These are the best states to have a baby, new study finds

Welcoming a baby comes with joy, challenges, and high costs — and a new study ranks the most ideal places in the U.S. to do it.

To determine the best places in the U.S. to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key measures of cost and health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness. 

Their data set ranged from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita.

Massachusetts is best state to have baby, according to study

By the numbers:

The data found that Massachusetts was the best state to have a baby, in large part because it has the third-lowest infant mortality rate in the country and the eighth-lowest maternal mortality rate. It also has the best neonatal hospitals in the country (for premature births or babies with health problems).

The Bay State also had the sixth-lowest share of households with infants or toddlers experiencing food insecurity, and the second-highest share of children under three years old with all seven recommended vaccines.

In addition, parents in Massachusetts benefit from the best leave policies in the nation after the birth of a child, according to the study. 

Massachusetts was followed by North Dakota and Minnesota.

What they're saying:

"The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said. "They also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier."

Best, worst states to have a baby

See the full report here.

Massachusetts is also best state to raise a family, study finds

Dig deeper:

Another study, published last year, also found that Massachusetts was the best state to raise a family.

The study, conducted by Birth Injury Lawyers Group, a birth injury law firm, analyzed data from all 50 states on 16 criteria in four categories: health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socioeconomics, to find the best and worst states for raising a family.

According to the data, Massachusetts exceled in several key areas. The state received a health and safety score of 82.27, with only 1.5% of children lacking health insurance, and the state boasted a robust network of 117.5 certified pediatricians per 100,000 children.

RELATED: These are the best, worst states to raise a family, study finds

The state also scored high for education and child care and socioeconomics due to its low unemployment rate of 2.9%. 

"Massachusetts sets a high bar for family-friendly living, making it a highly desirable location for families seeking a well-rounded and enriching environment," the law group continued.