Flipboard 2025 Destinations

California’s reputation might be all palm trees and perfect weather—but the data tells a different story. According to the latest 2025 Quality of Life Index, California only ranks 29th in the nation. That means there are 28 states where people statistically live better.

If we asked you what state has been ranked best in the country for the last three years—would you have said Utah? Well, if you answered anything other than Utah you would've been wrong. Because, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best States ranking, the Beehive State is the best of the best in 2025 (a title it also wore in 2023 and 2024).

Sure, every city has its charm—but not all are equally beloved by their residents. In fact, some U.S. cities consistently rank poorly when locals are asked about quality of life, safety, infrastructure, and overall satisfaction.

Think your state takes too much of your paycheck? Or maybe you brag about living in a “low-tax” paradise? Not all taxes are created equal. Some states lean heavily on income taxes, others on sales or property, and a few don’t tax certain things at all.

For generations, a trip from Canada to the United States could feel almost routine, whether it meant Florida sunshine, a weekend in New York, or a quick drive across the border. Then Canadian travel patterns changed sharply, and the latest government data suggest this is much more than a temporary dip. Canadians are still traveling, but a remarkable number of them are choosing somewhere other than the United States.

The Maritimes are only New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador belongs to Atlantic Canada, but not the Maritimes. That distinction matters locally, even if visitors casually lump Canada’s entire eastern coast together.

Americans have no problem telling you what they hate about another state. But ask them to name the best thing about it and suddenly the answers get a lot more interesting. Do you agree?

Most Americans know laws change from state to state. But some differences are so extreme they feel like glitches in the map.