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By Soo Kim

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Massachusetts has been ranked the safest state in the United States to raise a family, according to a new study that analyzed dozens of risk factors across all 50 states.

The study, conducted by the Whitley Law Firm, a personal injury law firm, evaluated 26 different safety factors to calculate an overall risk score out of 100 for each state. The factors ranged from violent and sexual crimes, firearm possession among young people at schools, theft and drug crimes, environmental and infrastructure concerns such as air, water, and road quality, to risks linked to birth complications, motor vehicle fatalities, and child and teen mortality rates.

The findings of the study, which were shared with Newsweek, show Massachusetts as being the safest state, with an overall risk score of 19.28 out of 100. The state recorded the lowest maternal death rate in the country at 0.19 per 100,000 people. It also reported the lowest child mortality rates in both the 1 to 4 age category, at 13.02 deaths per 100,000 children, and the 5 to 14 age category, at 8.7 deaths per 100,000. The state performed strongly in traffic safety as well, ranking second nationwide for vehicle deaths with 4.18 per 100,000 people annually. That rate is five times better than Wyoming, the study noted, which had the poorest performance.

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New Jersey followed closely behind, ranking second overall with a risk score of 20. The study found that New Jersey has the lowest sexual assault rates relative to its population, with just 2.47 cases per 100,000 people each month. The state also reported the lowest drug crime rate nationwide, at 6.44 cases per 100,000 people.

Rhode Island was ranked the third safest state, with a risk score of 23.45. While it did not lead in any individual category, the state secured second place in several key areas. Rhode Island had the second-lowest homicide rate at 0.21 per 100,000 people, the second-lowest rate of child deaths for ages 1 to 4 at 15.31 per 100,000 children, and the second-lowest teen death rate at 46.51 per 100,000 teenagers.

Vermont ranked fourth in the nation for family safety. The state reported the lowest assault rate in the country, with 41.41 cases per 100,000 people, and the lowest infant death rate at 1.44 per 100,000 infants.

Hawaii rounded out the top five, earning a risk score of 24.93. The state reported the lowest homicide rate in the country, at 0.09 per 100,000 people. Hawaii also stood out for its environmental conditions, ranking fourth nationwide for air quality.

10 Safest States To Raise a Family in the U.S.

1. Massachusetts
2. New Jersey
3. Rhode Island
4. Vermont
5. Hawaii
6. Connecticut
7. New Hampshire
8. New York
9. Minnesota
10. Maine

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