We researched and analyzed all 50 States Ranked Best to Worst in 2024.
We carefully ranked all 50 states from #1 to #50, according to the averages of the following 8 criteria (in order): #1. Home values, #2. Overall affordability, #3. Unemployment rate, #4. Strength of economy, #5. Quality of life, #6. Climate & weather, #7. Quality of education, and #8. Safety & crime rates.
Okay, let’s explore the U.S. states ranked from best to worst.
Table of Contents
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Key Findings of Our Research:
- Virginia is the best state to live in for 2024
- Alaska is the worst state to live in right now
- West Virginia is the cheapest state to live in
- Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in
- New York is the best state for overall quality of life
- Alaska is the worst state for overall quality of life
List of All 50 States Ranked Best to Worst [2024]
Here’s a list of the best and worst states to live in right now, ranked from #1 to #50:
- Virginia
- Florida
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Wisconsin
- Kansas
- New Hampshire
- Idaho
- Utah
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- Georgia
- Vermont
- Nebraska
- Alabama
- Pennsylvania
- Indiana
- South Dakota
- Maryland
- Montana
- West Virginia
- North Carolina
- Michigan
- Wyoming
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- Mississippi
- Hawaii
- South Carolina
- Washington
- Illinois
- Arizona
- Texas
- Kentucky
- Connecticut
- California
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Oregon
- Louisiana
- Delaware
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Alaska
Our Research and Analysis for All 50 States
Here’s a detailed analysis of the 50 U.S. states ranked according to the 8 criteria that matter most.
Note: The lower the value the better.
Overall Rank | State | Home Values | Overall Affordability | Unemployment Rate | Strength of Economy | Quality of Life | Climate & Weather | Quality of Education | Safety & Crime Rates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Virginia | 30 | 16 | 10 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 8 |
2 | Florida | 33 | 33 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 20 |
3 | Iowa | 7 | 20 | 15 | 27 | 16 | 37 | 11 | 18 |
4 | Massachusetts | 48 | 44 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 36 | 1 | 2 |
5 | Wisconsin | 19 | 32 | 13 | 24 | 14 | 42 | 8 | 12 |
6 | Kansas | 8 | 25 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 27 | 33 |
7 | New Hampshire | 42 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 43 | 2 | 1 |
8 | Idaho | 39 | 13 | 20 | 7 | 23 | 39 | 26 | 4 |
9 | Utah | 45 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 32 | 6 | 39 |
10 | Maine | 32 | 35 | 8 | 9 | 28 | 47 | 13 | 3 |
11 | Minnesota | 26 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 48 | 9 | 29 |
12 | Missouri | 13 | 4 | 15 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 34 | 41 |
13 | North Dakota | 14 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 36 | 49 | 15 | 30 |
14 | Georgia | 24 | 17 | 29 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 40 | 26 |
15 | Vermont | 34 | 43 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 45 | 3 | 6 |
16 | Nebraska | 16 | 31 | 5 | 26 | 32 | 30 | 20 | 23 |
17 | Alabama | 10 | 1 | 7 | 41 | 41 | 7 | 46 | 33 |
18 | Pennsylvania | 17 | 30 | 36 | 35 | 3 | 31 | 22 | 17 |
19 | Indiana | 11 | 3 | 30 | 42 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 21 |
20 | South Dakota | 21 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 41 | 31 | 27 |
21 | Maryland | 35 | 38 | 2 | 36 | 34 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
22 | Montana | 40 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 29 | 44 | 16 | 31 |
23 | West Virginia | 1 | 2 | 33 | 45 | 43 | 22 | 45 | 9 |
24 | North Carolina | 25 | 18 | 30 | 31 | 17 | 13 | 32 | 35 |
25 | Michigan | 12 | 14 | 37 | 46 | 12 | 38 | 33 | 11 |
26 | Wyoming | 27 | 10 | 24 | 17 | 39 | 46 | 28 | 14 |
27 | Arkansas | 4 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 48 | 12 | 43 | 46 |
28 | Oklahoma | 3 | 15 | 15 | 37 | 35 | 11 | 49 | 45 |
29 | Ohio | 9 | 23 | 30 | 49 | 15 | 28 | 37 | 22 |
30 | Tennessee | 23 | 8 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 14 | 36 | 43 |
31 | Colorado | 46 | 28 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 40 | 10 | 48 |
32 | New Jersey | 43 | 48 | 44 | 33 | 11 | 24 | 7 | 5 |
33 | Mississippi | 2 | 7 | 24 | 50 | 49 | 6 | 50 | 28 |
34 | Hawaii | 50 | 49 | 20 | 13 | 42 | 1 | 4 | 38 |
35 | South Carolina | 18 | 12 | 27 | 34 | 26 | 9 | 44 | 47 |
36 | Washington | 47 | 37 | 37 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 12 | 44 |
37 | Illinois | 15 | 36 | 46 | 48 | 4 | 26 | 29 | 15 |
38 | Arizona | 37 | 24 | 37 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 41 | 37 |
39 | Texas | 22 | 34 | 47 | 32 | 9 | 5 | 38 | 36 |
40 | Kentucky | 6 | 9 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 16 | 42 | 19 |
41 | Connecticut | 31 | 45 | 37 | 43 | 20 | 34 | 5 | 13 |
42 | California | 49 | 50 | 49 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 25 | 32 |
43 | New York | 41 | 47 | 44 | 28 | 1 | 35 | 23 | 10 |
44 | Rhode Island | 38 | 46 | 20 | 23 | 44 | 33 | 19 | 7 |
45 | Oregon | 44 | 41 | 33 | 15 | 13 | 27 | 24 | 42 |
46 | Louisiana | 5 | 19 | 33 | 47 | 38 | 3 | 48 | 49 |
47 | Delaware | 29 | 21 | 47 | 38 | 47 | 21 | 21 | 25 |
48 | New Mexico | 20 | 26 | 37 | 25 | 31 | 23 | 47 | 50 |
49 | Nevada | 36 | 39 | 50 | 40 | 21 | 15 | 39 | 24 |
50 | Alaska | 28 | 42 | 42 | 18 | 50 | 50 | 35 | 40 |
Sources:
We used the following source data to calculate the average rankings for all 50 states across each of the 8 categories: #1. Home values, #2. Overall affordability, #3. Unemployment rate, #4. Strength of economy, #5. Quality of life, #6. Climate & weather, #7. Quality of education, and #8. Safety & crime rates.
About the Author
Brian Reese is a senior advisor and co-owner at District Lending. He is one of the world’s leading experts in veteran benefits, having helped millions of veterans secure their financial future since 2013. Brian is the founder VA Claims Insider, an education-based Coaching & Consulting company whose mission is to educate and empower veterans to get the VA disability benefits they’ve earned for their honorable service. A former active-duty air force officer, Brian deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is a distinguished graduate of management of the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA as a National Honor Scholar from the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University.
In Brian’s Words:
“As a military veteran, I’ve made it my life’s mission to help people live happier and wealthier lives. District Lending brings this mission to life. We believe in integrity, honesty, and transparency, which is why you’ll see our rates right on our website. You’ll find lower rates and zero lending fees, which means you can buy your dream home for less. The savings are passed on to you — the way it should be.”
– Brian Reese, Advisor and Co-Owner, District Lending