Why Starting a Family in Arizona Is Harder Than You Think

At Habari Entertainment we’re all about celebrating life’s big moments: birthdays, engagement milestones, family reunions and beyond. But as joyful as those moments are, a newly-released national study delivers a stark message: for couples considering starting or raising a family in Arizona, the odds are tougher than they may realize.

The Study: Arizona Near the Bottom

According to a recent report by Ivy Surrogacy, Arizona was ranked worst in the country for starting a family. Phoenix New Times+2Ivy Surrogacy+2 The analysis examined multiple key categories; affordability, healthcare, education and safety and Arizona performed poorly across the board. Ivy Surrogacy+1

Some of the factors cited include:

• Nearly 9.3% of children under 19 in Arizona are uninsured; the highest rate in the nation. Phoenix New Times

• A high rate of vehicle fatalities (1.7 per 100 million miles traveled), placing Arizona among the worst. Phoenix New Times

• A public secondary-school graduation rate of around 77%, among the lowest nationwide. Phoenix New Times

• In the Ivy Surrogacy ranking, Arizona landed at No. 50 (i.e., last among states) for „starting a family”. Ivy Surrogacy+1

Other independent analyses (e.g., from WalletHub) also place Arizona among the bottom tier of states for family-friendly metrics. AZCentral+1

Why This Matters

For couples and families thinking about putting down roots here, these findings raise important questions:

• Are there enough supports (healthcare, schooling, safety) to truly thrive and not just survive?

• How might rising household costs, educational struggles, or health-access issues affect a young family’s trajectory?

• What can families do proactively both in choosing where to live and how to build community to offset these challenges?

Why We Include This on the Habari Entertainment Blog

As a company dedicated to capturing life’s celebrations, we believe it’s important to both honor the good moments and acknowledge the broader context in which families are starting. We don’t just do party photos; we document why families gather, what they value, and how they strive for joy despite bigger systemic pressures. Understanding these pressures makes us better, more compassionate storytellers.

How Families Can Turn the Situation Around

Here are some ideas for families in Arizona (or planning to move here) to “tilt the odds” a bit more in their favor:

1. Priorities healthcare access — Ensure you find good pediatric care, check insurance coverage for children, explore community health clinics or state programs.

2. Choose strong school districts — While statewide stats may lag, there are local pockets with excellent schools. Investigate graduation rates, teacher retention, programmed quality.

3. Build a support network — A strong village matters: extended family, local groups, faith community, parent-networks. These boost wellbeing beyond raw stats.

4. Budget carefully for the future — Housing, cost-of-living and child-care add up. Know what you’re getting into and plan early.

5. Celebrate intentional moments — That’s where we at Habari Entertainment come in. Building traditions, capturing milestones, making memories these help anchor families emotionally even when external conditions are tough.

Final Thoughts

The headline “Arizona = worst state to start a family” is provocative but it’s also a call to action. It doesn’t mean families can’t flourish here. Rather, it means success may require more intentionality, more community-support, and more investment in foundational resources.

At Habari Entertainment, we’re proud to work with families who choose joy, connection and memory-making, even in challenging environments. If you’re planning a family milestone or simply want to celebrate the ones you already have our team is here to help you shine.