Which State Should You Move To? Best States by Lifestyle
There is no single best state to move to. The #1 state is Wyoming for retirees, remote workers, and outdoor enthusiasts; South Dakota for young professionals and small business; New Hampshire for families. Only New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana rank in the top 10 for all six. California ranks last for three of them.
All six rankings score the same 50 states on the same 11 categories of government data; only the weights change. Pick the lifestyle closest to yours below, or use the six-way table to look up your state's rank for every lifestyle at once. The overall #1 state with no lifestyle weighting is New Hampshire. Why the lists differ →
- FamiliesNew Hampshire
- RetireesWyoming
- Remote WorkersWyoming
- Young ProfessionalsSouth Dakota
- Small BusinessSouth Dakota
- Outdoor EnthusiastsWyoming
Top 10 for all six: New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana
The Best State for Each Lifestyle
Six rankings of all 50 states, each re-weighting the same 11 categories for a different set of priorities. The first line under each #1 shows the three categories that ranking weights most.
Best States for Families
Best states for raising kids
- #2Wyoming86.8
- #3Iowa81.7
- #50New Mexico29.1
Best States for Retirees
Best states for retirement
- #2Idaho84.8
- #3South Dakota82.8
- #50Louisiana39.5
Best States for Remote Workers
Best states for working remotely
- #2South Dakota83.3
- #3Idaho80.2
- #50California19.5
Best States for Young Professionals
Best states for career growth
- #2Idaho77.2
- #3North Dakota75.9
- #50California24.3
Best States for Small Business
Best states for entrepreneurs
- #2Idaho80.2
- #3North Dakota79.1
- #50California26.8
Best States for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Best states for outdoor living
- #2Montana81.7
- #3Vermont81.1
- #50Louisiana14.3
Six Rankings by the Numbers
What happens when you line the six lists up side by side. These figures are the reason the page does not name a single winner.
Read the overview
Wyoming is the closest thing to a universal answer: it leads three of the six lists and is top 10 for all six. New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana are the only states in the top 10 for every lifestyle, and only 19 of the 50 states make any top-10 list at all. The West holds 22 of the 60 top-10 slots, while the South holds 2. The lists disagree most about Alaska, which is #6 for outdoor enthusiasts and #49 for families. At the bottom, California ranks last for three of the six lifestyles, and Louisiana is in the bottom 10 for all of them.
Every State's Rank, One Lifestyle at a Time
Switch the map between the six lifestyles to watch the leaders move. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its rank for every lifestyle in the panel, then open its state hub.
Look Up Any State's Rank for Every Lifestyle
Every state's rank for all six lifestyles in one table, alphabetical so you can find your state. Click a lifestyle column to sort by it, or filter to the states in the top 10 for a lifestyle.
| Best fit | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAL | #39 | #44 | #26 | #22 | #24 | #48 | #37 | Young pros → |
| AlaskaAK | #49 | #34 | #15 | #45 | #36 | #6 | #42 | Outdoor → |
| ArizonaAZ | #45 | #37 | #35 | #31 | #30 | #28 | #38 | Outdoor → |
| ArkansasAR | #44 | #45 | #39 | #38 | #35 | #49 | #48 | Small biz → |
