The States With The Best Quality Of Life—According To Data

May 1, 2026 | Jesse Singer

The States With The Best Quality Of Life—According To Data

The State Of Quality

Every year, U.S. News & World Report releases its ranking of the “Best States to Live In”—and one of the biggest pieces of that puzzle is something called “Quality of Life.” But that score isn’t based on just one thing. Instead, it pulls from a mix of factors, grouped into four key categories: Affordability, Economy, Health and Education, and Safety. Together, these categories paint a broader picture of what day-to-day life actually looks like in each state. Here’s a closer look at how those rankings come together:

Healthcare: Quality, and affordability of healthcare, obesity rates, etc.

Education: Public school performance, graduation rates, tuition costs, etc.

Economy: GDP growth, migration to the state, new business, etc.

Infrastructure: Transportation availability, road quality, communications, etc.

Opportunity: Poverty rates, cost of living, housing costs, etc.

Fiscal Stability: Health of the government’s finances, how well the state balances its budget, etc.

Crime and Corrections: Public safety, prison systems and their populations, etc.

Natural Environment: Air quality, water quality, exposure to pollution etc.

Now, onto the rankings...(we'll go from lowest to highest quality of life scores)

Antoni Shkraba Studio, www.pexels.com

50: Louisiana

SCORE: 41.3

Affordability Rank: 23

Economy Rank: 50

Education & Health Rank: 48

Safety Rank: 44

Skyline of Shreveport, municipality in Louisiana Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

49: New Mexico

SCORE: 41.8

Affordability Rank: 25

Economy Rank: 26

Education & Health Rank: 47

Safety Rank: 49

Albuquerque and Interstate 25 in New Mexico, USA Sahmeditor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

48: Arkansas

SCORE: 43.3

Affordability Rank: 8

Economy Rank: 45

Education & Health Rank: 42

Safety Rank: 46

Historic downtown in Rogers, Arkansas Law7833, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

47: Alaska

SCORE: 43.4

Affordability Rank: 42

Economy Rank: 9

Education & Health Rank: 37

Safety Rank: 43

Aerial view of Juneau, Alaska's capital Ehedaya, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

46: Nevada

SCORE: 44.1

Affordability Rank: 39

Economy Rank: 46

Education & Health Rank: 43

Safety Rank: 37

Street view near city hall, Mesquite, Nevada Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

45: Mississippi

SCORE: 44.6

Affordability Rank: 9

Economy Rank: 44

Education & Health Rank: 49

Safety Rank: 21

An aerial view of the Mississippi Aquarium in 2022 Kaotate, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

44: Oklahoma

SCORE: 45.2

Affordability Rank: 19

Economy Rank: 34

Education & Health Rank: 50

Safety Rank: 33

Tulsa Skyline Aerial View in April 2023 Nils Huenerfuerst, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

43: South Carolina

SCORE: 46.9

Affordability Rank: 10

Economy Rank: 38

Education & Health Rank: 40

Safety Rank: 45

Broad Street located in Charleston, South Carolina Khanrak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

42: Oregon

SCORE: 47.5

Affordability Rank: 41

Economy Rank: 28

Education & Health Rank: 26

Safety Rank: 47

Downtown Salem, Oregon from top of Oregon State Capitol M.O. Stevens, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

41: Arizona

SCORE: 48.1

Affordability Rank: 22

Economy Rank: 21

Education & Health Rank: 44

Safety Rank: 40

Downtown Phoenix Aerial Looking Northeast DPPed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

40: West Virginia

SCORE: 48.1

Affordability Rank: 2

Economy Rank: 40

Education & Health Rank: 45

Safety Rank: 23

Kanawha Street in downtown Beckley, West Virginia Tim Kiser (Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

39: Hawaii

SCORE: 48.5

Affordability Rank: 50

Economy Rank: 12

Education & Health Rank: 6

Safety Rank: 42

Downtown Honolulu and the Hawaii State Capitol ArdentArbitration, Wikimedia Commons

