The Most Livable States in America (2026)
Livability captures whether people actually want to live somewhere — measured through quantifiable proxies from government data. Our livability score combines net domestic migration rate from the Census Bureau (30%), restaurants per capita from Census County Business Patterns (25%), arts and entertainment establishments per capita (20%), social associations per capita (15%), and bars/breweries per capita (10%). Livability carries a 7% weight in the composite. States that attract new residents and have vibrant food, arts, and social scenes score highest. This category uses measurable proxies for subjective qualities like 'vibe' and cultural vibrancy.
Livability Score by State
Key Takeaways
- 1Montana leads the nation in livability with a score of 70.1, 8.3 points ahead of #2 Maine. The top 3 is rounded out by Rhode Island at 59.6.
- 2The Northeast dominates: 6 of the top 10 states are in the Northeast. Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York lead the way for the region.
- 3The 54.8-point gap between #1 Montana and #50 Mississippi is one of the widest spreads across all categories. The median state scores 37.5, meaning half of all states fall below this threshold.
- 4The bottom 5 — Louisiana, Maryland, Utah, Kentucky, Mississippi — are concentrated in the South, with 3 of 5 from that region. Mississippi ranks last with a score of 15.3, signaling persistent challenges in livability.
- 5Despite ranking #1 in livability, Montana sits at #12 overall — a notable divergence that shows category leadership doesn't always translate to top composite scores. This gap suggests Montana has room to improve in other areas to climb the overall rankings.
Related Analysis
Best States to Live in 2026: Top 10 Ranked
Every year, millions of Americans weigh whether to stay put or move somewhere new. We scored all 50 states across eleven categories — economy, safety, health, education, fiscal health, growth, affordability, environment, outdoor access, transportation, and livability — using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, FBI, EPA, NPS, and America's Health Rankings.
Read the full analysis →The most livable state in America in 2026 is Montana with a livability score of 70.1/100, followed by Maine (61.8) and Rhode Island (59.6). See the full rankings below.
| Rank | State | Grade | Livability Score | Overall Score | Key Metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | A+ | 70.1 | 71.1 | +4.8 migration · 2.022 restaurants/1K · 0.038 arts/1K | West |
| 2 | Maine | A+ | 61.8 | 77.3 | +3.8 migration · 2.154 restaurants/1K · 0.028 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 3 | Rhode Island | A+ | 59.6 | 69.8 | -0.3 migration · 2.287 restaurants/1K · 0.026 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 4 | Wyoming | A+ | 57.2 | 69.4 | +1.5 migration · 1.856 restaurants/1K · 0.034 arts/1K | West |
| 5 | Delaware | A+ | 56.9 | 52.3 | +7.9 migration · 1.852 restaurants/1K · 0.044 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 6 | New Hampshire | A | 56.2 | 87.8 | +3.5 migration · 2.124 restaurants/1K · 0.032 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 7 | Vermont | A | 55.9 | 79.6 | -0.8 migration · 1.918 restaurants/1K · 0.045 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 8 | New York | A | 55.1 | 58.4 | -6.2 migration · 2.261 restaurants/1K · 0.078 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 9 | South Dakota | A | 54.3 | 81.8 | +2.3 migration · 1.67 restaurants/1K · 0.04 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 10 | Oregon | A | 53.9 | 58.1 | -0.3 migration · 2.161 restaurants/1K · 0.035 arts/1K | West |
| 11 | Nevada | B+ | 53.5 | 40.3 | +5.3 migration · 1.877 restaurants/1K · 0.051 arts/1K | West |
| 12 | Tennessee | B+ | 51.3 | 46.8 | +6.8 migration · 1.701 restaurants/1K · 0.08 arts/1K | South |
| 13 | Alaska | B+ | 48.4 | 42.1 | -5.1 migration · 1.852 restaurants/1K · 0.044 arts/1K | West |
| 14 | North Dakota | B+ | 47.3 | 76.6 | -0.4 migration · 1.686 restaurants/1K · 0.027 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 15 | South Carolina | B+ | 46.3 | 44.0 | +12.7 migration · 1.761 restaurants/1K · 0.02 arts/1K | South |
| 16 | Colorado | B+ | 45.3 | 66.2 | +0.9 migration · 1.941 restaurants/1K · 0.034 arts/1K | West |
