Jay Inslee has proposed significant investments in child care, but the state still has a long way to go. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 230 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: B+)Strengths: Worker Protections, Environmental Quality, InclusivenessWeakness: Child Care 4. Minnesota Aerial view of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the summer.F11photo | E+ | Getty ImagesMinnesota is a great place to live and work, with strong worker protections, low crime, and excellent health care. But child care is a major issue. A married couple with a median income can expect to pay nearly 14% of it on child care, according to Child Care Aware of America. And the state has only about 5,600 licensed child-care facilities for a population of nearly six million people. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 233 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: B+)Strengths: Worker Protections, Crime, Health CareWeakness: Child Care 3. Vermont Aerial view of Burlington, Vermont in the fall. Davel5957 | E+ | Getty ImagesThe Green Mountain State is a great place to live and work, with strong worker protections and low crime. But child care is expensive, requiring nearly 14% of median income for a married couple. And the state has only about 1,100 licensed child-care facilities for a population of about 630,000 people.2024 Quality of Life Score: 234 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: B+)Strengths: Worker Protections, CrimeWeakness: Child Care 2. Colorado Aerial view of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the fall. Davel5957 | E+ | Getty ImagesColorado is a great place to live and work, with strong worker protections and low crime. But child care is expensive, requiring nearly 14% of median income for a married couple. And the state has only about 4,900 licensed child-care facilities for a population of about 5.8 million people.2024 Quality of Life Score: 237 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: B+)Strengths: Worker Protections, CrimeWeakness: Child Care 1. Rhode Island Aerial view of Providence, Rhode Island in the fall. Sean Pavone | iStock | Getty ImagesRhode Island is a great place to live and work, with strong worker protections, low crime, and excellent health care. But child care is a major issue. A married couple with a median income can expect to pay nearly 16% of it on child care, according to Child Care Aware of America. And the state has only about 1,300 licensed child-care facilities for a population of about one million people.2024 Quality of Life Score: 239 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: B+)Strengths: Worker Protections, Crime, Health CareWeakness: Child Care\”
