The Most Livable States in America: All 50 Ranked
Montana is the most livable state in 2026, scoring 61.9 out of 100 on local amenities and who is moving in. Maine (55.0) and Wyoming (50.5) follow; Mississippi ranks last at 17.5.
“Livability” here means two things you can count: how many restaurants, bars, performing arts companies and civic clubs a state has for its population, and whether more people move in from other states than move out. It does not score safety, health or cost, so this page shows those ranks alongside, plus where people are moving and the most walkable cities. How the score works →
- Net domestic migration per 1,000
- +5.6
- Restaurants per 100,000
- 201
- Overall rank
- #7
Pick your state to see where it ranks for livability, the numbers behind its rank, and how it compares with the #1 state. We'll remember it on the other ranking pages.
Livability by the Numbers
The national lines every state is measured against. Establishment rates are counts of business locations with paid employees for every 100,000 residents.
Read the national overview
The typical state scores 34.3 out of 100 for livability; 1 state scores 60 or higher and 20 below 30. The US has about 181 restaurants per 100,000 residents, from 152 in Kentucky to 230 in Rhode Island. Bars vary far more: 47 per 100,000 in Montana against 2.0 in New Hampshire. In the latest Census estimate year, the year the score uses, 31 states gained residents from the rest of the country and 19 lost them, from +12.0 per 1,000 in South Carolina to -6.9 in New York. The Northeast averages 40.9 and the South 27.8, even though the South averages +3.3 movers per 1,000: amenities per resident, not growth, separate the regions.
Livability Map: All 50 States
Darker states score higher. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its livability rank, score, and grade in the panel.
Most and Least Livable States
The 10 highest and 10 lowest livability scores, with each state's net migration per 1,000 residents and overall rank. Montana leads on the strength of its bars; Mississippi is last.
Top 10 most livable states
Score · grade- 1Montana+5.6 net migration · #7 overall61.9A+
- 2Maine+5.2 net migration · #9 overall55.0A+
- 3Wyoming+2.5 net migration · #2 overall50.5A+
- 4New Hampshire+4.6 net migration · #1 overall50.1A+
- 5New York-6.9 net migration · #29 overall49.4A+
- 6Vermont-1.1 net migration · #8 overall48.5A
- 7Rhode Island-1.4 net migration · #19 overall48.2A
- 8Oregon+0.5 net migration · #35 overall48.0A
- 9Tennessee+5.8 net migration · #24 overall47.0A
- 10Delaware+6.5 net migration · #30 overall46.4A
10 least livable states
Score · grade- 50Mississippi-0.3 net migration · #46 overall17.5F
- 49Kentucky+1.6 net migration · #41 overall18.3F
- 48Utah+0.9 net migration · #6 overall19.7D
- 47Louisiana-3.1 net migration · #50 overall20.3D
- 46Maryland-1.9 net migration · #31 overall21.7D
- 45Alabama+4.5 net migration · #37 overall22.8D
- 44New Mexico-1.1 net migration · #49 overall22.9D
- 43Texas+2.1 net migration · #32 overall23.6D
- 42Arizona+4.1 net migration · #38 overall24.3C
- 41Michigan+0.2 net migration · #45 overall24.7C
Restaurants, Bars, Arts and Clubs per Capita
The four amenity counts behind 70% of the score, per 100,000 residents. Green is above the national rate, red below. Rhode Island has the most restaurants for its size, New York the most performing arts companies, Vermont the most civic and social organizations and Montana the most bars.
Most restaurants per 100,000
US 181- 1Rhode Island#7 for livability230
- 2New York#5 for livability224
- 3Hawaii#20 for livability224
- 4Oregon#8 for livability219
- 5Maine#2 for livability214
- 6New Hampshire#4 for livability211
- 7Connecticut#19 for livability205
- 8Massachusetts#23 for livability204
Fewest: Kentucky (152).
Most performing arts companies per 100,000
US 3.1- 1New York#5 for livability7.8
- 1Tennessee#9 for livability7.8
- 3Nevada#11 for livability5.1
- 4Vermont#6 for livability4.7
- 5California#27 for livability4.6
- 6Minnesota#17 for livability4.4
- 7Alaska#16 for livability4.2
- 8Delaware#10 for livability4.0
Fewest: Mississippi (0.9).
Most civic and social organizations per 100,000
US 7.2- 1Vermont#6 for livability22
- 2Wyoming#3 for livability20
- 3Alaska#16 for livability19
- 4North Dakota#13 for livability19
- 5Minnesota#17 for livability17
- 6Pennsylvania#22 for livability16
- 7Maine#2 for livability16
- 8Montana#1 for livability15
Fewest: Nevada (2.9).