| 17 | Minnesota | B+ | 44.6 | 76.7 | -0.2 migration · 1.529 restaurants/1K · 0.045 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 18 | Massachusetts | B+ | 43.2 | 72.8 | -3.9 migration · 2.041 restaurants/1K · 0.03 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 19 | Idaho | B | 42.6 | 70.7 | +8.3 migration · 1.668 restaurants/1K · 0.02 arts/1K | West |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | B | 41.5 | 60.3 | -0.9 migration · 1.704 restaurants/1K · 0.025 arts/1K | Northeast |
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| 21 | Nebraska | B | 41.3 | 74.9 | -0.8 migration · 1.733 restaurants/1K · 0.019 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 22 | Connecticut | B | 40.7 | 73.5 | -1.7 migration · 2.066 restaurants/1K · 0.027 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 23 | Wisconsin | B | 39.5 | 65.2 | +1.1 migration · 1.712 restaurants/1K · 0.025 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 24 | Washington | B | 39.0 | 61.4 | +0.3 migration · 1.897 restaurants/1K · 0.026 arts/1K | West |
| 25 | Hawaii | B | 38.3 | 63.2 | -6.5 migration · 2.198 restaurants/1K · 0.034 arts/1K | West |
| 26 | California | B | 37.5 | 42.9 | -6.1 migration · 2.016 restaurants/1K · 0.047 arts/1K | West |
| 27 | North Carolina | C+ | 37.4 | 53.7 | +7.6 migration · 1.743 restaurants/1K · 0.017 arts/1K | South |
| 28 | Illinois | C+ | 36.8 | 52.0 | -4.5 migration · 1.833 restaurants/1K · 0.033 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 29 | Missouri | C+ | 36.0 | 49.3 | +2 migration · 1.675 restaurants/1K · 0.028 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 30 | Indiana | C+ | 35.0 | 50.7 | +0.6 migration · 1.664 restaurants/1K · 0.015 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 31 | Iowa | C+ | 34.9 | 69.5 | -0.1 migration · 1.65 restaurants/1K · 0.017 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 32 | Florida | C+ | 34.1 | 52.8 | +2.8 migration · 1.687 restaurants/1K · 0.033 arts/1K | South |
| 33 | Ohio | C+ | 33.9 | 49.1 | -0.2 migration · 1.724 restaurants/1K · 0.013 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 34 | West Virginia | C+ | 33.9 | 34.4 | +2.6 migration · 1.564 restaurants/1K · 0.012 arts/1K | South |
| 35 | Virginia | C | 31.4 | 74.9 | +0.6 migration · 1.821 restaurants/1K · 0.021 arts/1K | South |
| 36 | Oklahoma | C | 30.5 | 41.5 | +3.5 migration · 1.687 restaurants/1K · 0.016 arts/1K | South |
| 37 | New Jersey | C | 30.2 | 65.9 | -3.8 migration · 1.965 restaurants/1K · 0.026 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 38 | Georgia | C | 30.1 | 51.5 | +2.3 migration · 1.775 restaurants/1K · 0.022 arts/1K | South |
| 39 | Kansas | C | 27.8 | 59.3 | -1.6 migration · 1.699 restaurants/1K · 0.018 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 40 | Texas | C | 27.7 | 45.8 | +2.8 migration · 1.681 restaurants/1K · 0.016 arts/1K | South |
| 41 | Arizona | C | 27.5 | 44.7 | +4.7 migration · 1.552 restaurants/1K · 0.018 arts/1K | West |
| 42 | Michigan | C | 26.9 | 47.7 | -0.8 migration · 1.657 restaurants/1K · 0.017 arts/1K | Midwest |
| 43 | Alabama | D | 26.2 | 38.9 | +5.1 migration · 1.568 restaurants/1K · 0.014 arts/1K | South |
| 44 | New Mexico | D | 25.7 | 33.1 | -0.7 migration · 1.604 restaurants/1K · 0.025 arts/1K | West |
| 45 | Arkansas | D | 24.8 | 30.9 | +4.4 migration · 1.601 restaurants/1K · 0.011 arts/1K | South |
| 46 | Louisiana | D | 23.2 | 25.9 | -3.8 migration · 1.728 restaurants/1K · 0.016 arts/1K | South |
| 47 | Maryland | D | 22.9 | 67.7 | -3 migration · 1.656 restaurants/1K · 0.021 arts/1K | Northeast |
| 48 | Utah | D | 22.6 | 79.3 | +0.9 migration · 1.549 restaurants/1K · 0.028 arts/1K | West |
| 49 | Kentucky | F | 19.7 | 38.4 | +1.6 migration · 1.509 restaurants/1K · 0.013 arts/1K | South |
| 50 | Mississippi | F | 15.3 | 31.5 | -1.7 migration · 1.656 restaurants/1K · 0.009 arts/1K | South |
Top 10 States for Livability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most livable state in America in 2026?
Montana ranks #1 for livability in 2026, followed by Maine and Rhode Island, based on net migration, restaurants, arts establishments, and social associations per capita.
Which states are the least livable?
The states with the lowest livability scores in 2026 are Mississippi, Kentucky, and Utah, due to net out-migration and fewer cultural and social amenities per capita.
How is the livability score calculated?
The livability score combines Census net domestic migration rate (30%), restaurants per capita (25%), arts/entertainment establishments per capita (20%), social associations per capita (15%), and bars/breweries per capita (10%). It carries a 7% weight.