| CaliforniaCA | #48 | #49 | #50 | #50 | #50 | #31 | #47 | Outdoor → |
| ColoradoCO | #22 | #16 | #23 | #20 | #20 | #15 | #18 | Outdoor → |
| ConnecticutCT | #8 | #24 | #37 | #19 | #32 | #20 | #16 | Families → |
| DelawareDE | #37 | #23 | #24 | #21 | #21 | #30 | #30 | Young pros → |
| FloridaFL | #24 | #18 | #27 | #24 | #19 | #26 | #21 | Retirees → |
| GeorgiaGA | #33 | #27 | #20 | #17 | #13 | #40 | #26 | Small biz → |
| HawaiiHI | #27 | #39 | #45 | #25 | #34 | #14 | #17 | Outdoor → |
| IdahoID | #7 | #2 | #3 | #2 | #2 | #4 | #4 | Retirees → |
| IllinoisIL | #23 | #47 | #48 | #42 | #48 | #39 | #39 | Families → |
| IndianaIN | #18 | #22 | #22 | #23 | #18 | #33 | #22 | Families → |
| IowaIA | #3 | #8 | #10 | #15 | #14 | #18 | #14 | Families → |
| KansasKS | #26 | #31 | #18 | #29 | #27 | #25 | #27 | Remote → |
| KentuckyKY | #25 | #46 | #46 | #44 | #43 | #43 | #41 | Families → |
| LouisianaLA | #47 | #50 | #47 | #49 | #49 | #50 | #50 | Families → |
| MaineME | #14 | #9 | #6 | #9 | #16 | #5 | #9 | Outdoor → |
| MarylandMD | #38 | #36 | #40 | #34 | #31 | #36 | #31 | Small biz → |
| MassachusettsMA | #9 | #19 | #42 | #35 | #29 | #16 | #13 | Families → |
| MichiganMI | #41 | #30 | #43 | #47 | #45 | #32 | #45 | Retirees → |
| MinnesotaMN | #15 | #11 | #13 | #11 | #17 | #12 | #12 | Retirees → |
| MississippiMS | #31 | #48 | #41 | #46 | #41 | #46 | #46 | Families → |
| MissouriMO | #34 | #32 | #33 | #32 | #26 | #41 | #34 | Small biz → |
| MontanaMT | #10 | #10 | #4 | #5 | #10 | #2 | #7 | Outdoor → |
| NebraskaNE | #12 | #7 | #9 | #6 | #7 | #19 | #10 | Young pros → |
| NevadaNV | #43 | #35 | #31 | #37 | #37 | #24 | #40 | Outdoor → |
| New HampshireNH | #1 | #6 | #8 | #4 | #4 | #7 | #1 | Families → |
| New JerseyNJ | #20 | #43 | #49 | #43 | #46 | #35 | #28 | Families → |
| New MexicoNM | #50 | #42 | #29 | #48 | #47 | #29 | #49 | Remote → |
| New YorkNY | #29 | #25 | #44 | #40 | #44 | #21 | #29 | Outdoor → |
| North CarolinaNC | #28 | #21 | #17 | #14 | #9 | #34 | #23 | Small biz → |
| North DakotaND | #5 | #4 | #5 | #3 | #3 | #11 | #5 | Young pros → |
| OhioOH | #21 | #29 | #36 | #36 | #33 | #37 | #33 | Families → |
| OklahomaOK | #46 | #41 | #21 | #26 | #28 | #42 | #43 | Remote → |
| OregonOR | #42 | #20 | #28 | #39 | #42 | #9 | #35 | Outdoor → |
| PennsylvaniaPA | #19 | #26 | #38 | #33 | #38 | #27 | #25 | Families → |
| Rhode IslandRI | #16 | #14 | #30 | #30 | #40 | #10 | #19 | Outdoor → |
| South CarolinaSC | #40 | #40 | #34 | #18 | #25 | #47 | #36 | Young pros → |
| South DakotaSD | #6 | #3 | #2 | #1 | #1 | #8 | #3 | Young pros → |
| TennesseeTN | #30 | #28 | #14 | #16 | #8 | #44 | #24 | Small biz → |
| TexasTX | #35 | #33 | #25 | #28 | #15 | #45 | #32 | Small biz → |
| UtahUT | #11 | #12 | #11 | #7 | #5 | #17 | #6 | Small biz → |
| VermontVT | #13 | #5 | #7 | #10 | #22 | #3 | #8 | Outdoor → |
| VirginiaVA | #17 | #15 | #16 | #13 | #12 | #23 | #15 | Small biz → |
| WashingtonWA | #32 | #17 | #19 | #27 | #23 | #13 | #20 | Outdoor → |
| West VirginiaWV | #36 | #38 | #32 | #41 | #39 | #38 | #44 | Remote → |
| WisconsinWI | #4 | #13 | #12 | #12 | #11 | #22 | #11 | Families → |
| WyomingWY | #2 | #1 | #1 | #8 | #6 | #1 | #2 | Retirees → |
Every lifestyle column is a rank of 50 (1 = best). Top 10 is highlighted in green and 41–50 in terracotta. Overall is the site-wide composite rank with no lifestyle weighting, the same one shown on every state page. Best fit links to the state's best cities for the lifestyle it ranks highest in.