Most museums and historical sites per 100,000
US 2.4 · not scoredWhat the counts mean: County Business Patterns counts business locations with paid employees by industry. Restaurants include full-service and limited-service eating places. Arts means performing arts companies (theater, dance and music groups), not galleries or cinemas. Civic and social organizations are membership groups with staff, such as fraternal lodges, veterans' posts and service clubs. Bars are drinking places whose main business is alcohol.
Museums, historical sites and similar institutions come from the same Census file and are shown here for context; they are not part of the score. Maine has the most per resident. Volunteer-run venues, parks and outdoor recreation are not counted; see the outdoor access rankings for parks and public land.
Where Are People Moving? Net Migration by State
Net domestic migration is 30% of the score: movers from other states minus movers to them, per 1,000 residents, in the latest Census estimate year. South Carolina gains the most (+12.0) and New York loses the most (-6.9). Each state links to its full migration page.
Biggest net gains per 1,000
Biggest net losses per 1,000
The 10 biggest net gains in households (IRS)
| State | Moved in | Moved out | Net | Avg. income in | Avg. income out | Top origin | Livability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 307,240 | 250,767 | +56,473 | $84K | $80K | California | #43 |
| Florida | 354,112 | 298,763 | +55,349 | $123K | $76K | New York | #36 |
| North Carolina | 170,751 | 131,633 | +39,118 | $80K | $74K | Florida | #21 |
| South Carolina | 99,779 | 70,565 | +29,214 | $88K | $67K | North Carolina | #14 |
| Tennessee | 113,788 | 89,684 | +24,104 | $79K | $70K | Florida | #9 |
| Arizona | 121,675 | 104,359 | +17,316 | $87K | $76K | California | #42 |
| Georgia | 148,244 | 133,573 | +14,671 | $70K | $72K | Florida | #33 |
| Colorado | 121,390 | 110,049 | +11,341 | $83K | $85K | Texas | #24 |
| Washington | 122,184 | 112,345 | +9,839 | $90K | $100K | California | #25 |
| Nevada | 66,782 | 57,805 | +8,977 | $87K | $75K | California | #11 |
IRS Statistics of Income migration data counts households (tax returns) whose filing address moved between states, and their average adjusted gross income. It ranks by total households, so big states lead; the score uses the Census rate per 1,000 residents instead. Neither counts people moving within a state.
Quality of Life Beyond Amenities
Readers asking which states have the best quality of life usually mean more than restaurants and migration. These views put the livability rank next to safety, health and affordability. They do not change the ranking.
Strongest all-rounders: livability, safety, health and affordability together
| # | State | Livability | Safety | Health | Affordability | Average rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | #3 | #6 | #29 | #18 | 14.0 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | #4 | #2 | #11 | #40 | 14.3 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | #7 | #3 | #6 | #43 | 14.8 |
| 4 | Idaho | #15 | #5 | #16 | #24 | 15.0 |
| 5 | Maine | #2 | #1 | #26 | #36 | 16.3 |
| 6 | Vermont | #6 | #17 | #8 | #37 | 17.0 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | #18 | #8 | #18 | #25 | 17.3 |
| 8 | Iowa | #34 | #12 | #20 | #5 | 17.8 |
| 9 | North Dakota | #13 | #27 | #23 | #9 | 18.0 |
| 10 | South Dakota | #12 | #25 | #28 | #8 | 18.3 |
Ordered by the mean of the four category ranks (1 = best). This is a reading aid, not a separate ranking; the overall rankings weigh all 11 categories.
Livable and affordable (top 20 for both)
Afford. rank- 3WyomingPrice level 92.7 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $372K#18
- 9TennesseePrice level 91.9 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $334K#17
- 12South DakotaPrice level 88.6 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $322K#8
- 13North DakotaPrice level 89 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $292K#9
- 14South CarolinaPrice level 93.7 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $306K#16
Left column: livability rank. Price level is the BEA regional price parity.
Livable but expensive (bottom third for affordability)
Afford. rank- 2MainePrice level 97.1 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $416K#36
- 4New HampshirePrice level 104.2 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $516K#40
- 5New YorkPrice level 107.9 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $527K#47
- 6VermontPrice level 98 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $399K#37
- 7Rhode IslandPrice level 102.3 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $511K#43
- 8OregonPrice level 103.4 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $496K#44
- 16AlaskaPrice level 102.4 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $399K#42
- 19ConnecticutPrice level 103.6 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $451K#41
- 20HawaiiPrice level 110 (US 100) · Zillow typical home $833K#50
Check what a salary covers in each state with the affordability calculator, or compare two states head to head on /compare.
