There is a lot of variation in the U.S. in terms of which states provide the best living standards for women, according to a ranking by WalletHub.
Using 23 different criteria, including wages, health-care services, employment opportunities, crime and the rate at which women are insured and in business for themselves, the website ranked each state for the life they provide for women.
WalletHub noted that, in many places, women would appear to be at a disadvantage.
For example, nearly two-thirds of women earn minimum wage, according to the National Women’s Law Center. WalleHub also noted that, despite comprising just over half the population, women hold only 23 percent of seats in the Senate and 19 percent in the House.
The analysis identified the following 10 states as offering the best living standard for women:
10. New Hampshire
The Granite State had one of the lowest unemployment rates for women and the lowest percentage of women living in poverty. Women in the state were politically active, contributing to a high percentage of the vote in the 2016 election.
9. Iowa
The state had the fifth-highest high school graduation rate among women. Women’s health and safety ranked ninth for the state.
8. Connecticut
This state had one of he lowest rates of women living in poverty and the fourth-highest life expectancy.
7. Hawaii
The Aloha State had one of the lowest percentages of women living in poverty and the highest life expectancy for females at birth. Hawaii also had the lowest percentage of uninsured females. However, the state had low median earnings for women.
6. Maine
A high percentage of women in the Pine Tree State voted in the 2016 elections. The state had one of the lowest homicide rates, too.
5. Wisconsin
With one of the highest percentages of women who graduated high school, the Badger State also boasted one of the highest female voter turnouts in the 2016 election.
4. North Dakota
The state ranks high for its low unemployment rate for women. It also had one of the highest percentages of women who graduated from high school.
3. Vermont
This state ranked exceptionally well for the lowest unemployment, the lowest female uninsured rate and the lowest female homicide rate; the bad news is that Vermont had one of the lowest percentages of woman-owned businesses.
2. Massachusetts
The state ranked tops in the lowest uninsured rate for women. The state, one of the few in the nation with its own health insurance program, was fifth-highest in women’s life expectancy.
1. Minnesota
With one of the highest median earnings for women, the state also had one of the lowest percentages of women in poverty. Minnesota had the third-highest life expectancy rate for women and the lowest uninsured rates for women as well.
The full report can be viewed here.
