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This Is the Best State in Which to Live

Massachusetts tops the list
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 10, 2017 5:49 PM CST
This Is the Best State in Which to Live
A solitary runner heads down the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass., in front of the Boston skyline.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Looking to make a big move? Consider 24/7 Wall St.'s ranking of US states based on quality of life. The site looked at a number of financial factors (economy, jobs, income levels, poverty level) plus factors including crime, education, health care, and transportation to come up with its ranking. The five best and worst states to live in? Best:

  1. Massachusetts: It has the highest rate of residents with health insurance (97.5%) and a bachelor's degree (43%).
  2. New Hampshire: It's tied for lowest unemployment rate (2.8%) and has the lowest poverty rate (7.3%).
  3. Connecticut: It has the third-highest life expectancy rate at birth, 80.8 years.
  4. Colorado: It had just a 2.5% unemployment rate in September, the second-lowest of any state that month, and also boasts a relatively low rate of violent crime.
  5. New Jersey: An impressive 94.5% of residents have access to places where they can get physical activity, the highest rate of any state.

Worst:

  1. Mississippi: It has the shortest life expectancy at birth of any state, 74.8 years.
  2. Louisiana: It has the second-highest poverty rate, 20.2%.
  3. West Virginia: It has the smallest share of adults with a bachelor's degree, 20.8%.
  4. Kentucky: It's one of just "a handful" of states where unemployment got worse this year.
  5. Arkansas: There are only two states where the typical household earns less than one in Arkansas ($44,334 a year).
Click for the complete rankings and more details on each state. (More lists stories.)

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