These Are the Best States to Live in, According to WalletHub

Morgan Noll

The 2023 list was determined by factors like affordability, quality of life, and safety.

When it comes to picking a vacation spot, dream destinations are subjective—some people prefer mountains to beaches or big cities to more rural areas. However, when it comes to selecting a place to live, there are a number of factors that can determine how easy (or difficult) it is to create a comfortable life somewhere. This can include things like housing costs, access to schools and healthcare, and more. WalletHub took into account these factors and more when determining its 2023 list of the best states in America to live in.

WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 51 key indicators of livability across five main categories: 1) affordability, 2) economy, 3) education and health, 4) quality of life, and 5) safety. Each indicator of livability was given a point value of different weights to help determine a state's overall "score." For example, "cost of living" was weighted the highest, at around 8.89 points, while "movie theaters per capita" was weighted the lowest, at around .47 points. (You can find out more about WalletHub's methodology here.)

Below are the 2023 best states to live in, according to WalletHub. However, it's important to keep in mind that this list is just one analysis. When determining where to live, the most important factors to consider can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances, Alan Weinstein, professor emeritus at Cleveland State University, says.

“For an older retiree, quality or cost of health care, cost of housing for older persons, and local or state tax treatment of retirement income could be most important," Weinstein says. "For a young family, employment opportunities, housing costs, tax rates on income and housing, and costs for public colleges might be enough.”

Keep reading for WalletHub's ranking of the best states to live in America this year.

Related: These Are the 10 U.S. Cities Where Rental Prices Are Dropping the Most

2023 Best States to Live In

  1. Massachusetts

  2. New Jersey

  3. New Hampshire

  4. New York

  5. Wyoming

  6. Florida

  7. Virginia

  8. Idaho

  9. Wisconsin

  10. Minnesota

  11. Iowa

  12. Maine

  13. Illinois

  14. Pennsylvania

  15. Utah

  16. North Dakota

  17. Vermont

  18. Colorado

  19. Montana

  20. Kansas

Livability Statistics

WalletHub used 51 different indicators of livability—including housing affordability, weather, unemployment rate, quality of public school system, and more. Below are just a few snapshots of findings based on some of those livability factors, and which states scored the best and worst.

Crimes

Maine has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), 1.09, which is 7.7 times less than in Alaska, the state with the most at 8.38.

Poverty

New Hampshire has the lowest share of residents living in poverty, 7.40 percent, which is 2.6 times lower than in Mississippi, the state with the highest at 19.40 percent.

Commute Time

South Dakota has the shortest average commute time, 17 minutes, which is two times shorter than in New York, the state with the longest at 34 minutes.

Road Quality

Tennessee has the highest quality of roads and scored is 5.4 times higher than in Rhode Island, the state with the lowest quality of roads.

Related: These Are the Happiest States in the U.S., Study Finds

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