38: Alabama

SCORE: 48.5

Affordability Rank: 1

Economy Rank: 39

Education & Health Rank: 46

Safety Rank: 25

Birmingham, Alabama Cityscape View in 2010 Polk540, Wikimedia Commons

37: Kentucky

SCORE: 49

Affordability Rank: 11

Economy Rank: 48

Education & Health Rank: 34

Safety Rank: 20

Covington skyline viewed from Devou Park EEJCC, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

36: Texas

SCORE: 49.2

Affordability Rank: 34

Economy Rank: 36

Education & Health Rank: 38

Safety Rank: 34

Downtown Skyline From The Design District in Dallas 75316serk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

35: Washington

SCORE: 49.8

Affordability Rank: 36

Economy Rank: 10

Education & Health Rank: 13

Safety Rank: 50

Drone view of Bellevue, Washington State, USA Spicypepper999, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

34: Delaware

SCORE: 50.7

Affordability Rank: 5

Economy Rank: 27

Education & Health Rank: 39

Safety Rank: 32

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Wilmington, Delaware Alevision 2020, Adobe Stock

33: Tennessee

SCORE: 51

Affordability Rank: 5

Economy Rank: 27

Education & Health Rank: 39

Safety Rank: 32

Downtown Chattanooga, viewed from Lookout Mountain Thomsonmg2000, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

32: Michigan

SCORE: 51.2

Affordability Rank: 15

Economy Rank: 42

Education & Health Rank: 35

Safety Rank: 35

Skyline of Detroit, Michigan, United States Michael Tighe, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

31: Missouri

SCORE: 51.4

Affordability Rank: 7

Economy Rank: 31

Education & Health Rank: 29

Safety Rank: 41

Lee's Summit Downtown Historic Distric Glenn Kinyon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

30: Ohio

SCORE: 51.7

Affordability Rank: 24

Economy Rank: 47

Education & Health Rank: 36

Safety Rank: 18

Downtown Columbus View From Main St Bridge Paul Wasneski, Wikimedia Commons

29: California

SCORE: 51.8

Affordability Rank: 49

Economy Rank: 17

Education & Health Rank: 20

Safety Rank: 39

Sacramento, California skyline in 2023 Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

28: Rhode Island

SCORE: 52

Affordability Rank: 45

Economy Rank: 14

Education & Health Rank: 23

Safety Rank: 8

Jamestown and Newport bridges. Gary Brownell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

27: Indiana

SCORE: 52

Affordability Rank: 4

Economy Rank: 43

Education & Health Rank: 32

Safety Rank: 22

Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington, Indiana Yahala, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

26: Maryland

SCORE: 52.2

Affordability Rank: 38

Economy Rank: 37

Education & Health Rank: 16

Safety Rank: 17

Aerial photograph of Frederick, Maryland's city hall Matthew Binebrink, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

25: Georgia

SCORE: 52.5

Affordability Rank: 14

Economy Rank: 19

Education & Health Rank: 41

Safety Rank: 19

The World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta, Georgia Allenman12, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

24: Nebraska

SCORE: 53.1

Affordability Rank: 33

Economy Rank: 29

Education & Health Rank: 17

Safety Rank: 30

The downtown skyline in Omaha, Nebraska Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

23: North Carolina

SCORE: 53.1

Affordability Rank: 17

Economy Rank: 16

Education & Health Rank: 33

Safety Rank: 38

Fayetteville Street In Downtown Raleigh Bz3rk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

22: Connecticut

SCORE: 53.4

Affordability Rank: 46

Economy Rank: 33

Education & Health Rank: 3

Safety Rank: 14

Shoreline of West Haven, CT along Ocean Avenue PostMan1107, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

21: Colorado

SCORE: 53.8

Affordability Rank: 28

Economy Rank: 8

Education & Health Rank: 7

Safety Rank: 48

Aerial image of Arvada, Colorado Mvanderkolk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

20: Kansas

SCORE: 53.9

Affordability Rank: 27

Economy Rank: 18

Education & Health Rank: 27

Safety Rank: 28

Wichita, Kansas skyline aerial view Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

