When it comes to household chores, you’ve got plenty of tasks to go around. More importantly, when kids are required to pitch in and help with age-appropriate chores, they’ll learn how to cooperate, gain a sense of independence and feel a sense of accomplishment. If you’re wondering what exactly to put on your chore chart for kids, we’ve broken it down by age, from toddlers up to tweens. From picking up toys to helping with dinner, here is our ultimate chore list for kids.

Age-Appropriate Chores for Ages 2-3

toddler doing age-appropriate chores
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Pick up the toys. Ask your toddler to help clean up when playtime is over, instead of doing it at the end of the day when you’d rather be watching Netflix instead of cleaning up DUPLO blocks.

Wipe up small spills. This is an easy one and is especially important if they are the ones that made the mess. Don't make a big deal, just let them know they need to clean up after themselves.

Put shoes away. A toddler can easily put his shoes away, especially if there's a special bin or shelf for footwear.

Put dirty clothes in the hamper. Show your little one where clothes go before he chooses his own drop spot.

Match socks. An easy way to let someone else worry about why there's always one sock missing.

Throw away trash. Kids can start putting trash in its proper place at an early age. 

Pick up sticks in the yard. What's more fun than collecting sticks?

Sort the groceries. Preschool-aged kids can help you put away things like cereal, snacks, canned goods, and other things that aren't too heavy or breakable. 

Chore List for Kids Ages 4-5

putting away silverwear should be on a chore list for kids ages 4 to 5
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All of the chores listed above. 

Put away clean utensils. It’s the little things!

Brush their own teeth. This is an easy self-care chore that any preschooler can tackle.

Fold washcloths or napkins. Something small and square is the perfect first item to have your pre-k kid learn how to fold.

Make their own bed. This is a tough one because busy school mornings can get in the way. Weekends are wide open, however, and there’s nothing like a made bed to give your home a clean, fresh feeling.

Collect the mail. This one doesn't even feel like a chore.

Bring their belongings in from the car. Whether it's their toys or backpack, four-and five-year-olds are old enough to make sure everything gets inside at the end of the day. 

 

Related: 11 Reasons Why Chores Make Kids More Successful (According to Studies)

Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids Ages 6-7

little boy doing age-appropriate chores
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All of the chores listed above.

Help prep a basic meal. If kids with knives don't sound like a good idea, there are plenty of other things they can do. Think: gather ingredients, measure spices, crack and whisk eggs, grate some cheese, flip pancakes, and more.

Wipe down surfaces. Kids this age are perfectly capable of spraying, wiping, and cleaning down a surface. Especially if they are the ones that made the mess in the first place.

Take control of their school gear. Stop gathering your kids’ stuff every night or morning. These early years are the right time to set up good work habits.

Water the plants. This is a great chore to help develop organizational skills. Have your kid schedule a once-a-week date with a watering can on the calendar.

Help carry in groceries. Unless you're using the multiple trips to and from the car as your cardio for the day.

Set and clear the table. You prepared the meal, so your kids should help to set and clear the plates. Simple as that. 

Put away laundry. Imagine a place where the laundry gets put away instead of collecting dust in a basket somewhere. It can be a reality, we promise!

Feed pets. Your grade-school-aged kid loves the dog, the chickens, and the family turtle. Well, no time like the present to teach him how to take care of something smaller than he is. 

Chore List for Kids Ages 8-10

little boy doing laundry, a good thing to put on a chore list for kids ages 8-10
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All of the chores listed above. 

Basic home maintenance. At around 10, kids can begin to do small tasks around the house that helps with upkeep like putting in new lightbulbs, changing batteries, and hanging small pictures. 

Load and unload the dishwasher. Most days, after unloading, the thing fills right back up and needs to be unloaded again. Your early tween is an ideal candidate for helping out with this daily task.

Help with recycling and garbage. Older kids can sort recyclables, empty wastebaskets, and help pull trash cans in from the road. It’s also a good way for them to learn about consumption and to see where waste goes.  

Vacuum the rugs. The best part about handing off this task is that your kids will have to keep their rooms picked up in order to fulfill their duty.

