Measured by 51 key quality of life indicators, these are the best – and worst – states in the US to call home in 2024.
Private financial website WalletHub released its “Most Livable States 2024” report earlier this week, which took into account factors such as housing costs, income growth, hospital quality, education attainment, average weekly work hours and average commute time to determine where in America the quality of life is highest.
In the final count, Massachusetts received gold and Louisiana came last.
“Massachusetts is the most livable state, due in large part to its strong healthcare system and high-quality education system,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe, commenting on how the crown winner came in first place.
“Massachusetts has the lowest premature death rate in the country and the lowest proportion of adults in fair or poor health. The Bay State also ranks first in the nation in the quality of its school system. In addition, Massachusetts has the third-highest median household income at over $94,000,” Happe noted.
Louisiana, on the other hand, performed poorly in all areas, ranking 23rd in affordability, 44th in safety, 48th in education and health, and 50th in the economy.
In second place was Florida, which currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
New Jersey, which has the third-highest median household income in the nation (over $96,000), beat out many potential competitors to take third place. Hunterdon County in the Garden State was recently named one of the healthiest places to live in America, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Utah, meanwhile, finished fourth and New Hampshire completed the top five.
Further back, New York made it into the top ten with ninth place.
The Empire State had to overcome a miserable 47th place ranking in affordability and an average 24th place in economy. Respectable results in education and health (18th place) and a safety index of 5th place helped a lot.
Popular destinations like Texas and South Carolina fared poorly in the rankings, coming in at 36th and 43rd, respectively.
Overall, the results are a useful tool for those who want to move within the United States, say the experts interviewed by the news agency.
“We need to be aware that there are more and more people who are geographically flexible and are choosing their location based on a variety of local factors,” said Dr. Randal Ice, professor emeritus at the University of Central Oklahoma, adding that while regional taxes should be considered, they are only one aspect of it.
“Quality of life plays a role in where people want to settle. Countries should consider these factors when offering services to their residents and act accordingly. It is a very competitive world for the best and the brightest,” Ice said.
The 5 Best States to Live in 2024
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- New Jersey
- Utah
- New Hampshire
