These Are the Best States for Working Dads in 2025, 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 decide 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.

Top 10 Best States for Working Dads

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

So what makes these states stand out in the top ten? A closer look at the report reveals that Massachusetts, which claims the number one spot, gives parents the best value in today’s increasingly expensive world. The unemployment rate for dads with children under 18 is just 2.7%, and the state boasts the fourth-lowest poverty rate for kids living with their father, at 5.1%.

Massachusetts also offers the most generous paid family leave in the country, giving fathers the opportunity to take time off when welcoming a new child without the added stress of lost income. Strong childcare options and top-ranked school systems further cement Massachusetts as a parent paradise, with one of the highest numbers of childcare workers per capita and the best school systems in the nation.

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 the highest percentage of child care centers that are nationally accredited.

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. For a full breakdown and to see where your state falls in the line up check out the full report.