Dust shelves, blinds, and furniture. A Swiffer duster makes this chore a breeze. 

Clean the mirrors in the bathrooms. Older kids are strong enough, and usually tall enough to reach the top of the mirror by now. Pass the Windex.

Move clothes from the washer to the dryer. Most kids ages eight and up are tall enough (and old enough) to start helping with the laundry. If there are items you don't want in the dryer or if you like to use a certain heat setting, be sure to show the kids the ropes in advance.

Related: Parents Hatch Genius Plot to Catch Their Kids Skipping Chores

Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids Ages 10-12

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All of the chores listed above. 

Walk the dog. Take pet care to the next level by asking your tween to take on giving Fido his daily workout. 

Help with grocery shopping. Give your big kid his own list at the store, and arrange to meet up at the checkout. You'll cut your shopping time in half!

Vacuum out the car. She's already tackled vacuuming the living room and her bedroom. Add on the family car once a month or every other week. 

Babysit for siblings or relatives in small increments. Whether it's to take charge at a social or family gathering or leave your tween in charge for 30 minutes while you run a quick errand, this is a good age to test the waters for child care. 

Rake leaves. Before you can mow the grass, the leaves need to be raked. Tweens can handle this, plus it's a great way to keep them outside and off tablets. 

Change their own bedsheets (and keep the bed made). This is a chore that only takes a few minutes, but it's a game changer when it comes to feeling like you're on top of the mess. 

 

Disney’s timeshare program gets you loads of benefits for your Disney Parks visits

Are you what they’d call a “Disney family” armed with Mickey ears at any given moment? Or maybe you enjoy that annual visit to the “Happiest Place on Earth” with the grandparents in tow. There is a way to enjoy repeated Disney magic with extra perks—and it could even save you money in the long run. It’s called Disney Vacation Club and it’s been around for decades. But what is this fabled part of Disney fandom? Let’s peel back the curtain on the Mouse’s membership club.

What is Disney Vacation Club?

In a pixie-dusted nut shell… Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of vacation ownership. Essentially, it’s like pre-paying for vacations for years to come—and savings can be found in the long run for both annual and frequent visitors.

Members purchase points to redeem annually at any of the 16 Disney Vacation Club resorts. And it’s not just the theme parks—there’s the oceanfront Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, and even the picturesque Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort on the coast of South Carolina.

Maybe you prefer the sea over land or to explore faraway lands? This yearly allotment of points can also be used to travel with Disney Cruise Line, and other Disney vacations around the world, including Adventures By Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, and hotels at most international Disney Parks. You can also convert points and use them at non-Disney Vacation Club properties around the world.

By using a points-based system, DVC offers flexibility in both accommodation style and destination as a family’s vacation habits change over time.

How does the Disney Vacation Club work?

Based on travel preferences, you decide how many points you’d like to purchase, and this will be the amount that you receive annually throughout the contract. Points needed per stay are based on destination, room style, and date of visit.

New contracts start at 100 points, but 150 is necessary to access ‘membership magic’—Disney speak for special perks (more on that later). You can also have multiple contracts at different resorts, and members can also add points to existing contracts as their vacation desires change. There’s also the ability to bank points and borrow from the following year—allowing members to use up to 3 years of points in one year for a larger vacation.

Looking to try it out? You can rent points from a qualified third party if you’re curious about room accommodations. Additionally, a limited stock of rooms at Disney Vacation Club resorts are available to the general public for cash stays.

What are the top DVC membership perks?

Disney vacations are a pricy endeavor but membership adds a Dole Whip-level dose of sweetness to the deal—especially for families with young children. Unlike standard hotel rooms, Disney Vacation Club resorts offer the desirable comforts of home, like larger common spaces, dining tables, kitchens, and washer/dryer in-room units. Accommodation styles range from deluxe studios all the way up to 3-bedroom grand villas, ideal for the smaller family or a multi-gen trip.

For families with little ones, complimentary cribs and playpens are also available. Pining for a night out?  At Walt Disney World, Kid’s Nite Out is the top trusted child care service available in-room—and even arrives fully loaded with games, books, and toys.

