What's the cheapest state to live in in the United States?

12 States With the Cheapest Cost of Living

• West Virginia tops the list of the cheapest places to live in the U.S., with a cost of living 15.9% below the national average.
• Southern and Midwestern states like Oklahoma, Kansas and Mississippi consistently offer low-priced housing.

Which US state has the lowest cost of living?

• Arkansas. #1 in Cost of Living. #44 in Best States Overall. ...
• Mississippi. #2 in Cost of Living. #48 in Best States Overall. ...
• South Dakota. #3 in Cost of Living. ...
• Oklahoma. #4 in Cost of Living. ...
• Louisiana. #5 in Cost of Living. ...
• North Dakota. #6 in Cost of Living. ...
• Iowa. #7 in Cost of Living. ...
• West Virginia. #8 in Cost of Living.

What is the cheapest but safest state to live in?

Here are some of the cheapest and safest places to live in the US!

• Live in Boise, Idaho.
• Affordable living in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Winston Salem, North Carolina: among the cheapest cities in USA.
• Live affordably in Naples, Florida.
• Enjoy Lexington, Kentucky.

Which state is worth moving to?

The study found the best states to move to are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho and Virginia. According to the list, worst states to move to are California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oregon.

What state has the friendliest people?

WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).

TOP 10 CHEAPEST STATES to Live in America

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.

What is the least friendly state in the US?

The least welcoming states are Missouri, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Most Americans greet strangers with a handshake (60%), smile (47%), or by making eye contact (25%). Over 1 in 5 Americans say they aren't comfortable with physical contact when greeting. 30% of Americans don't smile at strangers.

Which state pays you to move there?

Alaska has one of the longest-running incentive programs in the country: the Permanent Dividend Fund. Started in 1976, it pays every resident an annual stipend as long as they lived in Alaska during the previous calendar year. The amount depends on the state's annual revenue, but averages around $1,600.

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 #1 crime state in America?

States with the highest and lowest crime rates

Alaska had the highest violent crime rate of any state in 2024, at 724.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, followed by New Mexico (717.1), Tennessee (592.3), Arkansas (579.4) and Louisiana (519.8).

Where am I supposed to live if I can't afford rent?

Explore Government Assistance Programs

Local state and federal programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide housing that includes units with rents affordable to low-income tenants and vouchers that help offset rent payments at privately owned housing.

Where is the cheapest rent in the US right now?

Top 5 Cheapest States to Live In for Renters, by Median Rent

• West Virginia – $831.
• Arkansas – $868.
• South Dakota – $878.
• Mississippi – $896.
• Kentucky – $902.

What is the best state to move to if you are poor?

• New Hampshire. #1 in Low Poverty Rate. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
• Utah. #2 in Low Poverty Rate. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• Minnesota. #3 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
• Colorado. #4 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
• Maryland. #5 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
• Vermont. #6 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
• New Jersey. #7 in Low Poverty Rate. ...
• North Dakota. #8 in Low Poverty Rate.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy?

In many U.S. cities, renting is the smarter financial choice as homeownership costs far exceed long-term rental expenses. Many of these cities are in California, where high home prices and property taxes make renting more practical.

What state has the lowest taxes and cost of living?

States with the lightest tax burden:

• Alaska: 4.9%
• Wyoming: 5.8%
• New Hampshire: 5.9%
• Tennessee: 6.4%
• Florida: 6.5%
• Delaware: 6.5%
• South Dakota: 6.5%
• North Dakota: 6.6%

What is the happiest state to live in?

Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.

What states have no state 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 is the hardest to live in?

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

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

How to move with no money or job?

Leverage support networks. Moving without money may require swallowing your pride and asking for help from people who care about you. Family and friends can provide temporary housing, lend moving equipment or cover gas money. They might also connect you with job opportunities in your new city.

What state does everyone want to move to?

South Carolina is the most popular state to move to for the sixth year in a row. Movers have shown more than double the interest in moves in than out. According to the report, one big reason for that trend is that the state still offers affordability and access to nature, which boosts job growth.

What is the unhappiest state in the US?

West Virginia ranked as the least happy state in the country, with the study finding residents struggle with high rates of depression and inadequate sleep. The Mountain State was followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Alaska.

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.

What is the most forgotten state?

In 24.5% of those games, players failed to remember Missouri when naming all 50 states. In other words, the state of Missouri was forgotten a staggering 8.6 million times—making it the most overlooked state in America.