By the Numbers: Best and Worst States for Women

With March being Women’s History Month and women holding only 23.7 percent of the seats in Congress – despite making up 51 percent of the U.S. population – the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2019’s Best and Worst States for Women.

To identify the most women-friendly states, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key metrics, including median earnings for female workers, women’s preventive health care and the female homicide rate. Overall, the report found that blue states are more women-friendly.

1

Minnesota’s ranking as the best state for women. Massachusetts, North Dakota, the District of Columbia and New York followed. Minnesota also ranked first in women’s economic and social well-being and third in women’s health and safety.

2

A two-way tie between Nebraska and Wisconsin for the highest high school graduation rate for women.

3

Wisconsin’s ranking for the highest percentage of women who voted in the 2016 presidential election. Only the District of Columbia and Maine had higher percentages. Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia and Hawaii had the lowest percentage of women voters in that election.

6

A six-way tie for first place in the category of lowest unemployment rate for women, shared by Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota.  

14

Wisconsin’s overall ranking for women. However, the Badger State ranked 10th for women’s economic and social well-being and 17th in women’s health and safety.

47

Alaska and Louisiana tied for having the highest female homicide rate per 100,000 females. There were only 47 rankings because of ties, such as Maine and New Hampshire tying for second place with the lowest female homicide rates.

51

Louisiana’s ranking as the worst state for women.

64.37

Wisconsin’s total score in the 24 key metrics analyzed. At No. 1, Minnesota scored 79.34. Last-place Louisiana scored 36.25.

Source: wallethub.com