President George H.W. Bush was once mocked for promoting "family values," but perhaps more should have listened. Decades of declining marriage and fertility rates have left the U.S. at an inflection point, with only about a third of Americans still believing in the American dream and younger generations waiting longer and longer to get married and start families (if ever). Against that backdrop, the 2026 Family Structure Index ranks the best states to start a family. The report from the Center for Christian Virtue (CVV) examines several factors, including marriage and fertility rates, education levels, cost of living, religious participation, and family stability.
The results show red states dominating the top of the list (Utah, Idaho, Nebraska, and the Dakotas are the top five), while blue states (California, New York, Massachusetts) make up more of the bottom ten. There are some exceptions (Florida is ranked low, while Minnesota is ranked high). Texas ranks 11th. In general, states with lower costs of living and pro-family policies did much better. "Strong families don't happen by accident," says Jonathan Covey, policy director for Texas Values, which was not involved in the rankings. "They're built on stable marriages, on committed parents, and communities that value both of those things."
"So when those foundations weaken, everything else follows."
Long after Bush 41's family values rhetoric was dismissed, those values may be the key to fixing what ails our country today. Covey believes policies that promote marriage, family and parenting are good for both society and the economy. "If we want to restore the American dream, we need to start by rebuilding the family," he tells KTRH. "And states that aren't promoting strong families need to take a hard look at their policies and their culture."
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