The 10 best states to live in, ranked
WalletHub released its 2024 ranking of the best US states to live in.
The study considered metrics like affordability, economy, and safety.
Massachusetts was ranked the No. 1 state to live in.
Sylvester Stallone, Blake Lively, and Amanda Seyfried have more in common than their professions. All three Hollywood A-listers have moved out of California, reflecting a growing trend of people leaving the Golden State.
Business Insider reported last month that "high taxes, expensive home prices, and challenging social and political conditions" are some of the factors influencing recent moves. It should come as little surprise, then, that California failed to rank among the top 10 states to live in, per a new report released by WalletHub.
The personal-finance company compared the 50 US states across five categories: affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety.
WalletHub evaluated what its report called "key indicators of livability," such as the cost of living, unemployment rate, crime rate, access to activities, and the quality of local school and health systems.
WalletHub said the data used in its report was collected last month from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.
From Florida to New York, here's a look at WalletHub's top 10 states to live in for 2024.
10. Wyoming
WalletHub named Wyoming the 10th-best state to live in.
The Cowboy State placed high thanks in part to its affordability and safety, with WalletHub ranking it the second-safest state in the country.
Census Bureau data from its 2022 American Community Survey one-year estimates found that Wyoming's homeownership rate was about 72.7%, compared to the national rate of 65.2%.
WalletHub reported that the state ranked fourth in the percentage of people aged 25 and over with at least a high-school diploma. However, the state ranked last for income growth.
9. New York
What the Empire State lacks in affordability, it makes up for in quality of life.
WalletHub ranked New York the No. 1 state for quality of life, measured by factors like average hours worked a week, average commute time, quality of roads, traffic, weather, and access to activities like movie theaters, gyms, beaches, bars, and museums.
The state placed fifth overall for safety.
8. Wisconsin
Wisconsin was ranked the eighth-best state to live in, thanks in part to its top-10 ranking for education and health, which factored in metrics like high-school-graduation rates, quality of public schools, life expectancy, and share of the population with insurance.
The Census Bureau found that 5.2% of Wisconsinites reported not having healthcare coverage. Nationally, 8% of Americans reported not having healthcare coverage.
Wisconsin ranked in the top 15 for quality of life and safety.
7. Pennsylvania
WalletHub ranked Pennsylvania in the top 10 in two categories: quality of life and safety.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development says the state is home to "over 6,700 miles of hiking trails, 124 free state parks, and 22 ski resorts," providing residents with plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature.
But WalletHub ranked the state's economy in the bottom 10 based on metrics like unemployment rate, population growth, job opportunities, bankruptcy rate, and the number of residents who had experienced food insecurity.
6. Idaho
The Gem State earned three top-10 rankings for its affordability, economy, and safety.
WalletHub ranked Idaho the No. 1 state for income growth and No. 3 for the lowest crime rate.
The Census Bureau reported that the state has a median household income of $72,785, just shy of the national median.
Idaho had a 72.3% homeownership rate — about 7% above the national average — and a 60.2% employment rate, putting it on par with national rates, according to Census data.
5. New Hampshire
Despite receiving lower rankings for affordability and quality of life, New Hampshire placed in the top three states for its economy, education and health, and safety.
WalletHub's report said the Granite State had the lowest crime rate and lowest percentage of its population living in poverty. The state's population also has the fifth-highest percentage of those 25 and older with at least a high-school diploma.
The Census Bureau reported that New Hampshire's median household income is almost $90,000, more than $15,000 above the national average.
4. Utah
Utah was ranked the third-most affordable state in the US, making it the most affordable of the states that made WalletHub's top 10.
The state fares better than national levels in homeownership, median household income, and employment rate, according to Census data.
WalletHub ranked Utah 13th for its economy.
3. New Jersey
The Garden State was ranked the third-best state to live in, boasting the No. 1 safety rank — WalletHub reports the state has "the highest number of law enforcement employees per capita."
New Jersey is also known for its plentiful opportunities for residents to stay active. WalletHub reported that the state is home to the fifth-most fitness centers per capita and the sixth-most miles of trails in the US.
The report found that the state also has the highest median household income in the US at $96,346.
2. Florida
Despite many "Florida man" stories floating around the internet, WalletHub ranked the state 10th for safety, partly because of its widespread law-enforcement presence.
The Sunshine State offers plenty of fun ways to spend free time, including restaurants, beaches, fitness centers, and theaters — not to mention world-famous theme parks — which boost residents' quality of life.
BI reported in October that Florida saw the "greatest number of new residents between 2021 and 2022," citing the 2022 Census report on state-to-state migration flows.
Billionaires tend to be particularly fond of Florida because of its tax code. BI reported in February that Jeff Bezos could avoid "paying hundreds of millions in taxes" with his new Miami address.
1. Massachusetts
The WalletHub report rated Massachusetts the No. 1 state to live in.
The Bay State ranks first in the country for education and healthcare, with the highest reading and math test scores and one of the lowest dropout rates, a separate WalletHub report on school systems found. The Census Bureau reported that 46.6% of residents 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 35.7%.
Massachusetts' healthcare system was ranked the best in the nation. WalletHub reported that 97.3% of residents have health insurance and that the state has "the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health."
Despite its relative lack of affordability, the state ranks high in all other categories, including economy, quality of life, and safety.
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