Best Places to Live in Every US State
Each guide ranks the top 15 cities in a state using a livability score based on affordability, income, housing value, and climate. Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, Zillow, HUD, and NOAA.
Alabama
3,378,833 residents
74
cost index
Median income: $57,952
Alaska
718,025 residents
90
cost index
Median income: $67,815
Arizona
6,799,438 residents
89
cost index
Median income: $62,280
Arkansas
2,129,612 residents
70
cost index
Median income: $52,138
California
37,459,622 residents
144
cost index
Median income: $97,882
Colorado
5,049,752 residents
114
cost index
Median income: $88,558
Connecticut
2,234,130 residents
125
cost index
Median income: $123,065
Delaware
435,168 residents
105
cost index
Median income: $85,962
District of Columbia
672,079 residents
155
cost index
Median income: $106,287
Florida
16,945,872 residents
110
cost index
Median income: $76,018
Georgia
5,377,666 residents
82
cost index
Median income: $61,062
Hawaii
1,407,113 residents
157
cost index
Median income: $94,535
Idaho
1,381,127 residents
87
cost index
Median income: $65,190
Illinois
11,229,592 residents
80
cost index
Median income: $75,153
Indiana
4,833,532 residents
78
cost index
Median income: $69,276
Iowa
2,610,083 residents
71
cost index
Median income: $67,947
Kansas
2,482,740 residents
72
cost index
Median income: $63,989
Kentucky
2,688,626 residents
78
cost index
Median income: $66,260
Louisiana
2,995,707 residents
74
cost index
Median income: $54,685
Maine
665,716 residents
87
cost index
Median income: $64,613
Maryland
5,191,468 residents
119
cost index
Median income: $108,228
Massachusetts
4,993,470 residents
129
cost index
Median income: $105,630
Michigan
5,567,613 residents
78
cost index
Median income: $65,978
Minnesota
4,774,904 residents
82
cost index
Median income: $74,079
Mississippi
1,659,119 residents
71
cost index
Median income: $49,929
Missouri
4,394,421 residents
75
cost index
Median income: $61,047
Montana
779,980 residents
89
cost index
Median income: $65,734
Nebraska
1,583,902 residents
72
cost index
Median income: $65,895
Nevada
3,008,205 residents
109
cost index
Median income: $81,841
New Hampshire
659,280 residents
102
cost index
Median income: $79,671
New Jersey
6,078,332 residents
128
cost index
Median income: $115,589
New Mexico
1,816,508 residents
86
cost index
Median income: $67,503
New York
16,326,804 residents
111
cost index
Median income: $96,982
North Carolina
6,600,402 residents
84
cost index
Median income: $64,537
North Dakota
624,606 residents
74
cost index
Median income: $72,691
Ohio
8,332,600 residents
78
cost index
Median income: $71,849
Oklahoma
3,185,943 residents
71
cost index
Median income: $56,461
Oregon
3,460,609 residents
106
cost index
Median income: $76,182
Pennsylvania
7,334,800 residents
83
cost index
Median income: $73,380
Puerto Rico
1,902,027 residents
70
cost index
Median income: $23,311
Rhode Island
678,634 residents
111
cost index
Median income: $92,962
South Carolina
2,611,112 residents
82
cost index
Median income: $58,750
South Dakota
711,806 residents
74
cost index
Median income: $64,652
Tennessee
4,495,827 residents
80
cost index
Median income: $62,905
Texas
22,904,848 residents
88
cost index
Median income: $72,704
Utah
3,201,961 residents
108
cost index
Median income: $88,895
Vermont
276,527 residents
92
cost index
Median income: $72,974
Virginia
5,988,897 residents
104
cost index
Median income: $88,128
Washington
6,461,293 residents
119
cost index
Median income: $90,795
West Virginia
787,860 residents
73
cost index
Median income: $54,014
Wisconsin
4,417,335 residents
79
cost index
Median income: $72,635
Wyoming
456,123 residents
90
cost index
Median income: $80,049
About Our Rankings
Our livability score combines four data-driven factors: affordability (35%), income (25%), housing value (15%), and climate (15%). Population serves as a proxy for amenities (10%).