What is the number 1 state to live in the US?

There's no single "#1 state" as it depends on priorities, but Massachusetts often ranks highest overall for strong healthcare, education, and low premature death rates (WalletHub 2025). Vermont excels in quality of life, cleanliness, and low crime (CNBC 2025). Idaho and New Jersey also frequently appear in top ranks for affordability/income growth and income/low debt, respectively.

Which state is the best to live in the USA?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities, but Utah, Massachusetts, and Idaho frequently rank top for overall quality of life, economy, health, and environment in recent studies by U.S. News & World Report and WalletHub, offering strong job markets, good education, and outdoor access, though costs and specific pros/cons vary. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont is frequently cited as #1 for Quality of Life (CNBC), while Massachusetts often leads overall livability/best state rankings (WalletHub), and Utah ranks high overall for Best States (U.S. News). These rankings vary by the specific metrics used, such as health, safety, environment, education, or economic opportunity. 

What is the most stable state to live in?

Massachusetts leads WalletHub's overall “Best States to Live In” ranking with the lowest premature death rate, 97.4 percent health insurance coverage, and top healthcare and education systems, followed by Idaho and New Jersey.

What U.S. state is safest and cheapest to live in?

For the best combination of cheap and safe, consider states like Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, which consistently rank high in affordability (low housing, groceries, overall cost of living) while also offering manageable safety, with Vermont and New Hampshire often topping pure safety lists, though they are pricier. The ideal balance depends on whether you prioritize the lowest cost (Mississippi) or strong safety (Vermont), with Midwestern/Southern states generally offering lower expenses and Northern/New England states often leading in safety metrics. 

Top 10 States to Live in the United States 2026 (Why They're Best)

What is the happiest state to live in?

According to WalletHub's 2025 study, Hawaii is the happiest state in the U.S., ranking first for its strong emotional/physical well-being, work environment, and community/environment factors, with residents showing high life satisfaction, low depression, and long life expectancy, followed by Maryland and Nebraska in the top three. 

What state has the least crime?

While rankings vary slightly by source and metrics used (violent vs. property crime), Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont consistently rank as the states with the least crime, often appearing at the top for safety, particularly in violent crime rates. These northeastern states generally have much lower crime rates than the national average, with Maine often cited for having the lowest violent crime rate. 

What is the hardest U.S. state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:

• Arkansas.
• Alabama.
• Georgia.
• Louisiana.
• Utah.
• Indiana.
• Texas.
• Tennessee.

What's the prettiest state to live in?

The most beautiful states to live in often feature diverse landscapes, with California, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado consistently topping lists for stunning coasts, mountains, deserts, and national parks, alongside the raw wilderness of Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming, and the unique charm of New Mexico, Maine, and Vermont, offering everything from red rocks to lush forests.
 

Which state is richest in the USA?

The richest state in the U.S. depends on the metric, but Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey consistently rank at the top for median household income, while the District of Columbia (though not a state) leads in Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI), with Massachusetts and Connecticut close behind. Other contenders for wealth include Washington, California, and Hawaii, often leading in GDP or holding high income rankings.
 

Which state has the nicest people?

There's no single "nicest" state, but studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming as top contenders for friendliness, based on factors like tourist impressions and acts of kindness. Other states like Hawaii, Iowa, and parts of the South (like Kentucky, North Carolina) are also frequently praised for their welcoming and kind residents, though perceptions of niceness can vary by individual and region.
 

What is the least desirable state to live in?

U.S. & World News ranks Louisiana the worst state in the nation, as it has rather consistently since 2017. Low performance across all metrics, especially crime and education concerns.

Which states have the lowest taxes?

States with some of the lowest combined state and local sales tax rates (4.5% - 6.25%) include:

• Hawaii.
• Maine.
• Wisconsin.
• Kentucky.
• Maryland.
• Michigan.
• Washington, D.C.
• Wyoming.

What is the most loved state in America?

While "most loved" is subjective, polls consistently show Hawaii as a top contender for favorability, often leading in overall positive views, net favorability, and as a favorite destination, alongside strong showings from Colorado, Alaska, and North Carolina. Americans also frequently name states like Florida, California, New York, and Texas as favorites in head-to-head polls, but Hawaii consistently ranks highest for broad appeal and positive perception.
 

What are the states with no income tax?

As of 2025, there are nine states that don't collect any state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

Which state has the best weather year-round?

There's no single "best" weather state, as it's subjective, but California (especially the coast), Hawaii, and parts of the Southwest (Arizona, Nevada) are top contenders for mild, consistent temperatures, while Hawaii offers tropical warmth, and coastal California boasts ideal mildness with few extremes, though often with earthquakes. Many people find Southern California's coastal areas (like San Diego) offer the most pleasant year-round climate with sunshine, low humidity, and moderate temperatures, while Hawaii provides consistent tropical bliss. 

What are the happiest states to live in?

Hawaii, Maryland, and Nebraska consistently rank as the happiest states in recent studies (2024-2025) by WalletHub, followed by New Jersey, Utah, Connecticut, and California, benefiting from strong well-being, good work-life balance, and supportive communities, though rankings vary slightly by study focus.
 

What are the least visited US states?

The least visited U.S. states often include Alaska, North Dakota, West Virginia, Nebraska, and Montana, frequently cited for their remoteness or perception as "flyover" states, with Alaska being the least visited overall, followed by North Dakota and West Virginia in various analyses of domestic or international tourism. Other states like Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Maine, and New Hampshire also appear on lists of least-visited destinations, despite offering unique natural beauty. 

Which US state is the most attractive?

There's no single "most beautiful" state, as it's subjective, but California, Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, and Washington consistently rank high for diverse, breathtaking scenery, offering everything from epic coastlines and massive mountains to lush rainforests and unique desert landscapes, with California often cited for its unparalleled variety. 

What is the unhappiest state in the US?

Based on recent studies, particularly WalletHub's 2025 analysis, Louisiana and West Virginia consistently rank as the unhappiest states, often swapping the bottom spots, with Louisiana frequently cited as the absolute least happy due to factors like high depression rates, long work hours, low sleep quality, and high divorce rates, while West Virginia struggles with high adult depression and poor sleep. Other states often in the bottom ranks include Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

What is the #1 crime state in America?

Alaska consistently ranks as the state with the highest violent crime rate, followed closely by New Mexico, with Tennessee and Arkansas also having very high rates, according to 2024 data from sources like USAFacts and WorldAtlas. These figures reflect crimes per 100,000 residents, showing Alaska at over 724 incidents, significantly above the national average. 

What states are losing the most population?

The states losing the most population by sheer numbers recently are New York, California, and Illinois, primarily due to people moving out (net domestic outmigration), though New York often leads in percentage decline. Other states like Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have also seen declines, sometimes driven by natural decrease (more deaths than births) as well as migration. 

Which states have the best healthcare?

States like Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Minnesota consistently rank highest for best healthcare, excelling in areas like access, quality, and outcomes, though performance varies by specific metrics, with some top states having lower scores in certain care aspects for seniors or higher costs. Commonwealth Fund, WalletHub, and U.S. News & World Report analyses show these states lead, while lower-ranked states often struggle with cost, access barriers, and worse health outcomes.
 

What state is #1 in safety?

Vermont ranks first overall, with a strong showing in neighborhood safety. Nearly 75% of parents say they live in safe neighborhoods, the fourth-highest rate in the country, according to WalletHub. The state also ranks seventh for neighborhood watch groups per capita.