Which States Are Strong No Matter Your Lifestyle?
6 states rank in the top 15 for all six lifestyles. If a household has mixed priorities, or you expect your priorities to change, start here.
Top 15 for every lifestyle
Families · Retirees · Remote · Young · Small · Outdoor- New Hampshiretop 10 for all six · #1 overall · Northeast#1#6#8#4#4#7
- Wyomingtop 10 for all six · #2 overall · West#2#1#1#8#6#1
- South Dakotatop 10 for all six · #3 overall · Midwest#6#3#2#1#1#8
- Idahotop 10 for all six · #4 overall · West#7#2#3#2#2#4
- North Dakotatop 10 for five of six · #5 overall · Midwest#5#4#5#3#3#11
- Montanatop 10 for all six · #7 overall · West#10#10#4#5#10#2
Pills are the state's rank for families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals, small business, outdoor enthusiasts, in that order. Green is top 10.
Best region for each lifestyle
Average lifestyle score of the states in each Census region.
| Lifestyle | NE | MW | S | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 73 | 72 | 59 | 60 |
| Retirees | 66 | 68 | 55 | 64 |
| Remote Workers | 51 | 57 | 50 | 56 |
| Young Professionals | 55 | 58 | 51 | 53 |
| Small Business | 53 | 61 | 56 | 56 |
| Outdoor Enthusiasts | 54 | 46 | 30 | 60 |
The Northeast leads for families, the Midwest leads for retirees, remote workers, young professionals, and small business, and the West leads for outdoor enthusiasts. Regions follow the Census Bureau groupings used across this site.
Which States Win One Lifestyle but Lose Another?
The five states whose rank moves the most depending on who is asking. The line runs from #1 on the left to #50 on the right and spans the state's best and worst lifestyle rank. These are the states an overall ranking misjudges most.
State
#1 → #50 · spreadAlaska is the extreme case: the outdoor enthusiasts ranking weights outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), and safety (15%), where Alaska is strong, while the families ranking weights education (20%), safety (20%), and affordability (18%). The state did not change; the question did.
How to Choose: Match Your Priorities to a Ranking
Find the line that sounds most like you and open that ranking. Each one is the same 50 states re-scored for that set of priorities.
“Kids in school, and safety and housing costs decide everything.”
“Fixed income, so taxes, healthcare, and home prices matter most.”
“Your paycheck comes from anywhere; you want it to go further.”
“Early career: job market, growth, and a place with things to do.”
“Starting or moving a business: tax climate, economy, and workforce.”
“Weekends outside: parks, public land, and clean air are the point.”
Mixed priorities? →
Start with the states that are top 10 for every lifestyle: New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana.
Down to two states? →
Put them head to head on every category and metric, starting with New Hampshire vs. Wyoming.
Need it on your income? →
The affordability calculator ranks every state by what your household keeps after housing, taxes, and childcare.
Which States Should You Avoid?
The five states that land in the bottom 10 for the most lifestyles. Even here, the best-showing column matters: a state that is #50 for retirees can still be a reasonable pick for a remote worker.
| State | Bottom 10 for | Overall | Best showing | Worst showing | All six |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 6 of 6 | #50 | #47 families | #50 retirees | #47#50#47#49#49#50 |
| California | 5 of 6 | #47 | #31 outdoor enthusiasts | #50 remote workers | #48#49#50#50#50#31 |
| Mississippi | 5 of 6 | #46 | #31 families | #48 retirees | #31#48#41#46#41#46 |
| Kentucky | 5 of 6 | #41 | #25 families | #46 retirees | #25#46#46#44#43#43 |
| New Mexico | 4 of 6 | #49 | #29 remote workers | #50 families | #50#42#29#48#47#29 |
Louisiana is in the bottom 10 for every lifestyle. Low ranks here usually trace to the same few categories, so check the state hub before writing a place off: a state can be #50 for retirees and still have an affordable, fast-growing city.