What is Membership Magic?

One of the biggest perks of being a DVC member is what is known as “membership magic.” This includes exclusive member benefits, the flexibility to travel the world with your family, and theme park perks that cultivate a sort of community pride and yes, there’s even Disney Vacation Club merchandise.

Is your little one overstimulated? There are lounges in the theme parks available exclusively for use by DVC members. Available at Epcot in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, these lounges offer a welcome retreat to cool off with ample seating and ports to recharge your devices.

Perhaps the crown jewel of perks, members can enjoy Moonlight Magic, a complimentary after-hours event offered several times a year. Disney Parks after-hours events, like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, are a fan favorite but can set a family back hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This completely free party offers unlimited treats (hello, all-you-can-eat Mickey bars!), rare character appearances, and shorter wait times.

Discounts further add value, and include everything from savings on event tickets to dining and activities. There are even special member cruises on Disney Cruise Line.

Who can get the most out of DVC?

Since you can use your points however you’d like, and switch it up year after year, there’s not one cookie-cutter qualifier for who can get the most out of Disney Vacation Club. With flexible accommodation types, comforts of home, and perks, it particularly appeals to families with children. The multi-gen traveling family can save up points and use them for an annual extended trip with its larger, multi-room accommodations, or the frequent visitors looking to do several smaller visits can spread out their points across the year.

Insider Pro Tip: Disney Vacation Club will offer the best savings for those who plan to vacation at least every other year and who prefer to stay in deluxe-level accommodations.

A look inside some favorite Disney Vacation Club properties:

Disney’s Old Key West, Walt Disney World

Disney’s Old Key West is the quintessential Disney Vacation Club resort and the one that started it all. Its colorful, charming Floridian-inspired grounds are expansive, with standout pools and dining, making this the type of resort guests want to hang around for a much-deserved break from the parks.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Hawaii

There’s not a theme park in sight at Aulani, a stunning oceanfront resort on the quieter western shores of Oahu. Here, Disney’s excellence in storytelling is matched with local flair and architecture for an elevated experience all its own. Its on-site spa and gourmet bites stand out while also featuring the comforts Disney fans are used to, like Dole whip and character sightings.

Disney’s Riviera Resort, Walt Disney World

For a taste of the luxurious life at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Riviera Resort carries an upscale feel complete with posh accommodations. Inspired by Mediterranean resorts around the French and Italian Riviera, it feels far removed from the nearby theme park but with plenty of Disney touches throughout. The grounds are gorgeous and it’s home to some of the best dining at Walt Disney World.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland

The newest property, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel has that classic Disneyland nostalgia combined with contemporary designs and upscale amenities. A stone’s throw from the theme parks, rooms here are inspired by Disney’s beloved animated classics, like “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Princess and the Frog.”

The answer to whether you have access to free preschool really depends on where you live and whether you qualify

When your kid approaches age 3 or 4, you may consider sending them to preschool. It probably seems like the natural way to have them enter the education system and transition to kindergarten, but it’s not that simple—and one looming question on parents’ minds is this: “Is preschool free?”

Short answer: No, preschool isn’t free.
Long answer: Preschool can be free, but not everywhere in the United States.

“The cost of preschool varies dramatically across the country, but the average tuition costs approximately $10,000 per academic year,” says Amanda Vierheller, co-founder and COO of Playgarden. “Cost is one of the most prohibitive factors in families committing to preschool.”

Although costly, parents might view this as an investment in their child’s future as research shows that preschool benefits kids socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. However, since not every family has the means to send their kid to preschool, it’s become a hot-button topic in many states.

With that said, we understand that navigating the world of preschool for your child can be difficult and we’re here to help. To make the process easier, we spoke with education experts and families about their experiences with preschool and whether free preschool might be a possibility now or in the future.

When do kids start preschool?

Preschoolers are between the ages of 3 and 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but children typically start preschool between 3 and 4. By chatting with local preschools, parents can determine what each school’s expectations are for readiness (e.g., potty training) and evaluate whether their kid fits the bill.

What are the benefits of preschool?

One of the reasons many parents consider sending their children to preschool is because of the advantages they’ll receive ahead of kindergarten.