All 50 States Ranked by Livability
Every state's livability score, the five inputs behind it, and its safety, health and affordability ranks for context. Click a column header to re-sort, search for a state, or filter by region, grade or migration. The # column is always the livability rank.
| # | Grade | Region | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Montana | 61.9 | +5.6 | 201 | 47 | 3.8 | 15 | #26 | #36 | #22 | #7 | A+ | West |
| 2Maine | 55.0 | +5.2 | 214 | 10 | 2.7 | 16 | #36 | #1 | #26 | #9 | A+ | Northeast |
| 3Wyoming | 50.5 | +2.5 | 189 | 24 | 3.2 | 20 | #18 | #6 | #29 | #2 | A+ | West |
| 4New Hampshire | 50.1 | +4.6 | 211 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 12 | #40 | #2 | #11 | #1 | A+ | Northeast |
| 5New York | 49.4 | -6.9 | 224 | 17 | 7.8 | 7.1 | #47 | #34 | #3 | #29 | A+ | Northeast |
| 6Vermont | 48.5 | -1.1 | 187 | 16 | 4.7 | 22 | #37 | #17 | #8 | #8 | A | Northeast |
| 7Rhode Island | 48.2 | -1.4 | 230 | 21 | 2.6 | 11 | #43 | #3 | #6 | #19 | A | Northeast |
| 8Oregon | 48.0 | +0.5 | 219 | 23 | 3.5 | 7.6 | #44 | #39 | #14 | #35 | A | West |
| 9Tennessee | 47.0 | +5.8 | 169 | 5.2 | 7.8 | 5.2 | #17 | #45 | #46 | #24 | A | South |
| 10Delaware | 46.4 | +6.5 | 187 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 9.1 | #30 | #29 | #30 | #30 | A | Northeast |
| 11Nevada | 45.7 | +4.6 | 189 | 21 | 5.1 | 2.9 | #33 | #42 | #34 | #40 | B+ | West |
| 12South Dakota | 42.2 | +2.3 | 169 | 37 | 3.2 | 14 | #8 | #25 | #28 | #3 | B+ | Midwest |
| 13North Dakota | 42.1 | +0.6 | 168 | 47 | 2.1 | 19 | #9 | #27 | #23 | #5 | B+ | Midwest |
| 14South Carolina | 41.8 | +12.0 | 175 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 4.4 | #16 | #38 | #38 | #36 | B+ | South |
| 15Idaho | 39.6 | +9.9 | 164 | 18 | 2.3 | 5.9 | #24 | #5 | #16 | #4 | B+ | West |
| 16Alaska | 38.2 | -6.1 | 188 | 20 | 4.2 | 19 | #42 | #50 | #37 | #42 | B+ | West |
| 17Minnesota | 36.5 | +1.4 | 152 | 16 | 4.4 | 17 | #29 | #18 | #9 | #12 | B+ | Midwest |
| 18Wisconsin | 35.9 | +1.2 | 171 | 46 | 2.6 | 6.5 | #25 | #8 | #18 | #11 | B+ | Midwest |
| 19Connecticut | 35.7 | -1.6 | 205 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 8.1 | #41 | #4 | #10 | #16 | B | Northeast |
| 20Hawaii | 34.5 | -6.2 | 224 | 11 | 3.7 | 4.0 | #50 | #21 | #2 | #17 | B | West |
| 21North Carolina | 34.5 | +7.6 | 173 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 4.8 | #21 | #33 | #32 | #23 | B | South |
| 22Pennsylvania | 34.4 | -0.2 | 170 | 16 | 2.5 | 16 | #27 | #15 | #21 | #25 | B | Northeast |
| 23Massachusetts | 34.3 | -4.7 | 204 | 8.4 | 3.1 | 12 | #48 | #19 | #1 | #13 | B | Northeast |
| 24Colorado | 34.2 | -2.0 | 193 | 15 | 3.4 | 7.5 | #38 | #46 | #7 | #18 | B | West |
| 25Washington | 33.9 | +1.2 | 188 | 13 | 2.5 | 6.9 | #46 | #30 | #13 | #20 | B | West |
| 26Nebraska | 32.4 | -0.2 | 173 | 26 | 1.9 | 12 | #12 | #16 | #25 | #10 | B | Midwest |
| 27California | 31.7 | -5.8 | 203 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 5.5 | #49 | #43 | #5 | #47 | C+ | West |
| 28Illinois | 31.4 | -3.1 | 184 | 23 | 3.4 | 7.8 | #32 | #22 | #24 | #39 | C+ | Midwest |
| 29Missouri | 31.2 | +2.2 | 170 | 11 | 2.8 | 8.0 | #14 | #40 | #36 | #34 | C+ | Midwest |
| 30Indiana | 30.0 | +1.8 | 166 | 12 | 1.6 | 13 | #19 | #11 | #39 | #22 | C+ | Midwest |
| 31Ohio | 29.8 | +1.0 | 174 | 15 | 1.3 | 11 | #15 | #24 | #35 | #33 | C+ | Midwest |
| 32West Virginia | 29.1 | +3.6 | 159 | 16 | 1.2 | 12 | #6 | #9 | #49 | #44 | C+ | South |
| 33Georgia | 28.1 | +2.4 | 177 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 3.8 | #23 | #26 | #40 | #26 | C+ | South |
| 34Iowa | 27.6 | -0.3 | 166 | 27 | 1.7 | 9.6 | #5 | #12 | #20 | #14 | C+ | Midwest |
| 35Virginia | 27.3 | +0.7 | 180 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 7.0 | #34 | #13 | #17 | #15 | C | South |
| 36Florida | 26.9 | +1.0 | 167 | 7.8 | 3.4 | 4.7 | #31 | #23 | #19 | #21 | C | South |
| 37Oklahoma | 26.7 | +3.5 | 167 | 9.1 | 1.6 | 5.7 | #4 | #41 | #48 | #43 | C | South |
| 38Kansas | 26.0 | -0.2 | 172 | 9.7 | 1.8 | 9.1 | #10 | #44 | #33 | #27 | C | Midwest |
| 39New Jersey | 25.7 | -3.9 | 196 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 4.4 | #45 | #7 | #4 | #28 | C | Northeast |
