RI Named 6th-Best State For Working Moms: WalletHub

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is one of the best states for working mom, according to a new ranking. Personal finance website WalletHub compared three key factors to determine the ranking: child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance.

Rhode Island made the top 10, coming in at number 6 overall. It ranked well in several sub-categories, as well, and was named number one in the country for pediatricians per capita. Other top 10 rankings included:

• 5th: Ratio of female to male executives
• 4th: Parental-leave policy score
• 6th: Average length of a woman's work week, in hours

Rhode Island score towards the middle in several other categories, such as 26th for day care quality, 24th for percentage of single mom families living in poverty and 13th for the gender pay gap.

Jane Waldfogel, a professor at Columbia University's school of social work, said that companies have a huge impact on allowing parents to balance work and life.

"Paid leave and help with childcare costs are two of the most important benefits companies can provide," she said. "But not all companies do so, and it is the least advantaged employees who are least likely to have such employer benefits. So there is a lot for companies to do to expand coverage and make it more equitable."

Next-door neighbor Massachusetts was named first in the country, while Louisiana was in first place. Here's a look at the top 10 best states for moms, according to WalletHub.

1. Massachusetts
2. Washington, DC
3. Connecticut
4. Vermont
5. Minnesota
6. Rhode Island
7. Wisconsin
8. New Jersey
9. New York
10. Washington

Read the full ranking on WalletHub's website.