“Preschool introduces children to routine, rules, independence, socialization, early learning, and foundational skills that they use both in school and at home,” says Vierheller. “Students who attend preschool have opportunities to promote social and emotional development with peers and teachers.”

Aside from gaining independence and developing their social skills, preschool also helps to prepare kids for kindergarten. “Not only do kids learn the foundational skills needed to master elementary school topics, but they also learn how to be in school,” says Cara Delzer, head of community at Outschool. “They get to practice self-control, asking for help, and learn how to navigate a structured setting.”

Most importantly, children develop essential skills like language and communication by playing, learning, and interacting with others. “Students also build fine motor and gross motor skills with the daily practice that comes with school activities,” Vierheller adds.

How much does preschool cost in the US?

As mentioned above, Delzer says a traditional preschool usually starts around $1200 a month or $10,000 per year, but this may vary depending on the location, number of children attending, and the type of preschool chosen.

Jaime Maser Berman, a publicist and mother of four, has three of her children currently enrolled in preschool in Westfield, NJ. For the 2022-2023 school year, her kids’ tuition cost the family roughly $6,000 per month.

“Preschool is definitely not free; in fact, we joke we’re constantly hemorrhaging money. Such is life as a parent,” says Maser Berman.

A program to help cover the cost of preschool

While tuition concerns are a real problem for many families, Delzer says there is a government program that’s in place to help.

Head Start

The most well-known free preschool option is Head Start, which is available in some form in every state for children aged 3 to 5. (Sister program Early Head Start is an option for families with kids under 3.)

“Every state has requirements to qualify for Head Start, such as income limits,” says Delzer. “Many school districts provide free preschool with some restrictions, such as limiting it to certain age groups, only being available for part of the day, or only being available 3 days a week.”

Does your state have free preschool?

Nearly all states have free preschool available through Head Start, as long as families meet the eligibility requirements.

Some states offer free pre-K for students who are 4 years old. “Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Washington D.C currently offer universal pre-K programs for all children, although some are based on lottery acceptance as spaces are limited,” says Vierheller.

She adds that other states have universal pre-K policies in place for at-risk children, and some are working towards the benchmark of offering state-wide pre-K in the future. For example, California is on track to have free high-quality pre-K for all 4-year-olds by 2025.

If you’re looking for local preschool options, the Child Care Aware hotline (1-800-424-2246) is an available resource. They provide contact information for local childcare resources and referral agencies, which can provide a list of licensed preschools in your area.

This mom took to the internet to defend her decision to work instead of staying home with her kids, even though child care costs her $5,000 a month

Every parent knows the math it takes to justify child care. With daycare and school costs reaching unfathomable heights (and still rising), it often makes more financial sense for one parent to stay home with the kids—the salary they would have earned is often less than the cost of professional child care. But one mom, who pays $5,000 a month for care for her four kids, is explaining why she chose to keep working rather than stay home, and it makes perfect sense.

In a viral TikTok video, mom-of-four Paige Turner defends her decision to be a working mom—and shell out $60,000 a year for her kids’ care.

@sheisapaigeturner

The value in my career outweighs the cost of childcare for the next 4 years. My life is long and I am not just planning for today but planning for my and mt familieis future in mind. #costofchildcare #childcarecrisis #daycarechronicles101 #daycarekids #millennialmom #workingmoms #wfhmom #daycaremom

♬ original sound – Paige

“The question is almost always directed at me,” she says. “The question is, do you make enough to warrant that? How do you have any money left over? Doesn’t it make more sense for you to stay home?”

But when she explains why she and her husband have chosen to pay “astronomical” child care costs that allow her to continue working, it’s impossible to argue with her logic.

“At the same time, the question as to why I work, one, always directed at me, is somewhat insulting, but two, negates the next steps in my life,” she says. “In four years from now, my youngest child will be in full-time school. I will still have the cost of school, after-school programs, kid’s activities, enrichment, [and] camp. But I won’t have the cost of childcare.”

Turner explains that she’s just thinking ahead to a time when she and her husband won’t have to pay super high child care costs, when the benefits of her current decision to “struggle and grit” her way through these early years will pay off.