Why Do Best-State Rankings Disagree? The Weights
Every ranking, ours included, starts from similar government data and then decides how much each factor counts. That decision is the ranking. Here is every weight we use, so you can see exactly why a state lands where it does.
| Ranking | Economy | Safety | Health | Education | Fiscal Health | Growth | Affordability | Environment | Outdoor Access | Transportation | Livability | #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 15% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 7% | New Hampshire |
| Families | 8% | 20% | 12% | 20% | – | – | 18% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 10% | New Hampshire |
| Retirees | 4% | 12% | 20% | – | 20% | – | 18% | 8% | 3% | 5% | 10% | Wyoming |
| Remote Workers | 15% | 8% | – | – | 12% | 8% | 20% | 12% | 10% | 5% | 10% | Wyoming |
| Young Professionals | 22% | 8% | 8% | – | 5% | 18% | 15% | – | – | 12% | 12% | South Dakota |
| Small Business | 20% | 5% | – | 10% | 25% | 18% | 8% | – | 2% | 7% | 5% | South Dakota |
| Outdoor Enthusiasts | 5% | 15% | 12% | – | – | 3% | 10% | 15% | 30% | 5% | 5% | Wyoming |
Each row sums to 100%. Blue figures are the categories that ranking leans on most; a dash means the category is not counted at all.
One dataset, six questions
Every state has a 0–100 score in each of the 11 categories, built from government sources (Census, BLS, FBI, CDC, NAEP, BEA, and others). A lifestyle score multiplies those 11 category scores by the weights in the row above and adds them up. Nothing else changes.
Ranks, not just scores
Each lifestyle ranks the 50 states by its weighted score, so every state has six lifestyle ranks. The overall rank shown as a reference here is the site-wide composite with the weights in the top row, the same number on every state page and on the rankings page. This page adds no ranking of its own.
What the weights say
The families ranking puts 20% on education and 20% on safety; the retirees ranking puts 20% on fiscal health and 20% on health. The overall ranking spreads weight across all 11. That difference alone separates New Hampshire and Wyoming at #1.
What is not measured
Climate preference, distance from family, and a specific job offer are personal and are not scored. Cost of living is in the affordability category but at the state level; use the affordability calculator for your own income. Data comes from the latest release of each source (checked October 2026).
The category scores themselves, and how each raw metric is normalized, are documented on the methodology page.
Key Takeaways
Patterns across the six lists that no single ranking shows.
Three different states hold the six #1 spots
Wyoming for three of six lifestyles (retirees, remote workers, and outdoor enthusiasts), South Dakota for two of six lifestyles (young professionals and small business), and New Hampshire for families. Wyoming leads three lists, ranks #2 overall, and is top 10 for all six lifestyles. The overall #1 state, New Hampshire, is #1 for families, #6 for retirees, #8 for remote workers, #4 for young professionals, #4 for small business, and #7 for outdoor enthusiasts.
Only New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana are top 10 for all six lifestyles
New Hampshire is #1 for families, #6 for retirees, #8 for remote workers, #4 for young professionals, #4 for small business, and #7 for outdoor enthusiasts; Wyoming is #2 for families, #1 for retirees, #1 for remote workers, #8 for young professionals, #6 for small business, and #1 for outdoor enthusiasts; South Dakota is #6 for families, #3 for retirees, #2 for remote workers, #1 for young professionals, #1 for small business, and #8 for outdoor enthusiasts; Idaho is #7 for families, #2 for retirees, #3 for remote workers, #2 for young professionals, #2 for small business, and #4 for outdoor enthusiasts; Montana is #10 for families, #10 for retirees, #4 for remote workers, #5 for young professionals, #10 for small business, and #2 for outdoor enthusiasts. Widen the net to the top 15 and 6 states qualify: New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, North Dakota, and Montana. Only 19 of the 50 states make a top-10 list for any lifestyle; the other 31 never crack the top 10.
Alaska swings 43 places depending on who is asking
Alaska ranks #6 for outdoor enthusiasts but #49 for families, the widest gap of any state. Tennessee (#8 small business, #44 outdoor enthusiasts), Massachusetts (#9 families, #42 remote workers), and Oregon (#9 outdoor enthusiasts, #42 families) are the other big specialists. The lesson is that an overall rank hides as much as it shows.
