What's the best state to raise a family?

Massachusetts is frequently ranked as the best state to raise a family in 2026, leading due to strong economies, low poverty, excellent health/safety (low infant mortality, high life expectancy, good water quality), and top-tier education, though housing/childcare costs are high, with nearby Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska also appearing in top rankings for their blend of affordability, good schools, and family-friendly environments.

What is the best state to start over with a family?

Key Findings. Massachusetts is the No. 1 Best State to Start a Family: despite being one of the worst states for affordability, Massachusetts took the top spot due to its strength across healthcare (with the lowest rate of uninsured children and the highest rate of pediatrician employment per capita), education (No.

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 state is financially best to live in?

The best state to live in financially depends on your priorities, with Wyoming, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee often cited for low taxes and affordability, while states like Utah, Iowa, and Georgia excel in fiscal stability, and North Dakota offers a low cost of living. For those prioritizing high wages and opportunities, states like Massachusetts might be better, despite higher costs. 

What is the safest state for kids to live in?

Massachusetts tops the rankings as the best state to raise a family, with an impressive score of 77.14. The state excels in several key areas, making it ideal for families. Health & Safety: With a score of 82.27, Massachusetts prioritizes the health of its youngest residents.

10 best states for raising a family: You won't believe what we found

Which state has the happiest kids?

Massachusetts (FHI: 75): Massachusetts has the highest index for children's health and well-being at 77.8. Massachusetts residents have to spend a larger part of their income on childcare, but the statistics show strong families, with a lower divorce rate of 2.75.

What are the top 3 safest states?

Based on recent 2024/2025 data, the top three safest states consistently include New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, often followed closely by Massachusetts, with rankings varying slightly by the specific metrics (like violent crime, property crime, or overall safety scores) used by different analyses from sources like U.S. News and WalletHub. 

Where can I retire on $2000 a month in the United States?

You can retire on $2,000 a month in affordable U.S. cities, especially in the Midwest, South, and parts of the Southwest, focusing on areas with low housing costs like Ohio (Parma Heights, Cincinnati), Michigan (Farmington), Indiana (Fort Wayne), Texas (El Paso, Corpus Christi, San Antonio), Florida (Tallahassee, Fort Myers), Illinois (Freeport), and South Carolina (Greenville), where overall expenses, healthcare, and groceries are significantly lower than the national average, allowing you to stretch your budget.
 

What state is worth moving to?

States often cited as worth moving to for their growth, economy, and lifestyle include Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, and Tennessee, often due to factors like no state income tax, warm weather, or strong job markets (tech/research). For overall quality of life and stability, Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, and Minnesota frequently rank high, while states like Massachusetts and Wisconsin are praised for family life and opportunity, balancing cost and benefits, though they aren't always the fastest-growing.
 

What state do most rich people live in?

California has 199 U.S. billionaires, the most of any state (and fourth-most in the world). Only three states—Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia—don't have a resident U.S. billionaire.

Which US state is the happiest?

Hawaii, Maryland, and Nebraska are consistently ranked among the happiest states in the U.S. by recent studies (like WalletHub's 2025 report), with Hawaii topping the list for overall satisfaction, physical well-being, and life expectancy, while Maryland and Nebraska excel in financial stability and community factors. Other top contenders often include New Jersey, Connecticut, and Utah, though rankings can vary slightly based on specific metrics.
 

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.
 

What is the hardest US 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. 

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.
 

Where should I raise my kids?

Best Countries for Raising Kids

• Denmark.
• Sweden.
• Norway.
• Finland.
• Switzerland.
• Canada.

What is the best state to own a house in?

Do You Know the Best State for Homeownership?

1. Key Findings.
2. Wyoming. Thanks to its relatively low property tax rate and low average closing costs, many folks in the state of Wyoming can afford to own a home. ...
3. South Dakota. ...
4. Idaho. ...
5. North Dakota. ...
6. Utah. ...
7. Colorado. ...
8. Minnesota.

What is the #1 state people are leaving?

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 cheapest nicest state to live in?

West Virginia, also known as the Mountain State, is one of the cheapest states to live in with a plethora of beautiful rivers and mountains, as well as a vast park system. With low property taxes and real estate costs, West Virginia is one of the least expensive states to live in for housing.

Which state pays you to move there?

Kentucky. If you currently work from home and want to move to Eastern Kentucky, there is a program that will pay you up to $5,000 in cash to relocate. Eastern Kentucky has a small-town feel and a close proximity to nature.

What is the $27.40 rule?

The "27.40 rule" is a simple personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in a year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, which adds up to $10,001 annually, making a large savings goal seem more manageable and achievable through daily micro-savings and habit-building. 

What is the cheapest and safest state to retire in?

For the cheapest and safest retirement, West Virginia consistently ranks high for affordability (low housing/living costs) and also scores well for safety, while Mississippi and Arkansas are other very affordable options; for safety combined with low costs, look at states like New Hampshire, but remember "safest" often means lower crime but can have higher overall cost, so it's a balance between low expenses and low risk. 

How much money do you need to retire with $70,000 a year income?

To retire on $70,000 a year, you'll likely need a nest egg between $1.4 million and $2.8 million, depending on your desired retirement lifestyle, combining sources like Social Security, and using rules of thumb like the 4% rule (multiply your needed income by 25) or the 25x rule (12-25 times your final salary), factoring in that $70k today needs to cover future inflation to maintain your living standard. 

Which state is #1 in crime?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, based on recent data for 2024, though rankings can shift slightly depending on whether property crime, specific offenses (like homicide), or overall danger metrics are considered, with Louisiana also frequently appearing high. 

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 not the safest state to live in?

Based on recent analyses, Louisiana is frequently cited as the least safe state due to high murder rates and overall poor safety scores, with Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Arkansas also ranking low in overall safety. Other states with high violent crime rates often include Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Arkansas, though rankings vary slightly depending on the specific metrics used (e.g., crime, financial security, natural disasters).