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What's Good
- Boston has a 20 percent lower property crime rate than average, the 10th lowest in our survey.
- Women in Boston are 51 percent less likely than average to smoke during pregnancy. That's the 10th lowest rate in our survey. Nationwide, about 1 out of every 12 pregnant women smokes.
- Boston has 87 miles of stroller-friendly trails and public pathways, according to our survey of parks departments. In a per capita comparison, that's 43 percent more than the average city in our survey (10th highest overall relative to population).
- According to data from the CDC, maternal mortality in Massachusetts is especially low.
- The CDC reports very low infant mortality rates for Massachusetts.
- State laws require health insurance companies to provide or offer at least some coverage for fertility-related services.
- Boston has plenty of high-risk pediatricians, 325 percent more than average and the highest in our survey.
- Massachusetts stands out in a measure of legislation related to cord blood education, research and related issues.
- There are 141 percent more fertility doctors per capita here than average--the 2nd highest ratio in our survey.
- 13.2 percent of births statewide are attended by midwives. That's 75 percent more than average.
- Air quality here is better here than most cities in our survey. Air quality has been linked to childhood asthma and fertility rates, among other health effects.
- Boston has more OB-GYNs than average, the 5th highest in our survey.
- Boston has lots of NICU beds, 100 percent more than average, 5th highest in our survey.
- Boston is home to Boston Medical Center, recognized as a Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for supporting breastfeeding.
- There are more fertility clinics per capita here than average.
- Boston has 24 licensed home day cares for every 1,000 children under 4 years, the 7th highest in our survey.
- Massachusetts devotes more money relative to population than most states to child car-seat-check stations.
- There are 8 licensed day care centers for every 1,000 children under 4 years. That's 27 percent more than average.
- Babies here are 11 percent less likely than average to be born prematurely.
Needs Improvement
- Massachusetts has no provisions for dependent related tax breaks.
- State laws require less-stringent day-care worker checks than most.
- Housing in Boston is less affordable than most places: When comparing household incomes to home values, a key measure of affordability, Boston has the 11th lowest ratio in our survey.
- There's 73 percent less public park space than average here, relative to population.
- Massachusetts lacks progressive laws guaranteeing a nursing mother the right to breastfeed in public.
- Relative to population, Boston has fewer specialty retailers of healthy/organic foods and vitamins than most places in our survey.
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Latest User Comments: How did you guys find out these facts? -- Mike Is this a joke?? -- Michelle After having two babies in Boston I have to say that if Boston is number... (View Full Comments) -- Beth More Comments |
