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

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 Capitol Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Mexico MARELBU, 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 Arkansas E4 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 background Alan Wu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Dusk Stephen 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 dusk Sean 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 City Urbanative, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Quarter Sean 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, Oregon Klara_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 point John, Adobe Stock

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 Virginia F 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, Hawaii Tyler 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, Alabama DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 point Christopher 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, Texas Yinan 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 Hill Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Dover Tim 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 boat Antony-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, Ontario Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 night Daniel 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 point Francis, 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 2022 Noah Friedlander, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 2008 Kenneth 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 Indianapolis tpsdave, 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, USA high limitzz, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 View Paul 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 Haymarket Hanyou23, 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 Carolina Wirestock, Adobe Stock

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 west John9474, 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, Colorado Jguy10218, 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 Morning Jacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

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 Burlington Sdkb, 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 Sunset Jacob 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 Summer Jacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

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 Tower Andrew 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, USA tyler 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-295 Tye dye 9205, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Air Tony 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, Iowa Iowahwyman, 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 point mandritoiu, Adobe Stock

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 Cheyenne Bradlyons, 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 States Nout 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, USA Isaac Rowlett, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 Pittsburgh Bobak, 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, Idaho Charles 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, USA Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 bridge Invictus323, 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 day Ken 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 view Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB, Shutterstock

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 Massachusetts Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock

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February 3, 2025

AUTHOR

Jesse Singer

Jesse Singer is a writer from Montreal who grew up obsessed with movies—and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store (remember those?). He followed that up with months backpacking around Europe (a continent he’s returned to many times). And for the last couple decades he’s been writing online, and in print, for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film & TV to website reviews, dating & culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats—which is ironic, because he loves wearing hats and has a rather sizable collection.

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

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

Living Your Best Life?

50: Louisiana

49: New Mexico

48: Arkansas

47: Alaska

46: Nevada

45: Mississippi

44: Oklahoma

43: South Carolina

42: Oregon

41: Arizona

40: West Virginia

39: Hawaii

38: Alabama

37: Kentucky

36: Texas

35: Washington

34: Delaware

33: Tennessee

32: Michigan

31: Missouri

30: Ohio

29: California

28: Rhode Island

27: Indiana

26: Maryland

25: Georgia

24: Nebraska

23: North Carolina

22: Connecticut

21: Colorado

20: Kansas

19: Vermont

18: South Dakota

17: North Dakota

16: Illinois

15: Montana

14: Maine

13: Minnesota

12: Iowa

11: Virginia

10: Wyoming

9: New York

8: Wisconsin

7: Pennsylvania

6: Idaho

5: New Hampshire

4: Utah

3: New Jersey

2: Florida

1: Massachusetts

READ MORE

Everyone Should See These Places, But It's About To Get A Lot Harder To Visit Them

Archaeologists in Iraq discovered statues and wall carvings in the ancient city of Nineveh that display the lost grandeur of the Assyrian Empire.

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A 2022 survey uncovered primitive rock drawings near Aswan, Egypt that archaeologists now believe depict the first image of a proto-Pharaoh.

Archaeologists in Iran discovered the ruins of the third largest Persian fire temple, proof of the surprising reach of the ancient Sassanid Empire.

The Countries With The Best Pension Systems—According To Data

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