February 3, 2025 | Jesse Singer

Ranking The Best And Worst States To Live In—According To Data


Living Your Best Life?

Do you love your state? Do you think it's the best state to live in in the country? Well, according to WalletHub, there is a BEST state to live in and a WORST—and 48 in between. So, let's check 'em out.

If you're curious about the methodology:

The rankings were determined based on a state's scores in five key categories: 

Affordability: Cost of living, Median Annual Household Income, Housing Affordability

Economy: Unemployment rate, Population Growth, Wealth Gap, Job Opportunities

Education & Health: Quality of Public Schools, Quality of Public Hospital System, Life Expectancy

Quality of Life: Average Hours Worked per Week, Access to Public Transportation, Weather

Safety: Violent and Property crime rate, Total Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita

Okay, now let's see the ranking from worst to best...

Best Worst States Live In L

50: Louisiana

Total Score: 41.31

Affordability Rank: 23

Economy Rank: 50

Education & Health Rank: 48

Quality of Life Rank: 37

Safety Rank: 44

Downtown Baton Rouge from Louisiana State CapitolSpatms, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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49: New Mexico

Total Score: 41.81

Affordability Rank: 25

Economy Rank: 26

Education & Health Rank: 47

Quality of Life Rank: 31

Safety Rank: 49

Colorful Courtyard in Albuquerque, New MexicoMARELBU, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

48: Arkansas

Total Score: 43.26

Affordability Rank: 8

Economy Rank: 45

Education & Health Rank: 42

Quality of Life Rank: 47

Safety Rank: 46

William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands in ArkansasE4 PLUS, Shutterstock

47: Alaska

Total Score: 43.41

Affordability Rank: 42

Economy Rank: 9

Education & Health Rank: 37

Quality of Life Rank: 50

Safety Rank: 43

Downtown Juneau with Mount Juneau rising in the backgroundAlan Wu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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46: Nevada

Total Score: 44.06

Affordability Rank: 39

Economy Rank: 46

Education & Health Rank: 43

Quality of Life Rank: 22

Safety Rank: 37

Las Vegas Illuminated at DuskStephen Leonardi, Pexels

45: Mississippi

Total Score: 44.56

Affordability Rank: 9

Economy Rank: 44

Education & Health Rank: 49

Quality of Life Rank: 49

Safety Rank: 21

Jackson, Mississippi, USA cityscape at duskSean Pavone, Shutterstock

44: Oklahoma

Total Score: 45.21

Affordability Rank: 19

Economy Rank: 34

Education & Health Rank: 50

Quality of Life Rank: 35

Safety Rank: 33

Looking north towards downtown Oklahoma CityUrbanative, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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43: South Carolina

Total Score: 46.94

Affordability Rank: 10

Economy Rank: 38

Education & Health Rank: 40

Quality of Life Rank: 27

Safety Rank: 45

Charleston, South Carolina, USA in the French QuarterSean Pavone, Shutterstock

42: Oregon

Total Score: 47.55

Affordability Rank: 41

Economy Rank: 28

Education & Health Rank: 26

Quality of Life Rank: 14

Safety Rank: 47

Cherry blossom tree alley in Salem, OregonKlara_Steffkova, Shutterstock

41: Arizona

Total Score: 48.06

Affordability Rank: 22

Economy Rank: 21

Education & Health Rank: 44

Quality of Life Rank: 23

Safety Rank: 40

Vibrant urban scene of Phoenix, Arizona captured from a high vantage pointJohn, Adobe Stock

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40: West Virginia

Total Score: 48.15

Affordability Rank: 2

Economy Rank: 40

Education & Health Rank: 45

Quality of Life Rank: 43

Safety Rank: 23

The state capitol of Charleston, West VirginiaF McGady, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

39: Hawaii

Total Score: 48.48

Affordability Rank: 50

Economy Rank: 12

Education & Health Rank: 6

Quality of Life Rank: 42

Safety Rank: 42

Skyline besides shore in Honolulu, HawaiiTyler Lastovich, Pexels

38: Alabama

Total Score: 48.55

Affordability Rank: 1

Economy Rank: 39

Education & Health Rank: 46

Quality of Life Rank: 41

Safety Rank: 25

A view of Commerce St, Montgomery, AlabamaDXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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37: Kentucky

Total Score: 49.03

Affordability Rank: 11

Economy Rank: 48

Education & Health Rank: 34

Quality of Life Rank: 46

Safety Rank: 20

Vibrant urban scene of Lexington, Kentucky captured from a high vantage pointChristopher Boswell, Adobe Stock

