The Center for Christian Virtue, NC Family’s sister organization in Ohio, recently released the Family Structure Index assessing how strong families are in each state. They looked at three key metrics to assess this, including:

• The percentage of married adults aged 25 to 54;
• The average number of lifetime births per woman; and
• The percentage of children aged 15 to 17 who are living with their married parents.

Based on these factors, North Carolina ranked 21, with Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska in the top three and New York, New Mexico, and Rhode Island in the bottom three positions.

How North Carolina Families Ranked

Based on the report, 57.9% of North Carolina adults between the ages of 25 and 54 were married. The state has a fertility rate of 1.71, and 47.8% of teens between 15 and 17 are being raised in intact homes. Based on these factors, North Carolina received an overall score of 61.8, which puts us barely above the national average of 60.

Why Strong Families Matter

Strong families are the basis for a strong society. Studies have found that marriage improves the physical health, material well-being, and social support for individuals. Married couples are more likely to be financially stable than their single counterparts, and married adults have been found to be twice as happy as single individuals. In addition to this, women who are married have been found to have a substantially higher birth rate than single or divorced women. Increased birth rates have significant economic benefits, including tax revenue, supporting the welfare system, and increasing economic growth.

One of the core goals here at NC Family is to help make North Carolina a place where families thrive, andso we continue to advocate for legislation that makes this a reality. We pray that more will see the benefits of marriage and children and will be encouraged to pursue them in their own lives.

Additional Resources on Building Strong Families:

• Roger Severino on the importance of marriage and family at NC Family’s 2024 Greenville Dinner
• Can Getting Married Save Civilization? (with Dr. Brad Wilcox)
• “Success Sequence” Reinforces Benefits of Traditional Principles
• How To Combat A Family-Unfriendly Culture (with Timothy Carney)
• Rebuilding the American Family (with Connor Semelsberger)