| 40Arkansas | 24.8 | +4.7 | 163 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 5.7 | #2 | #47 | #47 | #48 | C | South |
| 41Michigan | 24.7 | +0.2 | 167 | 13 | 1.8 | 7.8 | #22 | #31 | #27 | #45 | C | Midwest |
| 42Arizona | 24.3 | +4.1 | 157 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 4.8 | #35 | #32 | #31 | #38 | C | West |
| 43Texas | 23.6 | +2.1 | 168 | 9.4 | 1.5 | 4.4 | #20 | #35 | #41 | #32 | D | South |
| 44New Mexico | 22.9 | -1.1 | 165 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 8.2 | #13 | #49 | #42 | #49 | D | West |
| 45Alabama | 22.8 | +4.5 | 157 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 4.9 | #7 | #28 | #45 | #37 | D | South |
| 46Maryland | 21.7 | -1.9 | 167 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 8.2 | #39 | #37 | #15 | #31 | D | Northeast |
| 47Louisiana | 20.3 | -3.1 | 174 | 18 | 1.6 | 5.5 | #3 | #48 | #44 | #50 | D | South |
| 48Utah | 19.7 | +0.9 | 155 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 3.2 | #28 | #20 | #12 | #6 | D | West |
| 49Kentucky | 18.3 | +1.6 | 152 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 5.7 | #11 | #10 | #43 | #41 | F | South |
| 50Mississippi | 17.5 | -0.3 | 169 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 4.7 | #1 | #14 | #50 | #46 | F | South |
Score combines net domestic migration (30%) with restaurants (25%), performing arts companies (20%), civic and social organizations (15%) and bars (10%) per resident, each on a fixed 0-100 scale. Migration is net domestic migration (movers from other states minus movers to them, per 1,000 residents) from the Census population estimates, the figure used in the score. Establishment columns are per 100,000 residents (Census County Business Patterns). Afford., Safety and Health are the state's ranks in those categories, shown alongside but not part of the livability score. Overall is the rank across all 11 categories.
The Most Walkable Cities in the US
Cities do not have county business counts, so on city pages livability is walkability: the EPA National Walkability Index, 1 to 20, averaged over each city's neighborhoods by population. Among the 346 tracked cities with 100,000+ residents, San Francisco, CA is the most walkable.
| # | City | Walk index | Category | Walk to work | Transit | Commute | Avg temp | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San FranciscoCA | 16.0 | Most walkable | 9.4% | 18.7% | 30.4 min | 58°F | 830,235 |
| 2 | BerkeleyCA | 15.9 | Most walkable | 13.6% | 12.4% | 27.8 min | 59°F | 120,257 |
| 3 | SeattleWA | 15.8 | Most walkable | 8.1% | 11.9% | 26 min | 54°F | 754,195 |
| 4 | AllentownPA | 15.8 | Most walkable | 3.7% | 3.3% | 24.6 min | 53°F | 125,976 |
| 5 | CambridgeMA | 15.8 | Most walkable | 19.2% | 18% | 25.8 min | 51°F | 118,796 |
| 6 | PortlandOR | 15.7 | Most walkable | 4.3% | 6.1% | 24.1 min | 55°F | 641,165 |
| 7 | ProvidenceRI | 15.6 | Most walkable | 7.3% | 4.1% | 25 min | 52°F | 191,767 |
| 8 | BostonMA | 15.1 | Above average walkable | 13.4% | 22.6% | 30.3 min | 52°F | 666,442 |
| 9 | MiamiFL | 15.1 | Above average walkable | 5.2% | 7.1% | 27.3 min | 77°F | 459,745 |
| 10 | PhiladelphiaPA | 14.9 | Above average walkable | 7.1% | 16.7% | 31.7 min | 56°F | 1,579,706 |
| 11 | MinneapolisMN | 14.9 | Above average walkable | 5.8% | 6.8% | 22 min | 47°F | 427,246 |
| 12 | PittsburghPA | 14.8 | Above average walkable | 9.6% | 11.5% | 22.7 min | 52°F | 304,759 |
| 13 | QuincyMA | 14.8 | Above average walkable | 2.5% | 16.3% | 34.7 min | 51°F | 102,114 |
| 14 | TorranceCA | 14.7 | Above average walkable | 0.9% | 0.9% | 26.9 min | 63°F | 142,130 |
| 15 | LowellMA | 14.7 | Above average walkable | 4.1% | 1.6% | 27.9 min | 49°F | 118,368 |
Cities with at least 100,000 residents. The EPA index scores street intersection density, distance to transit and the mix of homes and jobs in each neighborhood; it does not measure sidewalks, shops or safety. 7 cities clear 15.25, the EPA's “most walkable” line. Commute and walk-to-work shares come from the Census American Community Survey; temperatures from NOAA climate normals.
