Are these really the best states to live in? New York elbows its way into top 10 in surprise ranking

Measured by 51 key indicators of livability, these are the nicest — and lousiest — states to call home in the US in 2024.

Personal-finance website WalletHub released its “ 2024’s Best States to Live In ” report earlier this week, in which factors including housing costs, income growth, hospital quality, education rate, average hours worked per week and average commute time were considered — to determine where in America has the highest quality of life .

The final tabulation gave Massachusetts the gold — and Louisiana last place.

“Massachusetts is the best state to live in, due in large part to its strong health care system and high-quality education,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe commented on how the crown-winner scored the top spot.

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“Massachusetts has the lowest premature death rate in the country and the lowest share of adults in fair 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 over $94,000,” Happe noted.

Louisiana, on the other hand, scored poorly across the board, coming in 23rd for affordability, 44th for safety, 48th for education and health and 50th for economy.

Florida came in at number two, currently bragging one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

New Jersey, which boasts the highest median household income nationwide (over $96,000), bested a lot of would-be contenders to take third place. The Garden State’s Hunterdon County was recently ranked one of the healthiest places to live in America, according to U.S. News & World Report.

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Meanwhile, Utah came in fourth, while New Hampshire rounded out the top five.

Further down, New York managed to squeak into the top ten, taking ninth place.

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The Empire State had to overcome an abysmal affordability rank of 47th and an average 24th place for economy. Respectable scores on education and health (18th place) and a safety score of fifth place helped greatly.

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 looking to relocate within the US, experts consulted by the outlet say.

“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 taken into consideration, they are just one attribute.

“Quality of life factors play a role in where people want to settle. States should consider these factors when providing services to their residents and act accordingly. It is a very competitive world for the best and the brightest,” Ice said.

1. Massachusetts
2. Florida
3. New Jersey
4. Utah
5. New Hampshire

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