What are the most affordable states to live in?

The most affordable states to live in consistently rank low for overall cost of living, with Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, West Virginia, and Alabama frequently appearing at the top, offering low housing, groceries, and utilities, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast regions. These states provide lower housing costs and lower everyday expenses, though job opportunities and amenities can vary compared to more expensive areas.

What state has the lowest cost of living?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the cheapest state to live in due to extremely low housing costs, affordable groceries, and low transportation expenses, with other very affordable states often including West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. While wages can be lower, the significantly reduced cost of living makes these states attractive for budget-conscious individuals, offering low taxes (especially on retirement income) and overall lower expenses. 

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There's no single #1 best state, as it depends on priorities, but recent reports often rank Massachusetts, Utah, and Idaho highly, with Massachusetts leading in some livability studies (WalletHub) for education and overall metrics, while Utah excels in economy and infrastructure (U.S. News, Realtor.com). Other top contenders include New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, showing a diverse range of strong options. 

What are the top 10 states for cost of living?

The top 10 most expensive states for cost of living consistently include Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New York, and Alaska, often followed by Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, Connecticut, and Colorado/Vermont, driven primarily by high housing, grocery, and transportation costs, with Hawaii leading significantly due to its island location.
 

What is the most unaffordable state to live in?

While California and Hawaii consistently rank as the most unaffordable due to extreme housing costs, recent reports show states like Montana, Idaho, and Massachusetts are rapidly catching up or even surpassing them in housing affordability challenges, with overall high living expenses and rising home prices making them extremely difficult for typical families to afford. 

TOP 10 CHEAPEST STATES to Live in America

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.
 

What state has high paying jobs and low cost of living?

As you consider your next career move, these states could be solid contenders to explore.

1. Texas. Why it's great: No state income tax, lots of job opportunities, and relatively low housing costs outside of major cities. ...
2. Tennessee. ...
3. Indiana. ...
4. North Carolina. ...
5. Utah. ...
6. Georgia. ...
7. Iowa. ...
8. Missouri.

What is the happiest state to live in?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the happiest state in the U.S., followed by states like Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Utah, according to recent WalletHub studies, due to strong emotional well-being, good work environments, and positive community factors, with Hawaii often praised for high life satisfaction, low depression, and active lifestyles despite potential economic factors.
 

What states have no state income tax?

Nine U.S. states currently have no state income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, though Washington does have a capital gains tax on high earners. While these states offer tax savings on income, they often rely more heavily on other taxes like sales, property, and excise taxes to fund public services, so it's important to look at the overall tax picture.
 

Which states have cheap rent?

The states with the cheapest rent consistently include West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, South Dakota, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, and Kansas, often featuring median rents well below the national average and offering significant savings for renters. West Virginia frequently tops lists for lowest overall rent, while Oklahoma is often cited for the cheapest one-bedroom units, with many Midwestern and Southeastern states dominating the affordability rankings.
 

What is the friendliest state to live in?

While subjective, recent studies often name Minnesota, Tennessee, and South Carolina as America's friendliest states, with Minnesota often topping lists due to its "Minnesota nice" reputation, and Southern states like Tennessee and South Carolina praised for hospitality. Other top contenders include Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and Hawaii, with rankings varying slightly by source, like World Population Review or tourist surveys. 

What is the most difficult state to live in?

There's no single "hardest" state, as it's subjective, but recent studies often point to Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Tennessee for poor quality of life, high stress, low economic opportunity, or significant public safety/health issues, while Alaska presents challenges with extreme cost of living and remoteness, and Florida faces criticism for raising families despite other strengths. States consistently ranked poorly often struggle with poverty, education, healthcare access, and violent crime. 

Which state has the lowest crime?

New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont consistently rank as having some of the lowest crime rates in the U.S., with New Hampshire often cited for overall safety and low violent/property crime, while Maine and Vermont lead in low violent crime, often due to strong community safety and economic factors, according to various 2025 analyses.
 

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

The cheapest and best places to live in the U.S. depend on your priorities, but consistently affordable areas with good livability include cities in the Midwest (like Decatur, IL, Fort Wayne, IN) and the South (like Brownsville, TX, Harlingen, TX, Hickory, NC, Huntsville, AL), offering low housing costs, lower taxes (like Texas's no income tax), and access to amenities, with West Virginia and Mississippi often cited as top cheap states overall. 

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

According to the Index, the Top 5 most affordable US states are: Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, and South Dakota. Don't plan your move without us!

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 worst taxes?

There isn't one single "worst" state for taxes as it depends on your income and what you value, but New York, New Jersey, and California consistently rank poorly due to high income, sales, and property taxes, with New York often cited as having the most burdensome system overall, while Hawaii also has very high burdens. States like these combine high rates across multiple tax types, creating a heavy overall tax load for residents, notes Experian.
 

How much an hour is $70,000 a year after taxes?

$70,000 a year is about $33.65 per hour before taxes, but after federal, state (varies), and FICA taxes, your take-home hourly pay will likely be closer to $25 - $28 per hour, depending heavily on your location, filing status, and deductions, though using a reliable tax calculator with your specific details is best for accuracy. 

What is the best state to move to avoid taxes?

The best tax-free state depends on your income source, but Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax, while New Hampshire recently eliminated taxes on dividends/interest, making them popular, though high property/sales taxes in places like Florida, Nevada, or Alaska can offset savings. For retirees, states like Mississippi and Iowa are great as they exempt retirement income, while Tennessee and New Hampshire are also strong contenders for general tax advantages. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different studies rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey frequently appear at the top for quality of life, with Vermont leading in CNBC's metrics (health, environment, inclusion), Massachusetts in WalletHub's overall rankings (healthcare, education), and New Jersey praised for safety and health. States like Minnesota, Idaho, and Utah also consistently rank high, emphasizing factors like strong economies, environments, and community well-being. 

What is the most enjoyable state to live in?

10 Best US States to Live In, According to a New Study

• New Jersey.
• Wisconsin. ...
• Minnesota. ...
• Florida. ...
• New Hampshire. ...
• Utah. ...
• New York. ...
• Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania rounds out the top 10 most liveable states with a balanced showing across several key categories. ...

What is the #1 happiest country?

Finland is the 1st happiest country in the world, holding the top spot for the eighth consecutive year in the 2025 World Happiness Report, according to reports from sources like Axios, CNN, and Global Finance Magazine, with other Nordic nations like Denmark and Iceland consistently placing in the top three. 

What is the best state to move to start over?

The "best" state to start over depends on your priorities (jobs, cost of living, lifestyle), but popular choices often cited include Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, North Carolina, and states with no income tax like Alaska, Washington, or Nevada (though not on all lists), balancing opportunities with cost, with some cities offering incentives like Topeka, Kansas, or affordable options like McAllen, Texas, but be aware of potential downsides like Texas's high property taxes and heat. 

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

To earn $2000 daily, you need high-value skills or scalable hustles like specialized freelancing (AI training, high-end writing), sales (physician moonlighting, medical sales), building online assets (e-commerce, digital products, YouTube), or flipping high-value items, moving beyond basic gigs like surveys or simple driving to truly high-earning potential.