Walkable cities priced below the US average
Walk index- 1Pittsburgh, PAPrice level 94.7 (US 100)14.8
- 2Madison, WIPrice level 97.3 (US 100)14.2
- 3Syracuse, NYPrice level 95.7 (US 100)14.2
- 4St. Louis, MOPrice level 95.1 (US 100)14.1
- 5Milwaukee, WIPrice level 96.9 (US 100)14.0
- 6Rochester, NYPrice level 97 (US 100)13.9
- 7New Orleans, LAPrice level 92.6 (US 100)13.7
- 8Lincoln, NEPrice level 91.6 (US 100)13.7
Above-average or better walkability in a metro area whose BEA price level is under 100.
Most walkable city in each top-10 state
Walk index- 1Bozeman, MTMontana · #1 for livability15.3
- 2Portland, MEMaine · #2 for livability14.7
- 3Casper, WYWyoming · #3 for livability10.0
- 4Manchester, NHNew Hampshire · #4 for livability8.4
- 5Hempstead, NYNew York · #5 for livability15.0
- 7Providence, RIRhode Island · #7 for livability15.6
- 8Portland, OROregon · #8 for livability15.7
- 9Memphis, TNTennessee · #9 for livability11.8
- 10Wilmington, DEDelaware · #10 for livability14.9
Cities of 50,000+ residents. Left column: the state's livability rank. Vermont has no tracked city of 50,000+, so it is left out.
Least walkable big cities
Walk index- 346San Tan Valley, AZ36.4 min commute6.3
- 345Buckeye, AZ33.3 min commute6.5
- 344Clarksville, TN27 min commute6.7
- 343Augusta, GA21.1 min commute6.9
- 342Fayetteville, NC19.1 min commute7.0
- 341Macon, GA22.2 min commute7.1
- 340Columbus, GA20.9 min commute7.2
- 339Brownsville, TX21.4 min commute7.2
Position among the 346 cities with 100,000+ residents.
How the Livability Score Is Calculated
Five public counts, each placed on a fixed scale and weighted into one score. Here is what each number means and what it leaves out.
Net domestic migration
30%Movers from other states minus movers to them, per 1,000 residents, from the Census Bureau's population estimates for the latest Census estimate year. Scale: -6.5 (0 points) to +13 (100). 31 states are above zero that year.
Restaurants
25%Establishments with paid employees per resident, from Census County Business Patterns. The scale runs from 150 (0 points) to 230 (100) per 100,000 residents. The US figure is 181.
Performing arts companies
20%Establishments with paid employees per resident, from Census County Business Patterns. The scale runs from 0.9 (0 points) to 8.0 (100) per 100,000 residents. The US figure is 3.1.
Civic and social organizations
15%Establishments with paid employees per resident, from Census County Business Patterns. The scale runs from 2.5 (0 points) to 22 (100) per 100,000 residents. The US figure is 7.2.
Bars
10%Establishments with paid employees per resident, from Census County Business Patterns. The scale runs from 1.8 (0 points) to 48 (100) per 100,000 residents. The US figure is 12.
Fixed scales, not a curve
Each input maps onto 0-100 between fixed bounds, and values beyond a bound count as 0 or 100. Close states get close scores, and every state can improve at once.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1-5, A for 6-10, B+ for 11-18, B for 19-26, C+ for 27-34, C for 35-42, D for 43-48, and F for 49-50.
Weight in the overall score
7%Livability is one of 11 categories in each state's composite score, weighted at 7%, the same as growth and transportation.
What is not counted
Safety, health, cost of living, schools, weather, parks, commute times and walkability are other categories or city measures. Volunteer-run groups, places of worship and venues without paid staff do not appear in business counts.