“I know that where I wanna go in my career and the compensation that I’m able to have, is there. It’s at my fingertips, and me stepping away from work for five to ten years would throw me back,” she says.

She’s absolutely right. Women already face a gender gap in their pay, but for moms, it’s even worse—working moms earn, on average, 73 cents to every dollar a man earns (compared to 84 cents per dollar for women in general). Should Fisher be expected to sacrifice her career goals because she has kids? Of course not! If this is a way that she and her husband have found that works for them, power to them. But to level the playing field for all families, we really need affordable child care and better systemic support for working moms.

WalletHub’s annual report shows where working moms have the best access to childcare and professional opportunities

Women make up almost half of the U.S. workforce, and 73 percent of women with children under 18 were working in 2022. But despite the fact that being a working parent is the reality for the majority of moms in this country, it still isn’t an easy path. Working moms face discrimination, pay inequality, and other battles that should be a thing of the past, but sadly, still aren’t. Only 8.2 percent of S&P 500 companies’ chief executives are women, and women still only earn, on average, 82 percent of what men do (that’s white women, for the record—the gap is much larger for women of color). And even across the United States, the playing field isn’t equal for working moms—that’s where WalletHub’s new study comes in.

Each year, the finance site ranks U.S. states to determine which ones are the best (and worst) for working moms. Its 2023 rankings are in, and the results may surprise you. Ready to pack your bags? These 10 states are considered the best places to be a working mom:

1. Massachusetts
2. Rhode Island
3. Connecticut
4. District of Columbia
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota
7. Vermont
8. New Jersey
9. Maine
10. Delaware

On the flip side, these 10 states are considered the worst:

42. Arizona
43. Nevada
44. Oklahoma
45. New Mexico
46. Idaho
47. West Virginia
48. Mississippi
49. Alabama
50. South Carolina
51. Louisiana

To determine its rankings, WalletHub looks at three main factors that greatly impact the quality of life (and work) for working moms: child care, professional opportunities, and work-life balance. Each state is given scores based on things like the cost of daycare, how many pediatricians it has per capita, its gender pay gap, ratio of female-to-male executives, parental leave policies, and more.

“Working parents (not just mothers) need to be not only welcomed into, but really driving the conversations about how to rethink workplace culture, workforce expectations, and work-life negotiation,” said Jennifer L. Borda, a professor of communication at the University of New Hampshire and one of the experts consulted on the study. “There is a diverse population caring for children now, so being attuned to how different workers have different needs and how those needs may shift and evolve over time. For example, LGBTQ+ workers may have different needs than cisgender/heterosexual couples… Work should not be, can no longer be, one size fits all.”

The drawing this mom received from her son is one that WFH parents will instantly—and sadly—recognize

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more parents than ever are working from home. While that can provide more flexibility to take care of house chores and spend time with kids, it can also create new challenges, as WFH parents know all too well. Priya Amin was recently working from home when she received a drawing from her 7-year-old son, and what it revealed was crushing—but not surprising.

Amin, who posted the drawing to a blog post on LinkedIn, said it showed a parent at work on a computer with a child looking on from behind them. The child says, “Mommy are you done?” and the parent replies, “No.”

PHOTO: A drawing from Priya Amin's son.
Priya Amin / LinkedIn

“I actually looked at it, and it broke my heart,” Amin told Good Morning America. “Well, it sort of warmed and broke my heart at the same time.”

Amin is the founder and CEO of Flexable, a company that creates “innovative child care solutions, such as virtual child care, and partner with organizations around the country to provide our child care services as a benefit for working parents.” While the company’s mission is one that will resonate with WFH parents everywhere, Amin is obviously busy—and that creates challenges.

“All I wanted to do was close up my laptop and spend time with my kids, but I knew that if I didn’t get a few important things done, I wouldn’t be able to get my mind off of them,” she said. “I think so many parents feel that way, especially during the pandemic, where work and life have collided with one another and it’s really hard to step away from work. My son’s drawing was a stark reminder to me about just how hard that is.”

