Texas families need to earn about $74,734 a year for one parent to stay home with a child, according to a new national income analysis by SmartAsset.
The study examined the minimum income needed to support a household with one working parent and a stay-at-home partner raising a child, factoring in housing, childcare alternatives, healthcare, transportation, and taxes. Texas ranked near the middle of the states, with costs lower than many coastal states but higher than several parts of the Midwest and South.
Researchers found that housing and healthcare were the largest contributors to the income threshold, even in states with lower overall living costs. The analysis highlights the financial pressure facing families weighing whether one parent can afford to leave the workforce to care for children at home.
The study compares all 50 states and reflects cost estimates based on the most recent available economic data.
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