The 10 best states to live in, ranked

Wisconsin was ranked the 8th 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 rate, quality of public schools, life expectancy, and share of the population with insurance.

According to the US Census Bureau, 5.2% of Wisconsinites reported being without healthcare coverage in the 2022 American Community Survey. Nationally, 8% of Americans reported being without coverage.

Wisconsin also had top 15 rankings for quality of life and safety.

The Gem State earned three top 10 rankings for its affordability, economy, and safety.

Idaho was ranked the No. 1 state for income growth by WalletHub and has the third lowest crime rate.

The US Census Bureau reported that the state has a median household income of $72,785, just shy of the national median.

Idaho also boasted a homeownership rate of 72.3% — about 7% above the national average — and had an employment rate of 60.2% making it on par with national levels.

Of WalletHub’s top 10 best states to live in, Utah ranks the highest in affordability as the third-most affordable state in the US.

The US Census Bureau reported that the state fares better than national levels in homeownership, median household income, and employment rate.

WalletHub also ranked Utah 13th for its economy.

Despite many “Florida man” stories floating around the internet, the state actually ranks 10th for safety, in part because of its widespread law enforcement presence, WalletHub reported.

The Sunshine State also offers plenty of fun ways to spend free time, including restaurants, beaches, fitness centers, and theaters — not to mention world-famous theme parks — boosting residents’ quality of life.

In October 2023, Business Insider reported that Florida saw the “greatest number of new residents between 2021 and 2022,” citing Census Bureau data.

One group particularly fond of Florida is billionaires because of its tax code. In February, BI reported that Jeff Bezos will avoid “paying hundreds of millions in taxes” with his new Miami address.

The No. 1 state to live in is Massachusetts.

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, according to a July 2024 WalletHub report on school systems. The Census Bureau also reported that 46.6% of residents 25 and older have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the national rate of 35.7%.

Healthcare is also strong in Massachusetts. WalletHub reported that 97.3% of residents have health insurance and the state has “the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health.”

Despite its relative lack of affordability, the state ranks highly in all other categories, including its economy, quality of life, and safety.