When it comes to family flourishing, not every state is created equal. Nine of the top 10 states with the healthiest families are conservative, according to a new study released this week.
The 2025 Family Structure Index ranks all 50 states based on three criteria: the percentage of married adults between the ages of 25 to 54, the average number of lifetime births per woman, and the percentage of children aged 15 to 17 who are living with their married parents.
The outcomes tracked closely with conservative political ideology, especially in states with a strong religious base, according to Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology at the University of Virginia and a fellow at the Institute for Family Studies.
The state of Utah scored the highest rating on two out of three measures: the marriage rate and the percentage of persistent, intact families.
Not one of the 50…
