Working dads in California are grappling with a variety of challenges, according to a report released Monday.

The “2018 Best and Worst States For Working Dads” study ranks California 24th overall, but it landed second from the bottom in social and economic well-being and also fared badly in median family income and child care costs.

The WalletHub report compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia across 20 key indicators that also include everything from the average length of a workday for men to the work-life balance among working fathers. The data was pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research and a variety of other sources, including WalletHub’s own research.

The personal finance website began its best/worst study in 2015. The Golden State’s overall ranking has risen from 41 in 2015 and 35 in 2016 to 24 last year and this year.

California ranked a dismal 49th in social and economic well-being and in median family income in this year’s report. It also has one of the highest unemployment rates (4.31 percent) among dads with children ages 17 and younger, and it ranked 43rd in the category of lowest childcare costs.

Recent figures from the Economic Policy Institute reveal that, despite the state’s overall economic recovery, things are still tight for many residents in Southern California.

A family of two adults and two children in L.A. County, for example, needs to earn $92,295 a year to meet all of its living expenses, according to the institute’s Family Budget Calculator. That far outstrips the county’s median family income of $66,203 per year.

Mel Wilson, broker and owner of Mel Wilson & Associates Realtors in Northridge, said it’s difficult for middle-class families to even rent in the central part of the county.

“Many families are spending 50 to 60 percent of their income on housing alone,” Wilson said recently.

On the plus side, the WalletHub report shows California leads the nation in the work/life balance category. It also has the second-highest life expectancy (78.6 years) among working men, topped only by Minnesota. The state ranked 16th in overall health among working men.

California and Nevada are tied in third place for the lowest average length of a workday (eight hours) for working men. They were topped by Oregon and Rhode Island, which both landed in first place.

Jordan Levine, a senior economist with the California Association of Realtors, attributes the Golden State’s high work/life balance and high life expectancy to a couple of factors.

“There is a lifestyle here where you can be outdoors a lot more than in other parts of the country — plus, folks are generally more health conscious out here,” he said.

Levine noted, however, the region’s limited housing supply and resulting high prices have created a barrier for many looking to buy homes.

“California is still the place to be,” he said. “We have a great climate and lots of crowd-pleasing attractions. But our housing supply means it’s very difficult to afford to be here. That’s where the sticking point is.”

A BizFed poll released last month shows that taxes, fees, government regulations and compliance remain the top concerns for Los Angeles County businesses. But housing costs and homelessness have vaulted high into the mix.