Maryland is now one of the most expensive places in the country to raise a child, and the numbers are putting fresh pressure on families already stretched by rent, food and other basic expenses. A new LendingTree report released April 23, 2026, found that families in Maryland are projected to spend $326, 360 over 18 years. The analysis places Maryland third nationally, behind Hawaii and Alaska.
Maryland families face a steep 18-year bill
The report, which uses data and statistics from 2024, says the national 18-year average has climbed to $303, 418 after tax exemptions and credits. Maryland is one of six U. S. states where the projected cost tops $300, 000, underscoring how sharply child-related expenses can rise when household costs are included.
The analysis factors in child-specific expenses as well as household costs that can grow because of children, including rent, transportation and health insurance. It also found that the cost of raising a small child increased 15% in the last year, from $31, 601 in 2025 to $36, 419 in 2026. That makes Maryland the second most expensive state for five-year costs, behind only Hawaii.
Parents say the pressure is already here
For families on the ground, the numbers reflect a daily squeeze. Azalea Worgen, a Baltimore mother of three, said her family has had to adjust constantly to keep up. “We’ve just been living day by day, ” Worgen said. “It leads to less is more. Honestly, I didn’t think that we would be in this house. I thought this was our starter home. ”
Worgen said her family now spends more than $44, 000 a year raising their three teenagers, forcing cutbacks in savings, vacations and eating out. She said they shop at Walmart and thrift stores and made the decision to enroll their children in a homeschooling community where she works part-time as a teacher. The annual cost of that community is $4, 500 for her children.
Kristen Holt, who lives in Bel Air with her husband and three children, said the study on Maryland “rang true. ” She said her family spends nearly $5, 000 on electricity and about $10, 000 on groceries each year. “We’ve absolutely felt the pinch and the squeeze of raising children in the state for sure, ” Holt said. “We’re figuring out innovative ways to make it work. ”
What the report says is driving the cost
The LendingTree analysis points to rent, daycare for infants and transportation as some of the highest expenses. It also notes that costs for the first five years have eased slightly because daycare prices have dropped a bit, even as the overall burden keeps rising. Families in the United States spend an average of 21% of their income on raising a child, while Washington, D. C., was found to have the lowest share at 13. 9%.
Maryland’s projected 18-year total of $326, 360 is far above the least expensive state, New Hampshire, at $201, 115. The gap shows how much geography can shape the cost of family life, even before children reach adulthood.
What comes next for families
The report adds to the pressure many parents say they already feel as they try to balance work, school choices and household bills. Some families in Maryland are openly questioning whether they can afford to stay, and others are looking for ways to cut costs without sacrificing stability. As Maryland remains one of the most expensive states to raise a child, the question for many households is how long they can keep absorbing the strain.