36: Texas

Total Score: 49.17

Affordability Rank: 34

Economy Rank: 36

Education & Health Rank: 38

Quality of Life Rank: 8

Safety Rank: 34

Aerial view of sunny San Antonio, TexasYinan Chen, Wikimedia Commons

35: Washington

Total Score: 49.75

Affordability Rank: 36

Economy Rank: 10

Education & Health Rank: 13

Quality of Life Rank: 9

Safety Rank: 50

Seattle Skyline view from Queen Anne HillDaniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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34: Delaware

Total Score: 50.74

Affordability Rank: 16

Economy Rank: 35

Education & Health Rank: 25

Quality of Life Rank: 48

Safety Rank: 31

View of Loockerman Street in downtown DoverTim Kiser, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

33: Tennessee

Total Score: 50.97

Affordability Rank: 5

Economy Rank: 27

Education & Health Rank: 39

Quality of Life Rank: 33

Safety Rank: 32

Memphis, Tennessee viewed from a boatAntony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

32: Michigan

Total Score: 51.17

Affordability Rank: 15

Economy Rank: 42

Education & Health Rank: 35

Quality of Life Rank: 10

Safety Rank: 35

Detroit Skyline From Windsor, OntarioWarren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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31: Missouri

Total Score: 51.42

Affordability Rank: 7

Economy Rank: 31

Education & Health Rank: 29

Quality of Life Rank: 24

Safety Rank: 41

St. Louis on the Mississippi river by nightDaniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

30: Ohio

Total Score: 51.71

Affordability Rank: 24

Economy Rank: 47

Education & Health Rank: 36

Quality of Life Rank: 15

Safety Rank: 18

Vibrant urban scene of Cleveland, Ohio captured from a high vantage pointFrancis, Adobe Stock

29: California

Total Score: 51.84

Affordability Rank: 49

Economy Rank: 17

Education & Health Rank: 20

Quality of Life Rank: 2

Safety Rank: 39

San Francisco from the Marin Headlands in August 2022Noah Friedlander, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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28: Rhode Island

Total Score: 51.99

Affordability Rank: 45

Economy Rank: 14

Education & Health Rank: 23

Quality of Life Rank: 44

Safety Rank: 8

Downtown Providence Rhode Island in 2008Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

27: Indiana

Total Score: 52.01

Affordability Rank: 4

Economy Rank: 43

Education & Health Rank: 32

Quality of Life Rank: 26

Safety Rank: 22

Aerial looking east northeast across downtown Indianapolistpsdave, Wikimedia Commons

26: Maryland

Total Score: 52.18

Affordability Rank: 38

Economy Rank: 37

Education & Health Rank: 16

Quality of Life Rank: 34

Safety Rank: 17

Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland, USAhigh limitzz, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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25: Georgia

Total Score: 52.50

Affordability Rank: 14

Economy Rank: 19

Education & Health Rank: 41

Quality of Life Rank: 18

Safety Rank: 19

Atlanta, Georgia Cityscape ViewPaul Brennan, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

24: Nebraska

Total Score: 53.06

Affordability Rank: 33

Economy Rank: 29

Education & Health Rank: 17

Quality of Life Rank: 29

Safety Rank: 30

Aerial view of the old Haymarket and West HaymarketHanyou23, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

23: North Carolina

Total Score: 53.12

Affordability Rank: 17

Economy Rank: 16

Education & Health Rank: 33

Quality of Life Rank: 17

Safety Rank: 38

Aerial view of the city of Greensboro, North CarolinaWirestock, Adobe Stock

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22: Connecticut

Total Score:  53.42 

Affordability Rank: 46

Economy Rank: 33

Education & Health Rank: 3

Quality of Life Rank: 20

Safety Rank: 14

Downtown Stamford, Connecticut Skyline facing westJohn9474, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

21: Colorado

Total Score: 53.76

Affordability Rank: 28

Economy Rank: 8

Education & Health Rank: 7

Quality of Life Rank: 12

Safety Rank: 48

Aerial photo of Highlands Ranch, ColoradoJguy10218, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

20: Kansas

Total Score: 53.92

Affordability Rank: 27

Economy Rank: 18

Education & Health Rank: 27

Quality of Life Rank: 21

Safety Rank: 28

Aerial View of Topeka, Kansas Skyline in the MorningJacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

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19: Vermont

Total Score: 54.52

Affordability Rank: 43

Economy Rank: 1

Education & Health Rank: 5

Quality of Life Rank: 45

Safety Rank: 26

Church Street Marketplace in BurlingtonSdkb, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

