The Best States to Live in — How Does Your State Rank?

We all know that some states are just better to live in than others. Just how much better, or worse, depends. The consumer website, WalletHub took a look at the 50 states and compared 51 different indicators to determine which states are the best and which are the worst.

The factors include the usuals like housing, income, education and health care.

The PIA Western Alliance state of Idaho is considered the second best state in the country to live in while the PIA Western Alliance state of New Mexico is considered the worst. Alaska — also a PIA Western Alliance state — ranks 46th.

Here are the top 5:

1. Massachusetts

2. Idaho

3. New Jersey

4. Wisconsin

5. Minnesota

Here are the bottom 5:

50. New Mexico

49. Lousiana

48. Arkansas

47. Mississippi

46. Alaska

WalletHub analyst, Chip Lupo put it in perspective.

“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability,” Lupo said. “Many states have strong economies, though, so you should also consider a wide variety of other factors, such as how where you live will impact your health and safety, and whether you will have adequate access to activities that you enjoy. If you have children, a robust education system is also key.”

Here is each PIA Western Alliance state ranks:

2. Idaho

Total score: 60.23

Affordability rank: 44

Economy rank: 9

Education & health rank: 1

Quality of life rank: 6

Safety rank: 6

15. Montana

Total score: 55.21

Affordability rank: 27

Economy rank: 2

Education & health rank: 12

Quality of life rank: 33

Safety rank: 37

30. Arizona (tied with Michigan)

Total score: 51.01

Affordability rank: 24

Economy rank: 18

Education & health rank: 32

Quality of life rank: 25

Safety rank: 34

32. California

Total score: 50.49

Affordability rank: 50

Economy rank: 20

Education & health rank: 23

Quality of life rank: 2

Safety rank: 42

35. Hawaii

Total score: 49.38

Affordability rank: 49

Economy rank: 13

Education & health rank: 10

Quality of life rank: 42

Safety rank: 26

36. Washington

Total score: 49.17

Affordability rank: 36

Economy rank: 10

Education & health rank: 14

Quality of life rank: 8

Safety rank: 50

39. Oregon

Total score: 47.20

Affordability rank: 41

Economy rank: 31

Education & health rank: 24

Quality of life rank: 14

Safety rank: 48

45. Nevada

Total score: 44.61

Affordability rank: 39

Economy rank: 44

Education & health rank: 39

Quality of life rank: 22

Safety rank: 41

46. Alaska

Total score: 44.17

Affordability rank: 43

Economy rank: 4

Education & health rank: 36

Quality of life rank: 50

Safety rank: 44

50. New Mexico

Total score: 39.68

Affordability rank: 25

Economy rank: 33

Education & health rank: 48

Quality of life rank: 30

Safety rank: 49

Lowest housing costs are in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska. Sadly, four of the bottom-five are the PIA Western Alliance states of California, Hawaii, Nevada and Oregon have the highest housing costs:

50. California

49. Hawaii

48. Nevada

47. Florida

46. Oregon

Here’s an interesting statistic on insured states. The highest percentage of insured people are in Massachusetts. Number two is the PIA Western Alliance state of Hawaii.

The least insured state in the union is Texas.

When it comes to hours at work, people in Utah work the fewest. The PIA Western Alliance states of Oregon and California are tired for third lowest work hours with Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The most worked hours are in The PIA Western Alliance state of Alaska.

The lowest crime rate in the U.S. is New Hampshire. The PIA Western Alliance state of Idaho has the second lowest crime rate in the country.

The highest rate of crime is in The PIA Western Alliance state of New Mexico at 50. The PIA Western Alliance state of Washington is ranked number 47 and has the 4th highest rate of crime in the U.S.

As for income growth, the PIA Western Alliance states of Idaho and Arizona rank 1st and 2nd and the PIA Western Alliance state of Washington is ranked 4th. The lowest income growth rate is in The PIA Western Alliance state of Alaska.

Source link: WalletHub — https://bit.ly/46jZPIg