What are the best states to move to in 2023?

In 2023, top states for moving included Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, New Hampshire, and Idaho, often cited for strong economies, education, and quality of life, while popular destinations like Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee attracted movers for job growth, affordability, and lifestyle, though rankings vary by what factors (economy, family, cost) matter most to individuals.

What state is the best to start over?

The best state to start over depends on your priorities (jobs, cost, lifestyle), but North Carolina (Wilmington for economy), Texas (jobs/affordability), Colorado (lifestyle), and Utah (jobs/schools) are often cited for opportunities, while Wyoming, North Dakota, and Iowa are praised for low cost of living, though some lack major opportunities. Consider your career needs (e.g., tech in CA/VA, growing jobs in NC/UT) versus lifestyle (e.g., mountains in CO/OR, culture in Santa Fe) when choosing a place for a fresh start. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are frequently cited as top states for quality of life due to factors like health, safety, environment, and strong communities, with Vermont often leading for its balance of nature and low crime/stress, while Massachusetts excels in health and education, and New Hampshire boasts great air quality and community engagement. 

What is the #1 state people are moving out of?

While it varies by report, New York, California, and Illinois consistently rank as top states people are leaving, often due to high costs, taxes, and housing, with New Jersey also frequently appearing, especially in percentage-based data. New York often leads in absolute population loss, while California loses massive numbers, and Illinois sees significant outflows, primarily to Southern states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas.
 

What is the happiest state to move to?

Hawaii is the happiest state in America—and somehow, we are not the least bit surprised at this revelation. The Aloha State truly is the paradise of the Pacific, where residents report high levels of life satisfaction and the second-lowest suicide rate in the country.

10 BEST STATES to Move TO in 2023

What is the absolute best state to live in?

• Utah. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• New Hampshire. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
• Idaho. #3 in Best States Overall. ...
• Minnesota. #4 in Best States Overall. ...
• Nebraska. #5 in Best States Overall. ...
• Florida. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
• Vermont. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
• South Dakota. #8 in Best States Overall.

What is the most difficult state to live in?

There's no single "hardest" state, but recent studies frequently name New Mexico, Mississippi, and Louisiana as among the toughest due to poor scores in education, healthcare, safety, and economic opportunity, while states like New Jersey are challenging for retirees due to high costs, and Tennessee recently ranked last for quality of life in a CNBC study, highlighting varied difficulties. 

What state is everyone moving to in 2025?

Where Americans Moved in 2025. In 2025, the data revealed inbound migration patterns to states across Southern regions, with a few exceptions. Inbound moves were led by Oregon (65%), West Virgina (62%) and South Carolina (61%).

What US states are in decline?

Illinois had the largest decline with 169,076 fewer people. Among counties, Maricopa County, Arizona had the largest growth with 671,405 more people. Baltimore city, Maryland had the largest decline with 44,444 fewer residents.

What state is offering $10,000 to move there?

Several locations in the U.S. offer cash incentives, including $10,000 or more, to attract remote workers and new residents, with Oklahoma (Tulsa Remote), Alabama (The Shoals), Kansas (Topeka), and parts of Maryland and Indiana being prominent examples, requiring you to work remotely from outside the area and meet specific income/residency criteria. Programs like Tulsa Remote, Remote Shoals (AL), and Choose Topeka provide grants for relocating, often for full-time remote workers, while other cities like Baltimore (MD) offer housing incentives for blight removal, and some Indiana towns offer general relocation perks. 

What state has the nicest 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).

Which state has the lowest crime?

While rankings vary slightly by source and metrics (violent vs. property crime), Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont consistently appear as states with the lowest overall crime rates in recent analyses (2025-2026), often leading in low violent crime and overall safety rankings. Maine and New Hampshire frequently lead in low violent crime per capita, while Vermont often tops comprehensive safety lists that include financial and other factors. 

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

The city paying $15,000 to move and work there is Topeka, Kansas, through its Choose Topeka program, which offers incentives to attract talent, primarily by matching employer funds for housing costs (up to $10k for renting, $15k for buying) for those who secure jobs with participating local employers. While it's a popular example, other locations like Tulsa, West Virginia, and Hamilton, Ohio also have similar relocation incentives for various workers.
 

Which state is up and coming?

Over the next 25 years, Texas is projected to gain 8.6 million residents, the highest absolute increase across states. Like Texas, Florida and California are projected to lead nationally in population gains, adding 5.2 million and 3.1 million people, respectively.

What is the easiest state to live in financially?

The easiest states for finances often combine low cost of living, low taxes, and good job markets, with Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas frequently ranking high due to low housing costs, minimal state income tax (or none), and stable employment growth, allowing residents to save more. Mississippi leads in overall low cost, especially housing, while Tennessee often tops lists for overall savings potential due to taxes and costs combined, notes Bankrate. 

What is the #1 overpopulated state?

There isn't a single "#1 overpopulated" state because "overpopulation" is relative, but California is the most populous state by total people, while New Jersey is the most densely populated (most people per square mile), making it feel "overpopulated" in terms of crowding. Texas and Florida are the next most populous after California, while New York also has high density.
 

Which state is being left the most?

California and New York consistently see the most people leaving in sheer numbers, driven by high costs and taxes, though New Jersey often tops lists for the highest percentage of outbound moves, also citing expenses and retirement. Other states like Illinois and Massachusetts also experience significant population loss, with residents often moving to more affordable areas, particularly in the South. 

What states lose the most people?

3 states that lost the most residents in America — and 3 states that gained the most

• #3 in Loss: Illinois. ...
• #2 in Loss: New York. ...
• #1 in Loss: California. ...
• #3 in Gains: North Carolina. ...
• #2 in Gains: Florida. ...
• #1 in Gains: Texas.

What states are people happy they moved to?

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 are booming right now?

Fastest growing (and shrinking) U.S. states According to new Census Bureau data, Idaho, Montana, and Florida experienced the largest population growth among U.S. states from 2020 to 2022. Idaho's population grew by almost 5%, while Montana and Florida each saw a 3% increase.

What is the cheapest state to live in 2025?

The cheapest states to live in for 2025 consistently include Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Missouri, Indiana, and Iowa, with the South and Midwest dominating the list due to low housing costs, groceries, and utilities compared to the national average, though job markets and amenities can vary, notes. Mississippi often ranks #1 for overall cost, while West Virginia leads in housing affordability relative to income. 

What is the unhappiest state in the US?

According to recent analyses, particularly WalletHub studies, Louisiana and West Virginia are consistently ranked as the unhappiest states in the U.S., often trading the bottom spot, with Louisiana frequently cited as the least happy due to factors like high work hours, poor sleep, and a high divorce rate, while West Virginia faces high adult depression and low adequate sleep. Other states like Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama also appear in the bottom tier of happiness rankings.
 

What is the most relaxing state?

South Dakota is the most relaxed state in the country.

What is the most unhealthy state to live in?

While rankings vary slightly by study, Mississippi and Louisiana consistently appear as the most unhealthy states, often followed by West Virginia, Arkansas, and Kentucky, with Southern states dominating the bottom of health lists due to high rates of chronic diseases, obesity, mental distress, and substance abuse. West Virginia often ranks worst for lifestyle factors like smoking and obesity, while Mississippi leads in disease prevalence and risk factors, according to sources from 2024 and 2025.