What is the best state to live in?

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 is the #1 crime state in America?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while some analyses also point to Louisiana for high murder rates or overall danger, though rankings vary slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or general safety metrics are used, with data from 2024 and 2025 consistently showing Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent offenses. 

Which state is the friendliest?

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).

What is the poorest US state?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest state in the U.S., having the lowest median household income and one of the highest poverty rates, with significant challenges like high child poverty, food insecurity, and lower life expectancy, often alongside states like Louisiana, West Virginia, and Arkansas in the bottom rankings, according to data from sources like World Population Review and U.S. Census Bureau. 

What is the most loved US state?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the most liked U.S. state, leading in favorability surveys for its beauty, pleasant climate, and perceived happiness, followed by states like Alaska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Colorado, while some polls show Minnesota or Michigan residents have the most state pride, according to data from 2025 YouGov polls. Different surveys measure "liked" differently, with some focusing on general favorability and others on resident pride, but Hawaii appears at the top for general appeal across the nation.
 

Which states have no state income tax?

Nine U.S. states currently have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. While these states offer savings on income, they often rely on higher sales, property, or excise taxes to fund services, so it's essential to consider the overall tax picture and cost of living before moving.
 

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the US?

The cheapest best places to live in the U.S. often combine low housing costs with decent job markets, with Texas cities like Brownsville and Wichita Falls, and Midwestern hubs like Fort Wayne, IN, Akron, OH, and Decatur, IL frequently appearing on lists for affordability and livability in 2025-2026. States like Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma offer lower costs overall, with southern and midwestern towns providing good value, outdoor access, and growing opportunities without high price tags. 

What is the prettiest state to live in?

10 most beautiful states in US 1. California 2. Montana 3. Alaska 4. Utah 5.

What is the most difficult state to live in?

There's no single "hardest" state, but studies frequently rank New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas as the toughest due to high poverty, poor education, and crime rates, while Tennessee and Alabama are flagged for quality-of-life issues like crime or lack of inclusivity, and Alaska presents extreme costs and remoteness, making the "hardest" state subjective and dependent on what challenges one finds most difficult. 

Which states have the lowest taxes?

States with the lowest taxes

• Alaska.
• Florida.
• Nevada.
• New Hampshire (no longer imposes tax on dividend or interest income starting in tax year 2025)
• South Dakota.
• Tennessee.
• Texas.
• Washington (levies tax on long-term capital gains)

What state is #1 in poverty?

Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the highest poverty rate in the U.S., often followed by states like Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia, according to World Population Review data from late 2024/early 2025 and U.S. Census data cited by FCNL and Visual Capitalist. Factors contributing to Mississippi's high poverty include low median household income, lower educational attainment, and higher rates of child poverty, though rates have seen some improvement over the years.
 

Which US state makes the least money?

The states with the lowest incomes in the U.S. consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky, often appearing at the bottom for both median household income and poverty rates, indicating lower earnings and higher poverty levels, particularly in the South. These states face challenges with low wages and higher poverty, with Mississippi frequently cited as having the lowest median household income overall.
 

What's the least friendly state?

Despite how many travelers it attracts, New York is said to be America's "least-friendly" state, but it's not exactly alone. Per World Population Review's survey of the friendliest U.S. states in 2025, there is a clear trend among the other lowest-ranked states.

Which US state has the happiest people?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the happiest U.S. state in recent reports (2024-2025), followed by states like Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Connecticut, often praised for strong emotional well-being, good health, and community. Other top contenders frequently include Utah, Delaware, Minnesota, and California, though rankings vary slightly by study. 

What is the most peaceful state in the US?

While rankings vary by source and year, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont consistently rank as the most peaceful states, often topping lists due to low crime rates (violent and property), strong community safety, and overall lower levels of conflict, with the Northeast generally being the most peaceful region in the U.S. New Hampshire is often cited as the safest overall by some metrics like low violent/property crime, while Maine excels in multiple peace indicators.
 

In what state do most murders occur?

Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the highest murder rate in the U.S., followed closely by Louisiana, with Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee also frequently appearing in the top five for recent years, according to analyses of CDC and other crime data. These states often share characteristics like deep poverty and violence concentrated in specific urban areas, with high rates driven by cities like New Orleans, Birmingham, and Memphis. 

Which state in the USA is safest?

Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire consistently rank as the safest states in the U.S., according to recent studies by WalletHub and others, often due to low violent crime rates, strong financial stability, and good road safety, with Maine and Utah also frequently appearing in the top five. These rankings consider multiple factors, including personal safety (crime), financial security (unemployment, poverty), road safety (fatalities), workplace safety, and emergency preparedness. 

What is the #1 crime city in the US?

Memphis, Tennessee, is frequently cited as the U.S. city with the highest overall violent crime rate in recent 2024-2025 data, followed by cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Baltimore, though rankings can shift slightly based on whether property crime or specific violent offenses like homicide are prioritized, with Oakland often leading property crime, notes.