The West holds 22 of the 60 top-10 slots; the South holds 2
The Northeast has the highest average score for families, the Midwest has the highest average score for retirees, remote workers, young professionals, and small business, and the West has the highest average score for outdoor enthusiasts. South states average 29.8 for outdoor enthusiasts, their weakest lifestyle, though North Carolina (#9 for small business) and Tennessee (#8 for small business) still make top-10 lists.
Retirees and remote workers share 10 of their top 10; small business and outdoor enthusiasts share 5
Lifestyles that weight the same categories (fiscal health, health, and affordability for retirees) end up with nearly the same states. Small business and outdoor enthusiasts pull in different directions, so a state that is great for one is often middling for the other. If you are choosing for a household with mixed priorities, start with the states that are top 10 for every lifestyle.
Alaska climbs 36 places for outdoor enthusiasts; Massachusetts drops 29 for remote workers
Alaska is #42 overall but #6 for outdoor enthusiasts, because that list weights outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), and safety (15%). Massachusetts goes the other way, from #13 overall to #42 for remote workers. California ranks last for three of the six lifestyles and #31 at best (outdoor enthusiasts).
Go Deeper
Best cities for retirees in Wyoming →
Every state hub ranks its tracked cities with the same lifestyle weights.
All 1,312 cities →
Search, sort, and filter every tracked city on score, income, home value, crime, and more.
Where people are actually moving →
IRS state-to-state migration: which states gain and lose households, and what movers earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state to move to in 2026?
There is no single best state to move to. The #1 state is Wyoming for retirees, remote workers, and outdoor enthusiasts; South Dakota for young professionals and small business; New Hampshire for families. Only New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana rank in the top 10 for all six. California ranks last for three of them. With no lifestyle weighting at all, New Hampshire ranks #1 overall. Each of the six rankings on this page uses the same government data with different category weights, so the best state to move to depends on which categories matter to you.
Which state should I move to?
Start with the lifestyle that matches your situation (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals, small business, and outdoor enthusiasts) and open that ranking. If your household has mixed priorities, start with the states that are top 10 for every lifestyle: New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana. Then compare your two or three candidates head to head, run the affordability calculator on your income, and check the state's best cities for your lifestyle, because a state rank is an average and its cities differ.
Which state has the best quality of life?
New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana are the only states in the top 10 for every lifestyle we score: New Hampshire is #1 for families, #6 for retirees, #8 for remote workers, #4 for young professionals, #4 for small business, and #7 for outdoor enthusiasts; Wyoming is #2 for families, #1 for retirees, #1 for remote workers, #8 for young professionals, #6 for small business, and #1 for outdoor enthusiasts; South Dakota is #6 for families, #3 for retirees, #2 for remote workers, #1 for young professionals, #1 for small business, and #8 for outdoor enthusiasts; Idaho is #7 for families, #2 for retirees, #3 for remote workers, #2 for young professionals, #2 for small business, and #4 for outdoor enthusiasts; Montana is #10 for families, #10 for retirees, #4 for remote workers, #5 for young professionals, #10 for small business, and #2 for outdoor enthusiasts. Widen the net to the top 15 and North Dakota also qualify. With no lifestyle weighting, New Hampshire ranks #1 overall; the single ranking of all 50 states is at americadashboard.com/rankings.
Is there one best state to live in for everyone?
No. Three different states hold the six #1 spots, and the lists only partly overlap: retirees and remote workers share 10 of their top 10 states, while small business and outdoor enthusiasts share only 5. Alaska is the clearest example: #6 for outdoor enthusiasts but #49 for families.
Why do best-state rankings disagree with each other?
Because they weight different things. Every published ranking, including ours, starts from similar government data on jobs, crime, health, schools, and housing, then decides how much each factor counts. That weighting is the ranking. On this page the families list puts 20% on education while the retirees list puts 20% on fiscal health, which is enough to move New Hampshire and Wyoming into different #1 spots. We publish every weight so you can see exactly why a state ranks where it does.
What is the worst state to move to?
Louisiana is in the bottom 10 for all six lifestyles, and California ranks last for three of them. By the overall ranking, the five lowest states are Louisiana (#50), New Mexico (#49), Arkansas (#48), California (#47), and Mississippi (#46). Louisiana is in the bottom 10 for every lifestyle. Even these states have a relative strength: Louisiana's best showing is #47 for families.
