Best states to live in, 2023. See where your state ranks for affordability, safety and more. (2024)

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Best states to live in, 2023. See where your state ranks for affordability, safety and more.? ›

Massachusetts topped 2023's list, scoring 61 out of 100. New Jersey came in second. New Hampshire, New York, and Wyoming fill out the rest of the top five states to live in, in that order. Several Southern states – Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, among others – rounded out the bottom of WalletHub's rankings.

Massachusetts has been named the top state to live in for 2023 while New Mexico has been named the worst, according to WalletHub. The personal finance website based its rankings, released Aug. 14, on key indicators of livability, including affordability, economy, safety, quality of life and education and health.

Quality of Life in the United States

The top five states in terms of quality of life are Washington, Minnesota, Utah, New Hampshire, and Idaho, signifying these have the best combination of healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime rates and natural environment.

According to the 2023 Safest States in America report by WalletHub, Vermont has been declared the safest state in the U.S. while Louisiana ranks as the most dangerous. This is the third consecutive year Vermont has taken top honors in WalletHub's Safest States rankings.

Mississippi: According to World Population Review, in 2023, Mississippi holds the title of the cheapest state to live in the United States. Its cost of living index is 85, and overall costs in the state are 17% lower than the national average.

Iowa ranks as the number one state to retire to.

Since health care is a top priority for retirees looking to move, Iowa may be a good choice as it ranks well for medical care and access. Iowa also holds lower crime rates for senior citizens.

Which state is worth moving to? ›

If you're thinking of relocating this year, consider New Hampshire, Wyoming, Virginia, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, which lead the most recent list of the best states to move to, according to immigration law experts Shoreline Immigration.

The safest state in the U.S., according to the U.S. News methodology, is New Hampshire. With a violent crime rate of 126 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,011 per 100,000, New Hampshire enjoys a high rate of public safety.

1 state Americans moved to in 2023: Texas. For the sixth time in eight years, Texas is the No. 1 growth state.

Utah is now the happiest state in the nation. WalletHub released the results of its 2023 Happiest States in America research. The company combed through studies to identify which internal and external factors give people a sense of overall well-being and satisfaction with life.

Hawaii. According to our research, Hawaii is the healthiest state in the US. It ranks best overall for having low disease risk factors and healthy lifestyle habits.

Ann Arbor is the best U.S. city for quality of life. More than 90% of the city's residents live less than a 10-minute from a public park, according to the U.S. News and World report. A 2023 SmartAsset study report says Ann Arbor saw its Gen Z population — those ages 18 to 24 — grow the fastest in 2022.

Mississippi, known for its rich history, warm hospitality, and mouthwatering southern cuisine, is not only the state with the lowest cost of living in the U.S., but it also offers an affordable lifestyle that can be a particularly appealing place to live for families, retirees, and anyone looking to stretch their ...

Other recent surveys came up with a variety of top picks, but many with similar themes: Bankrate.com named Iowa as its number one in 2023, citing low cost of living and tax rates as well as affordable housing costs and ample space, Wallethub, meanwhile, chose Florida in 2024, giving it the top spot in quality of life ...