But the drawing helped Amin strike a new balance, she said. That was, in part, because she realized she wasn’t setting a good example for her employees, many of whom also have children.

“Getting this picture from my son, though, reminded me that I need to do a better job of modeling that behavior to my team. Now I work when my kids are in school, but log off when they get home,” she said. “It does feel really good to know that your kids miss you and want to spend time with you.”

Chelsea Handler may be joking, but disparities in childcare responsibilities are seriously real

Leave it to Chelsea Handler to call out the imbalance of labor in homes with children—but in a completely original and hilarious way.

In a clip from her new standup special, Revolution, Handler opens up about her decision to be child-free. But she goes on to explain that she’d be willing to welcome kids into her life—under the right circumstances.

“I say I don’t want to be a mother, but I wouldn’t mind being a divorced dad, you know?” Handler says as the crowd breaks into applause. “I could crush that role, coming in hot at like 50% all the time. Showing up Friday afternoons with unicorn frappuccinos, and then back to the Cheesecake Factory, and then back to Starbucks, and then drop them off and skedaddle Monday before s*** really hits the fan.”

Handler continues, “I could crush that role. Or a stepfather. That’s another role I would crush. Nobody expects anything from you guys.”

Listen. Are there divorced dads and stepfathers who step up and take on an even load of the responsibility for their kids? Of course! But Handler is making a point about a larger trend: Women unfairly shoulder more of the burden of home and childcare tasks than men do.

According to the Pew Research Center in 2019, fathers reported spending an average of 8 hours per week on childcare, while mothers reported spending an average of 14 hours per week.

A study by the Boston College Center for Work & Family found that in 2016, working dads spend an average of 7.2 hours per week on child care. Working mothers, meanwhile, spend an average of 14.1 hours per week on child care.

And a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 found that fathers who were primary caregivers spent an average of 8.3 hours per week on child care, while mothers who were primary caregivers spent an average of 14.7 hours per week on child care.

This is the larger point that Handler is making. Moms, even when they work outside of the home, are still largely expected to handle the majority of childcare. Dads, meanwhile, get a pass for doing just a fraction of the work. It’s not equal or fair, and while we love Handler for making us laugh, we love her even more for bringing important issues like this one to light.

In the rankings, a lower cost of living might be offset by a lack of access to good child-care services

When it comes to deciding where to raise a family, there are plenty of factors to consider: career opportunities, cost of living, school systems, housing, and health and safety being just a few. If you’re looking to make a move across state lines in the near future, you may want to check out WalletHub’s findings.

The personal finance website compared all 50 states across 51 key indicators of family-friendliness, including housing affordability, childcare costs, violent crime, annual family income, neighborhood support, and unemployment rates. These indicators were grouped into five main categories: family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socio-economics.

family incomes statistics in some of the worst and best states to raise a family
Wallet Hub

WalletHub also coordinated with a panel of experts to discuss issues that include child development, how it's influenced by the state a family lives in, and what things to consider when putting down roots.

When asked what families should consider when choosing a place to raise kids, director of Barnard College Center for Toddler Development Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D. states, "Cost is essential: is this a community that the family can afford to buy or rent a home or apartment, and will they be able to move to a bigger place if or when their family grows? Can they afford the amenities they will want such as recreation, and the necessities, such as health care and child care, that this area offers?" 

child care costs statistics in a wallet hub study of the worst and best states to raise a family

But access to educational opportunities has a huge impact as well. "Starting early in life, access to high-quality affordable early childhood education has significant implications for children’s learning and social development, family well-being, and ultimately community and state economic development," adds Melissa A. Barnett, Ph.D., director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families. And a state's level of commitment to policies that support those opportunities is something parents should be aware of. 

So, what are the best states to raise a family?

According to the findings, the top 5 best states for families to live in are:

1. Massachusetts

2. Minnesota

3. New York

4. North Dakota

5. Vermont

And the worst?

On the flip side, WalletHub also determined the lowest-ranking states, which include:

50. Mississippi

49. New Mexico

48. West Virginia

47. Louisana

46. South Carolina

 

—with additional reporting by Gabby Cullen