Utah Ranks Among Best States for Children Facing Hardship

Utah remains one of the nation’s better places for children when it comes to poverty, family stability and other measures of economic hardship, according to a new WalletHub analysis.

5th Lowest = 5th Best

Utah ranked 47th on WalletHub’s 2026 list of states with the most underprivileged children. Because lower placement indicates better conditions, Utah had the fifth-lowest level of childhood disadvantage among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Only Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New Jersey performed better overall.

Least Number of Children in Single-Family Homes

WalletHub compared the states using 25 measures divided among socioeconomic welfare, health and education. The study considered child poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, foster care, maltreatment, infant mortality, health insurance coverage and school performance. Utah placed best in the socioeconomic category, ranking 51st—or best in the nation—under WalletHub’s system. It also had the country’s lowest share of children living in single-parent families, the second-lowest percentage of children in foster care and the second-lowest percentage living in households below the poverty line. Utah ranked closer to the middle in health and education, placing 24th and 26th, respectively.

“Tackling the problem of underprivileged children in America requires a multifaceted approach,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. He added that children need adequate nutrition, medical care, mental-health support, protection from abuse and access to a quality education.

Good But Not Perfect

Utah’s strong ranking is encouraging, but it does not mean every family is doing well. That is especially important to remember in Southern Utah, where rising housing, grocery and child care costs continue to strain household budgets. Census-based estimates show the poverty rate among children in Washington County fell from 15.6% during the 2015-19 period to 12.2% during 2020-24, but that still represents roughly one in eight local children.

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Hunger also remains a serious concern. Utah Food Bank says one in five Southern Utah children faces food insecurity, and its St. George distribution center serves families across Beaver, Iron, Washington, Garfield and Kane counties.

Utah’s ranking is worth celebrating, but the local numbers show there is still work to do. A strong statewide average matters most when children in every community have food, stable housing, health care and a real opportunity to succeed.