Measured by 51 key livability indicators, these are the best and worst states to call home in the US in 2024.
Personal finance website WalletHub released its 2024 Best of Living report earlier this week, which factors in housing costs, income growth, hospital quality, education level, average work hours per week and average travel time were considered to determine where in America. has the highest quality of life.
The final standings gave Massachusetts the gold medal and Louisiana last place.
Massachusetts is the best state to live in, largely because of its strong health care system and high-quality education, WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe commented on how the crown winner scored the top spot.
Massachusetts has the lowest premature death rate in the nation and the lowest percentage of adults in good or poor health. The Bay State also ranks first in the nation for the quality of its school systems. In addition, Massachusetts has the third-highest median household income, at more than $94,000, Happe noted.
Louisiana, on the other hand, scored poorly across the board, ranking 23rd for affordability, 44th for safety, 48th for education and health, and 50th for the economy.
Florida came in second, currently boasting one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
New Jersey, which boasts the highest median household income statewide (over $96,000), beat out many contenders to take third place. The Garden State’s Hunterdon County was recently ranked as one of the healthiest places to live in America, according to US News & World Report.
Meanwhile, Utah came in fourth, while New Hampshire rounded out the top five.
Below, New York managed to sneak into the top ten, taking ninth place.
The Empire State had to overcome a lowly 47th affordability ranking and an average 24th place for the economy. Respectable results for education and health (18th place) and a fifth place safety score helped a lot.
Popular destinations like Texas and South Carolina fared poorly in the rankings, coming in at No. 36 and No. 43 respectively.
Overall, the findings serve as a useful tool for informing those seeking to relocate within the US, say experts consulted by the media.
Recognize that we are seeing more and more people who are geographically flexible and will choose their location based on a variety of local factors, said Dr. Randal Ice, University of Central Oklahoma Professor Emeritus, adding that while regional taxes should be considered, they are only one attribute.
Quality of life factors play a role in where people want to settle. States should take these factors into account when providing services to their residents and act accordingly. It’s a very competitive world for the best and the brightest,” Ice said.
The 5 best countries to live in 2024
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- New Jersey
- Utah
- New Hampshire
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