2026 Family Structure Index Ranks States on Marriage, Stability and Fertility Rates

The report assesses states using three core factors: marriage rates, family stability and fertility rates. It also incorporates data on cost of living, religious participation, family instability and education levels to evaluate their impact on economic outcomes and the attainability of the American Dream.

The index ranks Utah first in family stability, followed by Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The lowest-ranked states are Vermont, Nevada, Louisiana, Rhode Island and New Mexico. Rocky Mountain and Great Plains states generally show higher marriage and fertility rates compared to other regions.

The report states that only one in three Americans believes in the American Dream. It links stronger family structures, such as higher rates of married parents, to lower child poverty rates, better educational outcomes, reduced crime and stronger economies. States with higher shares of single-parent households face higher poverty and other challenges.

Additional factors include religious participation, which correlates with higher birth rates, and high housing costs, which associate with lower fertility rates. College-educated adults are more likely to form stable families due to economic security. 3, with fertility rates continuing to fall despite stabilized marriage rates.