I get the feeling that if there weren't bad news, Illinois would have no news at all. The latest in the barrage of negatives here in Illinois is this: we are the worst place to raise children in the Midwest.

Kevin Hoffman at Reboot Illinois, drawing from a report at Wallethub.com, gives us some details:

What could you possibly love that costs on average $245,000 over 18 years? It must be something special.

The answer: a brand new baby.

That quarter of a million dollars needed to raise a baby born in 2013 does not include college expenses, which probably makes you dizzy just thinking what tuition and fees might be nearly two decades from now.

But that’s not all. The cost of caring for an infant in Illinois, among other health and environmental factors, makes it the worst state in the Midwest to raise a child–11th worst nationwide–according to a Wallethub.com report.

 

Granted, we're not at the bottom (nationally), but it still doesn't look good (especially for those who live here). Here's a look at the Midwest's rankings with their overall rank:

  • Iowa-7
  • Minnesota-13
  • North Dakota-15
  • Nebraska-16
  • Indiana-23
  • Ohio-19
  • South Dakota-20
  • Missouri-25
  • Kansas-27
  • Wisconsin-28
  • Michigan-29
  • Illinois-40
So, regardless of where you live, how much money are we talking about when it comes to raising a child?

The national average is $245,340 for 18 years worth of child care, excluding college costs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Here’s how those expenses break down: 

 

  • Housing and transportation: $107,970
  • Child care and education: $44,400
  • Food: $39,060
  • Clothing/miscellaneous: $33,780
  • Health care: $20,130
Another day, another less-than-stellar report for Illinois.

More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM