate for Women
30th – Share of Women Who Voted in 2020 Presidential Election
1st – Female Uninsured Rate
3rd – Women’s Life Expectancy at Birth
3rd – Quality of Women’s Hospitals
4th – Women’s Preventive Health Care

According to the study, the five worst states for women were Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

To view the full report, click here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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