19: Vermont

SCORE: 54.5

Affordability Rank: 43

Economy Rank: 1

Education & Health Rank: 5

Safety Rank: 26

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

18: South Dakota

SCORE: 54.9

Affordability Rank: 20

Economy Rank: 7

Education & Health Rank: 30

Safety Rank: 16

Rapid City, South Dakota, taken from Hillcrest Drive WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

17: North Dakota

SCORE: 55

Affordability Rank: 31

Economy Rank: 4

Education & Health Rank: 21

Safety Rank: 24

Overlooking downtown Fargo, North Dakota, USA, looking east Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

16: Illinois

SCORE: 55.6

Affordability Rank: 37

Economy Rank: 49

Education & Health Rank: 22

Safety Rank: 6

Chicago skyline from Cellular Field Andrew Horne, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

15: Montana

SCORE: 56

Affordability Rank: 26

Economy Rank: 3

Education & Health Rank: 10

Safety Rank: 36

Downtown Anaconda, Montana looking North Mark Holloway, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

14: Maine

SCORE: 56.5

Affordability Rank: 35

Economy Rank: 5

Education & Health Rank: 14

Safety Rank: 13

Skyline of Bangor in August 2017 Vasiliymeshko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

13: Minnesota

SCORE: 57.4

Affordability Rank: 13

Economy Rank: 30

Education & Health Rank: 11

Safety Rank: 29

Aerial View of Rochester, Minnesota Skyline Wikideas1, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

12: Iowa

SCORE: 57.5

Affordability Rank: 21

Economy Rank: 32

Education & Health Rank: 15

Safety Rank: 12

Des Moines Skyline From East Walnut Street Bohao Zhao, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

11: Virginia

SCORE: 57.9

Affordability Rank: 18

Economy Rank: 20

Education & Health Rank: 12

Safety Rank: 15

Virginia Beach Boardwalk At 29Th Street Looking North Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

10: Wyoming

SCORE: 58

Affordability Rank: 12

Economy Rank: 22

Education & Health Rank: 28

Safety Rank: 2

Gillette, Wyoming Seen From Overlook Park Mr. Satterly, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

9: New York

SCORE: 58.2

Affordability Rank: 47

Economy Rank: 24

Education & Health Rank: 18

Safety Rank: 5

View of the Empire State Building in New York City Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

8: Wisconsin

SCORE: 58.2

Affordability Rank: 32

Economy Rank: 23

Education & Health Rank: 8

Safety Rank: 11

Aerial View of Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin Isaac Rowlett, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

7: Pennsylvania

SCORE: 58.3

Affordability Rank: 29

Economy Rank: 41

Education & Health Rank: 19

Safety Rank: 9

View of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from the top Derek.cashman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

6: Idaho

SCORE: 58.8

Affordability Rank: 6

Economy Rank: 6

Education & Health Rank: 31

Safety Rank: 4

Multifamily residential apartment buildings in Boise, Idaho Ninzie, Shutterstock

5: New Hampshire

SCORE: 59.1

Affordability Rank: 40

Economy Rank: 2

Education & Health Rank: 2

Safety Rank: 3

Aerial view of Manchester, New Hampshire Mikespenard, Wikimedia Commons

4: Utah

SCORE: 59.6

Affordability Rank: 3

Economy Rank: 13

Education & Health Rank: 4

Safety Rank: 27

A view of Downtown Provo, Utah Javin Weaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

3: New Jersey

SCORE: 59.6

Affordability Rank: 48

Economy Rank: 25

Education & Health Rank: 9

Safety Rank: 1

The Jersey City skyline seen from Battery Park City Kidfly182, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

2: Florida

SCORE: 59.8

Affordability Rank: 30

Economy Rank: 11

Education & Health Rank: 24

Safety Rank: 10

High-rises in Orlando from Lake Eola Park Benoît Prieur, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

1: Massachusetts

SCORE: 60.5

Affordability Rank: 44

Economy Rank: 15

Education & Health Rank: 1

Safety Rank: 7

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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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The States With The Best Quality Of Life—According To Data

The States With The Best Quality Of Life—According To Data

The State Of Quality

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

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