Shown, not scored
Museums per resident, the newest Census migration year, IRS household flows and movers' income, Zillow typical home values, and safety, health and affordability ranks. They add context and never move the livability rank.
Always the latest releases
This page is rebuilt from the most recent files each source has published (checked October 2026). Ranks change when a new business count or migration estimate moves a state.
Sources: Census County Business Patterns, Census population estimates, IRS migration data and the EPA National Walkability Index.
Why livability rankings disagree
| Source | What it measures | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| America's Dashboard (this page) | Net domestic migration plus restaurants, bars, performing arts companies, and civic and social organizations per resident, on fixed scales | Where there is the most to do for the population, and where people are choosing to move |
| America's Dashboard overall rankings | All 11 categories together: economy, safety, health, education, affordability, fiscal health, growth, environment, outdoors, transportation and livability | The broadest answer to "best state to live in" |
| U.S. News, Best States | A mix of categories covering health care, education, the economy, crime and the natural environment | A broad ranking that folds quality of life in with other priorities |
| WalletHub, Best States to Live In | Dozens of metrics grouped into affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety | A detailed annual composite |
“Livable” has no official definition, so every list picks its own ingredients. A ranking heavy on safety and cost favors quiet, inexpensive states; this one favors states with many venues and clubs for their size and states people are moving to. Read it with the overall rankings and the best states to move to for your own priorities.
Key Takeaways
Patterns in the livability data that the table alone does not show.
The Northeast owns the top of the table
6 of the 10 most livable states are in the Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Delaware. By average score the Northeast leads at 40.9, against 27.8 for the South. 5 of the bottom 10 are in the South: Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
Where people move and where the amenities are do not always match
The 10 states gaining the most residents from other states average a #13 livability rank. South Carolina has the highest net inflow (+12.0 per 1,000 residents) yet ranks #14, because it has fewer restaurants, arts companies and civic groups per resident than the leaders. New York, Vermont, and Rhode Island make the top 10 while losing residents, on the strength of their amenities.
Small states crowd the top of the table
4 of the top five have fewer than 1.5 million residents; New York (#5) is the one big state among them. The 10 most populous states land between #5 (New York) and #43 (Texas). Every input is per resident, so a small state with many venues for its size can outscore a big state with more venues in total.
Livable and affordable: Wyoming, Tennessee, South Dakota and more
5 states rank in the top 20 for both livability and affordability: Wyoming (#3 livable, #18 affordable), Tennessee (#9 livable, #17 affordable), South Dakota (#12 livable, #8 affordable), North Dakota (#13 livable, #9 affordable), and South Carolina (#14 livable, #16 affordable). Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, Alaska, Connecticut, and Hawaii are in the livability top 20 but among the 16 least affordable states.
Livability is not the overall rank
Nevada ranks #11 for livability but #40 overall, the widest gap in its favor. Utah runs the other way: #6 overall, #48 for livability. Livability is 7% of the overall score, so a state can be safe, healthy and prosperous with few venues per resident, or the reverse.
The most walkable big cities cluster in California and Pennsylvania
California (2), Pennsylvania (2), and Massachusetts (2) hold 6 of the 10 most walkable cities with 100,000+ residents. San Francisco, CA leads with an EPA walkability index of 16.0 out of 20.
Average livability score by region
Mean livability score of the states in each Census region, with average net migration per 1,000 residents.
- 1Northeast11 states · -0.5 migration40.9
- 2West13 states · +0.6 migration37.3
- 3Midwest12 states · +0.6 migration32.5
- 4South14 states · +3.3 migration27.8
The Northeast averages 200 restaurants per 100,000 residents; the South averages 168.
Go Deeper
Migration flows by state →
Where each state's movers come from and go, with their average income.
Best states to move to →
Every category re-weighted for families, retirees, remote workers and more.
Compare two states →
Livability, cost of living, and every other category side by side.
All 1,312 cities ranked →
Search and sort every city we track, including walkability.
Affordability calculator →
What a salary covers after housing, taxes and daily costs in every state.
Best states for retirees →
Taxes, health care, safety and home prices for retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most livable state in America?
Montana is the most livable state in 2026 with a livability score of 61.9 out of 100, ahead of Maine (55.0) and Wyoming (50.5). It has 201 restaurants and 47 bars per 100,000 residents and a net domestic migration rate of +5.6 per 1,000; its strongest input is bars. The score combines net migration with restaurants, bars, performing arts companies, and civic and social organizations per resident.
What are the top 10 most livable states?
The 10 most livable states are Montana (61.9), Maine (55.0), Wyoming (50.5), New Hampshire (50.1), New York (49.4), Vermont (48.5), Rhode Island (48.2), Oregon (48.0), Tennessee (47.0), and Delaware (46.4). 6 of the 10 are in the Northeast.
