Age of first-time mothers hits record high in blue states as birth rates keep falling

American women are having children later in life, with birth rates hitting record lows, and a divide between red and blue states is becoming more stark. The average age of first-time mothers has risen to 27.5, with Washington, D.C. having the highest average age at 30.8 and Mississippi having the lowest at 24.7. This trend is closely tied to education, economic opportunities, and access to reproductive healthcare.