HARRISBURG (TNS) — There are a variety of circumstances that may motivate a family to pull up stakes and move to another state — be it out of necessity, such as a job transfer, a search for better schools, financial challenges or simply the desire for a change of setting.

So which states offer the best combination of qualities that matter most to both the parents and their children?

To evaluate what each state offers in terms of “family-friendliness,” WalletHub, a personal finance website, compared the 50 states across five key dimensions: Family Fun, Health & Safety, Education & Child Care, Affordability, and Socioeconomics. It then evaluated those dimensions using 51 key metrics, and released its findings in a study: “2022’s Best and Worst States to Raise a Family.”

Where did Pennsylvania rank among the 50 states?

The Keystone state wasn’t a standout. According to the study, overall it ranked at 21, barely making it into the top 25. Here’s how it ranked among the study’s key dimensions:

While Pa. ranked rather high in “Affordability,” it ranked with the lower 25 states in “Health & Safety” and “Socioeconomics,” falling in midway for “Education & Child Care.”

States with the top-five overall rankings include Massachusetts, No. 1; New York, No. 2; Vermont, No. 3; Minnesota, No. 4; and Nebraska, No. 5.

The five states with the lowest overall rankings include Oklahoma, No. 46; South Carolina, No. 47; Louisiana, No 48; New Mexico, No. 49; and Mississippi, which ranked at No. 50.

In terms of median family salary, Minnesota ranked No. 1 with the highest, while New Mexico had the lowest.

According to the study, Iowa ranked No. 1 for most affordable housing, while California ranked at No. 50, with the least.

Child care costs were lowest in South Dakota, while Nebraska had the highest, the study revealed.

The state with the fewest violent crimes per capita was Maine. However, five states tied for the most violent crimes per capita: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Alaska, the study found.