What is the least livable state?
Mississippi ranks last (#50) for livability with a score of 17.5. Kentucky (#49, 18.3) and Utah (#48, 19.7) are next. The bottom five are Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, Louisiana, and Maryland. A low score means fewer restaurants, venues and clubs per resident and weaker migration, not that a state is a bad place to live.
Why does Mississippi rank last for livability?
Mississippi has 169 restaurants per 100,000 residents (#32), 0.9 performing arts companies (#50), 4.7 civic and social organizations (#42) and 3.9 bars (#48), with net domestic migration of -0.3 per 1,000 residents (#35). Its best input is net domestic migration. It ranks #46 overall and #1 for affordability.
Which state has the best quality of life?
It depends on what you count. On this page's livability score, Montana is #1. Across all 11 categories, including safety, health, schools and the economy, New Hampshire ranks #1 overall. Ranking states on livability, safety, health and affordability together, the strongest all-rounders are Wyoming (average rank 14), New Hampshire (average rank 14.3), Rhode Island (average rank 14.8), Idaho (average rank 15), and Maine (average rank 16.3).
What are the best states to live in for quality of life?
For amenities and in-migration, the top five are Montana, Maine, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and New York. For the broadest measure, the overall state rankings at americadashboard.com/rankings combine all 11 categories. States that rank well on livability, safety, health and affordability at once include Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Which states are people moving to?
By net domestic migration per 1,000 residents, the scored measure, the leaders in the latest Census estimate year are South Carolina (+12.0), Idaho (+9.9), North Carolina (+7.6), Delaware (+6.5), and Tennessee (+5.8). That year 31 states gained residents from other states and 19 lost them. IRS tax-return data, counted in households, shows Texas with the largest net gain (56,473 households). Full flows are at americadashboard.com/migration.
Which states are people leaving?
New York (-6.9), Hawaii (-6.2), Alaska (-6.1), California (-5.8), and Massachusetts (-4.7) lose the most residents to other states per 1,000 people in the latest Census estimate year, the year the score uses. In IRS household counts, California has the largest net loss (100,397 households). Losing residents does not mean a state has few amenities: New York, Vermont, and Rhode Island rank in the livability top 10 anyway.
Which state has the most restaurants per capita?
Rhode Island has the most restaurants per resident, 230 per 100,000 people, followed by New York (224), Hawaii (224), and Oregon (219). Kentucky has the fewest (152). The US has about 181 restaurants per 100,000 residents. Counts are restaurant and other eating-place establishments with paid employees, from Census County Business Patterns.
Which state has the most bars per capita?
Montana leads with 47 bars per 100,000 residents, then North Dakota (47), Wisconsin (46), and South Dakota (37). New Hampshire has the fewest at 2.0. The national figure is about 12. Census counts only drinking places whose main business is alcohol, so a state where most drinks are served in restaurants reports fewer bars.
Which states have the most arts and culture?
By performing arts companies (theater, dance, music) per resident, New York (7.8 per 100,000), Tennessee (7.8 per 100,000), and Nevada (5.1 per 100,000) lead. By museums, historical sites and similar institutions, which are shown here but not scored, Maine (9.5), Vermont (9.0), and Wyoming (7.3) lead. Nationally there are about 3.1 performing arts companies and 2.4 museums per 100,000 residents.
What are the most livable affordable states?
Wyoming (#3 for livability, #18 for affordability), Tennessee (#9 for livability, #17 for affordability), South Dakota (#12 for livability, #8 for affordability), North Dakota (#13 for livability, #9 for affordability), and South Carolina (#14 for livability, #16 for affordability) rank in the top 20 for both. Affordability here is this site's housing and cost-of-living score. To test a budget, the affordability calculator at americadashboard.com/affordability shows take-home pay after costs in every state.
What are the most walkable cities in the US?
Among cities with 100,000 or more residents, the most walkable by the EPA National Walkability Index are San Francisco, CA (16.0), Berkeley, CA (15.9), Seattle, WA (15.8), Allentown, PA (15.8), and Cambridge, MA (15.8). The index runs from 1 to 20 and reflects street intersection density, distance to transit and the mix of homes and jobs, averaged over each city's neighborhoods by population. Walkability is the livability measure on every city page on this site.
How is the livability score calculated?
Five inputs, each placed on a fixed 0-100 scale and weighted: net domestic migration per 1,000 residents (30%, scale -6.5 to 13), restaurants (25%), performing arts companies (20%), civic and social organizations (15%) and bars (10%), each counted per resident from Census County Business Patterns. Values beyond a bound count as 0 or 100. States are ranked 1 to 50 by score and graded by rank.
Why is net migration part of livability?