18: South Dakota

Total Score: 54.87

Affordability Rank: 20

Economy Rank: 7

Education & Health Rank: 30

Quality of Life Rank: 40

Safety Rank: 16

Aerial View of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at SunsetJacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

17: North Dakota

Total Score: 55.02

Affordability Rank: 31

Economy Rank: 4

Education & Health Rank: 21

Quality of Life Rank: 36

Safety Rank: 24

Aerial View of Bismark, North Dakota during SummerJacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

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16: Illinois

Total Score: 55.63 

Affordability Rank: 37

Economy Rank: 49

Education & Health Rank: 22

Quality of Life Rank: 5

Safety Rank: 6

View of Chicago from Willis TowerAndrew Horne, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

15: Montana

Total Score: 56.02

Affordability Rank: 26

Economy Rank: 3

Education & Health Rank: 10

Quality of Life Rank: 32

Safety Rank: 36

Downtown Bozeman, Montana, USAtyler craft, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

14: Maine

Total Score: 56.52 

Affordability Rank: 35

Economy Rank: 5

Education & Health Rank: 14

Quality of Life Rank: 28

Safety Rank: 13

Portland from above, looking north along I-295Tye dye 9205, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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13: Minnesota

Total Score: 57.43

Affordability Rank: 13

Economy Rank: 30

Education & Health Rank: 11

Quality of Life Rank: 7

Safety Rank: 29

Minneapolis Skyline From The AirTony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

12: Iowa

Total Score: 57.51

Affordability Rank: 21

Economy Rank: 32

Education & Health Rank: 15

Quality of Life Rank: 16

Safety Rank: 12

The East Village in Des Moines, IowaIowahwyman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

11: Virginia

Total Score: 57.93

Affordability Rank: 18

Economy Rank: 20

Education & Health Rank: 12

Quality of Life Rank: 19

Safety Rank: 15

Vibrant urban scene of Richmond, Virginia captured from a high vantage pointmandritoiu, Adobe Stock

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10: Wyoming

Total Score: 57.99 

Affordability Rank: 12

Economy Rank: 22

Education & Health Rank: 28

Quality of Life Rank: 39

Safety Rank: 2

Wyoming State Capitol building in CheyenneBradlyons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

9: New York

Total Score: 58.17

Affordability Rank: 47

Economy Rank: 24

Education & Health Rank: 18

Quality of Life Rank: 1

Safety Rank: 5

A busy street in New York, NY, United StatesNout Gons, Pexels

8: Wisconsin

Total Score: 58.19 

Affordability Rank: 32

Economy Rank: 23

Education & Health Rank: 8

Quality of Life Rank: 13

Safety Rank: 11

Milwaukee Skyline, Wisconsin, USAIsaac Rowlett, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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7: Pennsylvania

Total Score: 58.32

Affordability Rank: 29

Economy Rank: 41

Education & Health Rank: 19

Quality of Life Rank: 3

Safety Rank: 9

Grand View Scenic Byway Park of PittsburghBobak, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

6: Idaho

Total Score: 58.76

Affordability Rank: 6

Economy Rank: 6

Education & Health Rank: 31

Quality of Life Rank: 25

Safety Rank: 4

Colorful balloons over the city of Boise, IdahoCharles Knowles, Shutterstock

5: New Hampshire

Total Score: 59.13

Affordability Rank: 40

Economy Rank: 2

Education & Health Rank: 2

Quality of Life Rank: 38

Safety Rank: 3

Main Street, Nashua, New Hampshire, USAJon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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4: Utah

Total Score: 59.58

Affordability Rank: 3

Economy Rank: 13

Education & Health Rank: 4

Quality of Life Rank: 30

Safety Rank: 27

Salt Lake City skyline view, taken from 1200 N bridgeInvictus323, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

3: New Jersey

Total Score: 59.65

Affordability Rank: 48

Economy Rank: 25

Education & Health Rank: 9

Quality of Life Rank: 11

Safety Rank: 1

Skyline of Jersey City, New Jersey during the dayKen Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2: Florida

Total Score: 59.82

Affordability Rank: 30

Economy Rank: 11

Education & Health Rank: 24

Quality of Life Rank: 4

Safety Rank: 10

Coastline of Miami Beach, aerial viewVolodymyr TVERDOKHLIB, Shutterstock

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1: Massachusetts

Total Score: 60.52

Affordability Rank: 44

Economy Rank: 15

Education & Health Rank: 1

Quality of Life Rank: 6

Safety Rank: 7

An aerial shot of the University of MassachusettsWirestock Creators, Shutterstock


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