What is the best state to raise a family?
New Hampshire ranks #1 for families with a score of 89.6 out of 100, followed by Wyoming (86.8) and Iowa (81.7). The ranking weights education (20%), safety (20%), and affordability (18%) most heavily, and the Northeast has the highest average score. New Mexico ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for families at americadashboard.com/best-places/families.
What is the best state to retire in?
Wyoming ranks #1 for retirees with a score of 85.6 out of 100, followed by Idaho (84.8) and South Dakota (82.8). The ranking weights fiscal health (20%), health (20%), and affordability (18%) most heavily, and the Midwest has the highest average score. Louisiana ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for retirees at americadashboard.com/best-places/retirees.
What is the best state for young adults and young professionals?
South Dakota ranks #1 for young professionals with a score of 81.7 out of 100, followed by Idaho (77.2) and North Dakota (75.9). The ranking weights economy (22%), growth (18%), and affordability (15%) most heavily, and the Midwest has the highest average score. California ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for young professionals at americadashboard.com/best-places/young-professionals.
What is the best state for remote workers?
Wyoming ranks #1 for remote workers with a score of 83.6 out of 100, followed by South Dakota (83.3) and Idaho (80.2). The ranking weights affordability (20%), economy (15%), and environment (12%) most heavily, and the Midwest has the highest average score. California ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for remote workers at americadashboard.com/best-places/remote-workers.
What is the best state to start a small business?
South Dakota ranks #1 for small business with a score of 87.4 out of 100, followed by Idaho (80.2) and North Dakota (79.1). The ranking weights fiscal health (25%), economy (20%), and growth (18%) most heavily, and the Midwest has the highest average score. California ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for small business at americadashboard.com/best-places/small-business.
What is the best state for outdoor lovers?
Wyoming ranks #1 for outdoor enthusiasts with a score of 95.0 out of 100, followed by Montana (81.7) and Vermont (81.1). The ranking weights outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), and safety (15%) most heavily, and the West has the highest average score. Louisiana ranks last. All 50 states are ranked for outdoor enthusiasts at americadashboard.com/best-places/outdoor-enthusiasts.
What is the cheapest state to live in that is still a good place to live?
Arkansas has the lowest cost of living index (86.9 against a US baseline of 100) and ranks #48 overall. Among states in the top half of the overall ranking, the cheapest are Iowa (index 87.8, #14 overall), South Dakota (index 88.6, #3 overall), and North Dakota (index 89, #5 overall). The affordability calculator at americadashboard.com/affordability ranks every state by what a household keeps after housing, taxes, childcare, utilities, and groceries at your income.
Which states have no income tax, and are they good places to live?
Nine states levy no broad-based personal income tax: Wyoming, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Washington, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Alaska, and Nevada. No-income-tax states hold the #1 spot for six of the six lifestyles (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals, small business, and outdoor enthusiasts). For retirees the best-ranked no-tax states are Wyoming (#1), South Dakota (#3), and New Hampshire (#6), while Nevada ranks #35. No income tax often comes with higher sales or property taxes, so the fiscal category uses total tax burden rather than the income tax rate alone.
How are the best-states-to-move-to rankings calculated?
Every state is scored 0 to 100 in 11 categories (economy, safety, health, education, fiscal health, growth, affordability, environment, outdoor access, transportation, and livability) from government sources such as the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, CDC, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Each lifestyle ranking applies its own weights to those same category scores. For example, the families ranking weights education 20%, safety 20%, and affordability 18%, while the retirees ranking weights fiscal health 20%, health 20%, and affordability 18%. The overall ranking at americadashboard.com/rankings uses a seventh set of weights spread across all 11 categories. The underlying data never changes; only the weights do.
Do these rankings cover cities as well as states?
Yes. Every state page lists its tracked cities scored with the same lifestyle weights, so you can go from "best state for families" to "best cities for families in that state" (for example americadashboard.com/state/new-hampshire/best-for/families). The site tracks every US city of 50,000 or more plus the largest places in each state, and the cities index lets you search and sort all of them.