Indiana State

Alabama State

Ever wondered how different states fare when it comes to quality of life? From bustling cities to serene countryside, the United States offers a diverse range of living experiences. However, not all regions enjoy the same prosperity and comfort. Delving into the data, we’ve uncovered the 21 states facing significant challenges, from economic woes to social issues.

15 U.S. States Living in the Past

California State

Hawaii State

USA TODAY

The average U.S. household spends $2,126 a month on the 10 most common household bills, or $25,513 annually. In the most expensive state it's more like $37,000 annually.

California, Massachusetts or Hawaii? Which state has the highest cost of living?

Louisiana State

NewsNation

The report compared 50 states across dozens of livability factors.

Best and worst states to live in the US, according to WalletHub

Wisconsin State

Planning to move when you retire? From both a financial and soul-filling standpoint, a retirement move could be the best idea or your worst regret. Drawing insights from diverse sources, The Motley Fool ranked all 50 states from the worst to best places for retirement. Analyzing Retirement States. The Motley...

The Best and Worst States for Retirement, Ranked

New Jersey State

Upworthy

Public discourse about minimum wage and living wages has been ongoing for years, with people debating whether the government should mandate a minimum hourly pay for workers.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the first federal minimum wage law in 1938, setting the lowest wage a worker could be paid at 25 cents per hour. Nearly a century later, the federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr, holding steady since 2009, with people lobbying to raise it to at least $15/hr for over a decade. However, in addition to federal law, each state has its own laws, a handful of which establish a state minimum wage higher than $15, a handful of which don't have a set minimum wage at all and everything in between.Cost of living has also been a hot topic as inflation has squeezed everyone's wallets and certain cities and states have become utterly unaffordable, especially for people in low-wage jobs or who who are just starting out in their careers. So how do minimum wage and cost of living correlate state-by-state? Are there any sweet spots with a high(er) minimum wage and low(er) cost of living? 

6 states where the minimum wage and cost of living offer the best bang for your buck

South Carolina State

Stephanie Tanner’s iconic “How rude!” line from the 1987 sitcom Full House is a phrase that some Americans use more than they’d like to. According to data by Zippia, while some states are brimming with kindness, others could definitely use a crash course in basic manners.

The Rudest States in America Ranked From 1 to 50

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

KFI AM 640

This is the absolute safest city to live in California!

California Destination Named 'Safest' Place To Live In The Entire State

Mississippi State

Black Enterprise

New Mexico came out on top of a list highlighting the states with the highest poverty rates throughout the U.S. New Mexico was ranked first on a list highlighting the states with the highest poverty rates in the U.S. The southwestern state boasted the highest score of 18.2% on a...

New Mexico, Mississippi, And Louisiana Top List of US States With Highest Poverty Rates

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided. Americans who are thinking of relocating to another state have a lot to consider before loading the moving van because each has its own benefits and disadvantages. A new study from the personal finance website WalletHub finds that some states...

12 Most Livable States: 2024

FinanceBuzz

If you live in any of these states, your car insurance bill may be through the roof. Here are the 15 states where you'll pay the most for your car insurance.

15 States Where Car Insurance Costs the Most (Is Yours on the List?)

Los Angeles County, CA

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Herbie J Pilato

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the commentary and quotes in this article are from the author's interview with those mentioned.]. Elizabeth Montgomery was one of the most popular actors from the 1950s to her unfortunate passing from cancer in 1995. Before, during, and after her benchmark Emmy-nominated role as twitch-witch Samantha Stephens on TV's Bewitched (ABC, 1964-1972), Montgomery made over 200 additional appearances in other weekly shows, TV-movies, and feature films.

'Bewitched' Star Elizabeth Montgomery Received Death Threats for Protesting the Vietnam War

GOBankingRates

Living on Social Security isn't easy, especially when the average retirement benefits check is around $1,870 a month. And with costs rising everywhere, making that money stretch can feel like a...

8 Home Expenses To Cut While on Social Security

A new analysis from Zillow reveals how much prices have skyrocketed and how much you need to earn to buy a home in 2024.

Can You Afford a Home in These 10 Cities?

West Virginia State

Curious about the cost of renting? We've broken down the hourly earnings you'll need to comfortably tackle rent expenses in each state,

Here’s How Much You Need To Earn per Hour To Afford Rent in Every State

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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A Dime Saved

As inflation tightens its grip, experts believe the middle class will find it challenging to cover essential expenses such as healthcare, college fees, and housing. The U.S. Labor Department revealed that the annual inflation rate was 3.5% for the year ending in March, higher than the previous rate of 3.2%.

13 Basic Necessities Middle-Class Americans Cannot Afford Anymore Due to Inflation

Research from The Senior Citizens League shows that Social Security benefits have lost 20% of their purchasing power since 2010. Social Security benefits may lose buying power again in 2025 because COLAs are based on the CPI-W, which measures inflation based on the spending patterns of workers. Many experts believe...

Social Security's 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) May Do Something It Hasn't Done Since 2021

Business Insider

Many housing experts, including Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather, say the nation's inadequate housing supply is the real culprit.

JD Vance said migrants are the reason it's so expensive to rent or buy homes. He's wrong.

Los Angeles, CA

Adam Rich was born on October 12, 1968, lived a troubled life, and died on January 7, 2023, at only 54 years old. This is his story. He lived in the Granada Hills area of Los Angeles with his parents and younger brother. The Rich family resided for a time in Florida where Adam studied acting at the local gym.

A Look Back at the Tragic Life and Death of Former Child Star Adam Rich (TV's 'Eight is Enough')

The U.S. middle class has long been a symbol of American prosperity, a promise that freedom, opportunity and hard work will provide your family a reasonably comfortable life, even if you don't strike it rich. In the past, an average middle class family could presumably afford to buy a modest home and take the family on fun-but-not-extravagant vacations. Not living luxuriously, but easily affording the basics, building up some savings and enjoying a little wiggle room in the budget for occasional extras. A nice, secure life.But the reality of the middle class has shifted over the decades. Not only is...

How much money do you need to make to be considered 'middle class' in the U.S.?

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WyoFile

The woman who shot a video of a hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning told WyoFile she and her family were terrified as the blast sent boiling water and rocks skyward, destroying parts of a boardwalk, its guardrail and a nearby bench.

Yellowstone hydrothermal explosion: ‘We were terrified’

NewsBreak

25 least expensive states to live in

Over the last three decades, the rising cost of living has been weighing on Americans. The situation became even more dire in the wake of the...

25 least expensive states to live in

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