What states are worth moving to?

States worth moving to depend on your priorities (jobs, affordability, lifestyle), but recent lists highlight Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Florida for strong economies, quality of life, or tax benefits, while Sun Belt states like Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina are popular for warm weather, though sometimes balance this with lower rankings in education/safety. North Dakota also ranks high for opportunities, while Tennessee offers tax advantages and culture.

What's the best state to move to right now?

The "best" state to move to depends on your priorities (affordability, jobs, lifestyle), but recent studies highlight North Carolina, Idaho, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire for strong economies, quality of life, or affordability, while Florida and Texas remain popular for growth and tax benefits, though costs are rising. Top contenders often balance economic opportunity with lifestyle factors like lower crime, good healthcare, and reasonable housing costs, with many pointing to the Southeast and Mountain West for current appeal. 

What is the #1 state people are leaving?

Key Points (2025)

Top outbound states by volume: New York lost the most residents from 2020 to 2024 with 446,814 people leaving, followed by California with 530,886 net outbound, and Illinois with 139,399 departures, representing the largest absolute population losses in the nation.

What is the financially best state to live in?

The best state to live in financially depends on your priorities, but top contenders often feature low taxes, affordable housing, and decent incomes, with Wyoming, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa frequently appearing for low overall cost, while states like Massachusetts offer high wages but higher living costs. Key factors are no state income tax, low cost of living (housing especially), and strong median household incomes, with states like Wyoming and Tennessee often leading for savings, notes. 

What state is the best to start over?

The best state to start over depends on your priorities (jobs, affordability, lifestyle), but top contenders often include Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee for balance of growth and cost, while New Hampshire, Utah, and Virginia offer strong economies and opportunities, and Vermont or Wyoming suit those seeking slower, smaller-town living. Consider job markets (like tech in Utah/VA, diverse in TX/FL), cost of living (low in OK/TN), and lifestyle (outdoors in NC/UT/VT) when choosing. 

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

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

Below is a detailed breakdown of the ten most affordable states to live in 2025:

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What city will pay you $15000 to move and work there?

Topeka, Kansas

The Choose Topeka program sells itself well, thanks in part to its $15,000 cash incentive and its promise of living costs that are 10% lower than the national average, along with the cost of a typical single-family home hovering around the $125,000 mark.

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. 

Where can I retire on $2000 a month in the United States?

You can retire comfortably on $2,000 a month in the U.S. by focusing on affordable Midwest and Southern cities, with top contenders including Fort Wayne, Indiana, Fargo, North Dakota, Knoxville, Tennessee, Oklahoma City, Cincinnati, Ohio, and several locations in Texas (like Brownsville, Abilene) and Florida (like Tallahassee, Fort Myers), which offer lower costs for housing, groceries, and healthcare while still providing good livability and amenities. 

Which states are struggling financially?

10 States Where Americans Are Struggling the Most to Cover the Basics

• Mississippi – Score: 90.2 (out of 100)
• Louisiana – Score: 80.3.
• West Virginia – Score: 77.8.
• New Mexico – Score: 74.7.
• Nevada – Score: 72.7.
• Oklahoma – Score: 71.3.
• California – Score: 70.4.
• Georgia – Score: 70.2.

What is the #1 happiest state in the US?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the happiest and least stressed state in the United States, characterized by high levels of emotional and physical well-being among its residents.

Where is everyone moving in 2026?

In 2026, people are continuing to move towards the Sun Belt (South & Southwest U.S.) for warmer climates, lower costs, and job growth, with states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina leading, alongside international destinations like Canada, Germany, and Australia for economic opportunity, while some are leaving colder regions like West Virginia for better prospects. 

What is the #1 overpopulated state?

The U.S. state with the largest population is California, which has some 39,000,000 residents.

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 pays you to move there?

Yes, several U.S. states and cities offer financial incentives to attract new residents, primarily targeting remote workers or those filling local jobs, with popular programs in West Virginia (Ascend WV), Alabama (Remote Shoals), Kansas (Topeka), Oklahoma (Tulsa), Michigan (Jackson), Maryland (Baltimore), and Georgia (Columbus), offering cash, housing assistance, or other perks for relocating, though usually with conditions like a minimum stay.
 

What states are booming right now?

Booming states right now, driven by population influx, job growth, and business investment, are heavily concentrated in the Sun Belt (Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee), with strong momentum in the Mountain West (Utah, Idaho, Nevada) and emerging strength in certain Midwest/Mid-Atlantic areas (Ohio, Virginia) due to tech, manufacturing, and logistics. Key drivers include lower costs, business-friendly environments, and migration from expensive coastal areas.
 

What is the $27.40 rule?

The $27.40 Rule is a personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in one year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day ($27.40 x 365 days = $10,001). It's a simple way to reach a large financial goal by breaking it down into small, manageable daily habits, making saving feel less intimidating and more achievable by cutting small, unnecessary expenses like daily coffees or lunches.
 

What is the nicest, cheapest place to live in the US?

Keep reading to learn which cities are rated as the most budget-friendly places to call home.

• Most Affordable Cities in the US.
• Hickory, North Carolina.
• Brownsville, Texas.
• Fort Wayne, Indiana.
• Dayton, Ohio.
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
• Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Erie, Pennsylvania.

Can you retire at 70 with $400,000?

Typical lifetime payout rates at age 70 are about 5%–8% depending on carrier and terms. On $400,000, that's roughly $20,000–$32,000 per year for life, before Social Security. Favor increasing-income GLWBs when available so your paycheck can step up over time to fight inflation.

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. 

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 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.
 

How to relocate when you have no money?

Moving out with no money requires resourcefulness: focus on zero-cost strategies like finding roommates/subleases, securing free supplies (boxes, furniture), using public assistance (2-1-1), selling belongings, getting a job with housing (or remote), and leaning on community support (friends, mutual aid groups) to cover initial costs like deposits and transport. Prioritize essential needs, declutter aggressively, and build an emergency fund as you go to create a stable transition. 

What state is offering $12,000 to move there?

West Virginia will pay $12,000 to some people who relocate there. We've put together a list of locations in the US where you can get free cash, tax credits or housing breaks just by moving there. Many of these places feature vibrant landscapes with opportunities for outdoor recreation.