Moving to another state is a costly decision, so the net flow of residents is a revealed-preference signal that captures things the amenity counts miss, such as jobs, climate and housing costs. It carries 30% of the score. It is also why fast-growing states like South Carolina and Idaho score well on that input even with fewer venues per resident.
Does the livability score include safety, cost of living, or weather?
No. Safety, health, affordability, schools, commuting and environment are separate categories on this site. This page shows safety, health and affordability ranks next to each state so you can weigh them, and the city section shows commute times and average temperatures, but none of them change the livability rank. Weather shows up only indirectly, through where people choose to move.
Which region is the most livable?
The Northeast has the highest average livability score at 40.9, followed by the West (37.3), Midwest (32.5) and South (27.8). The South has the strongest average net migration (+3.3 per 1,000); the Northeast has the most restaurants per resident.
Where do California, Texas, Florida, and New York rank for livability?
Among the 10 most populous states, New York is #5, North Carolina is #21, Pennsylvania is #22, California is #27, Illinois is #28, Ohio is #31, Georgia is #33, Florida is #36, Michigan is #41, and Texas is #43. The best big state, New York, scores 49.4; the lowest, Texas, scores 23.6.
Where does the livability data come from, and how current is it?
Establishment counts come from the latest Census Bureau County Business Patterns release used by this site, which counts business locations with paid employees by industry code. Net domestic migration comes from the newest Census Bureau population estimates, and the per-resident rates use the same population estimates. Household flows and movers' income come from IRS Statistics of Income migration data, and city walkability from the EPA National Walkability Index. The page is rebuilt when inputs are refreshed.
Livability Rank for Every State
Every state's livability rank, score, and net migration. Click through for the full profile, including its cities.
- Alabama22.8 · +4.5 net migration per 1K#45
- Alaska38.2 · -6.1 net migration per 1K#16
- Arizona24.3 · +4.1 net migration per 1K#42
- Arkansas24.8 · +4.7 net migration per 1K#40
- California31.7 · -5.8 net migration per 1K#27
- Colorado34.2 · -2.0 net migration per 1K#24
- Connecticut35.7 · -1.6 net migration per 1K#19
- Delaware46.4 · +6.5 net migration per 1K#10
- Florida26.9 · +1.0 net migration per 1K#36
- Georgia28.1 · +2.4 net migration per 1K#33
- Hawaii34.5 · -6.2 net migration per 1K#20
- Idaho39.6 · +9.9 net migration per 1K#15
- Illinois31.4 · -3.1 net migration per 1K#28
- Indiana30.0 · +1.8 net migration per 1K#30
- Iowa27.6 · -0.3 net migration per 1K#34
- Kansas26.0 · -0.2 net migration per 1K#38
- Kentucky18.3 · +1.6 net migration per 1K#49
- Louisiana20.3 · -3.1 net migration per 1K#47
- Maine55.0 · +5.2 net migration per 1K#2
- Maryland21.7 · -1.9 net migration per 1K#46
- Massachusetts34.3 · -4.7 net migration per 1K#23
- Michigan24.7 · +0.2 net migration per 1K#41
- Minnesota36.5 · +1.4 net migration per 1K#17
- Mississippi17.5 · -0.3 net migration per 1K#50
- Missouri31.2 · +2.2 net migration per 1K#29
- Montana61.9 · +5.6 net migration per 1K#1
- Nebraska32.4 · -0.2 net migration per 1K#26
- Nevada45.7 · +4.6 net migration per 1K#11
- New Hampshire50.1 · +4.6 net migration per 1K#4
- New Jersey25.7 · -3.9 net migration per 1K#39
- New Mexico22.9 · -1.1 net migration per 1K#44
- New York49.4 · -6.9 net migration per 1K#5
- North Carolina34.5 · +7.6 net migration per 1K#21
- North Dakota42.1 · +0.6 net migration per 1K#13
- Ohio29.8 · +1.0 net migration per 1K#31
- Oklahoma26.7 · +3.5 net migration per 1K#37
- Oregon48.0 · +0.5 net migration per 1K#8
- Pennsylvania34.4 · -0.2 net migration per 1K#22
- Rhode Island48.2 · -1.4 net migration per 1K#7
- South Carolina41.8 · +12.0 net migration per 1K#14
- South Dakota42.2 · +2.3 net migration per 1K#12
- Tennessee47.0 · +5.8 net migration per 1K#9
- Texas23.6 · +2.1 net migration per 1K#43
- Utah19.7 · +0.9 net migration per 1K#48
- Vermont48.5 · -1.1 net migration per 1K#6
- Virginia27.3 · +0.7 net migration per 1K#35
- Washington33.9 · +1.2 net migration per 1K#25
- West Virginia29.1 · +3.6 net migration per 1K#32
- Wisconsin35.9 · +1.2 net migration per 1K#18
- Wyoming50.5 · +2.5 net migration per 1K#3