best blue states to live in 2022

Mean Number of Clear or Partly Cloudy Days: 261. Our county, as a whole, is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation and our community has turned into a regional center for jobs, says Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership. WalletHub's rankings also took quality of life, education, health and civic engagement statistics into account, ultimately weighing 34 different metrics including, amusingly, "Average Starbucks Latte Price" to create composite scores out of 100. Only 8.5% of residents experience food insecurity, making it the eighth most food-secure state in the country. Minnesota also has one of the lowest levels of unemployment and food insecurity and one of the country's highest levels of homeownership. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The desert city has tons of school pride, and much of the city's nightlife is centered around it. The wide open skies over The Woodlands in Texas. The Biloxi Lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi. According to View from the Wing, these changes were first announced in Sept. 2021, as part of a plan called United Next. I agree to receive the Forbes Home newsletter via e-mail. Linking page for schedule listings from June 2008. Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral, founded 30 years ago, links Iowans to relatively abundant facilities in the state. Last night, Trump supporters gathered at rallies in Kenosha and Grand Rapids. Unlike many states on this list, Iowa has a poverty rate that is lower than the national average at 11%. There are no Ivy League schools in Florida, but the state has a vast network of colleges and universities serving hundreds of thousands of students each year. Elections are conducted by mail, but in-person polling stations are available. Lead exposure risk is also among the worst in the nation. 11 spot for young professionals, ranks highly for its easy commute. Florida leads the nation in offering low-cost schooling with high graduating rates and low post-school debt loads. As do property taxes, just as they did with the list of the most expensive states to live in. 1. Its Rocky Mountains location makes it a great spot for hiking and climbing. Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter, Meet the middle-aged millennial: Homeowner, debt-burdened and turning 40, Millennials have been moving out of big cities here's where they are going, Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox, Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It, 2023 CNBC LLC. Florida has seen consistent gains in the rankings, having placed 13th in 2019 and 24th in 2017. Rates of addiction and drug-related deaths are low. U.S. News and World Reports publishes its "Best State Rankings" report annually to measure the quality of life in individual states. In order to create a cost of living index, researchers will compile data on the main living expenses to understand the average cost of living for the entire United States. If you want to attract workers, it helps to be in a place they want to go to. Transportation and healthcare costs are also among the lowest in the country, although it still ranks as one of the states with the highest percentage of folks living below the poverty line. The diverse city has affordable rents, a buzzing nightlife and many outdoor activities centered around the city's various sports teams. One such category that encompasses both: Columbia's many summer music festivals. Hydroelectric and wind power make up the bulk of the state's power supply. We do not present information about every offer available. This Appalachian state is one of the most affordable places to buy a home with the average cost of a single family home at $117,639. However, for No. The Peace Garden State has tackled drug abuse by removing the stigma surrounding drug treatment. Virginia; Score: 58.73 6. Crime is also low in Virgina, with property and violent crime rates significantly lower than the national average. Low-income Americans have also been forced out of expensive, typically blue states to less expensive, typically red ones, where their access to basic government protections may be nonexistent, but . Niche also considered local commutes (length and access to public transport); diversity (of age, gender and ethnicity); health and fitness of its residents (based on rates of smoking, alcohol abuse, and obesity as well as access to healthcare and fitness centers); jobs (including employment rates, career and business growth) and housing costs (based on home values, property taxes and ownership rates). Nebraska's infrastructure is some of the strongest in the nation. 12 for public health funding, spending $161 per person, slightly above the national average. This means the cost of living is 93.3% higher than the national average. The median home price here is $170,184 which is second cheapest behind only Mississippi. Columbia also gets high marks for its nightlife. Best Raised Toilet Seats for the Elderly 2022 1. A survey commissioned by the state of more than 2,000 North Dakotans last year found that 74% agree that addiction is a disease rather than a choice, up from 63% in 2018. Check out WalletHub's 10 best states for retirement to get the most out of your golden years: Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter, Don't miss: All $1,400 stimulus checks have been issued. (Photo by: Bernard P. Friel/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)/Kansas, Overland Park, Museum at Prairiefire. Fort Wayne is a lovely place to visit and live. With workers in short supply, companies are doing all they can to attract them. To see how the rest of the cities in the U.S. ranked, you can access the full list here. Nebraska's biggest city ranks highly for its access to good public schools, for its high employment rate and its access to outdoor activities and attractions. College Station is home to Texas A&M University and some ofthe best public high schoolsin the country. If it were a country, Florida would be the fifteen wealthiest nation in the world. U.S. & World News ranks Nebraska the sixth-best state in the nation to live in, slightly higher than in previous years. With its many hills, large recreational green spaces and high level of walkability, it's alsothe second-healthiest place to live. Lake Side Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana, named the, Downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, the cheapest place. Of course, this number is just the average and can vary, but by using this as the baseline for comparison we are able to understand just how much the cost will vary state to state. Massachusetts also does well across lifestyle metrics. Good public schools, affordable rent prices and a high employment rate attract residents to this North Carolina city. Best Places to Live Best Places Real Estate Money Home 150 matches Sort by: Real Estate Rankings Best Places to Live Best Places to Retire Rankings Category Population Size X-Large. U.S. & World News ranks Washington State the best state to live in in 2022, a position its held since 2019. Total scores for the top three states Florida, Virginia and Colorado are so close, they are nearly a draw. Many TV shows and movies have been filmed there, including "The Walking Dead," "Avengers: Infinity War," a "Real Housewives" franchise and a few Netflix originals. The median cost of a single family home comes in at $167,036. The diverse area is home to some highly ranked public schools. Shop Toilet Seats & Repair Parts at acehardware. The diverse city is family-friendly and has good schools and many community-based outdoor activities. Our methodology: Our editors considered a variety of factors including each state's retirement rankings from WalletHub, MoneyRates and The Motley Fool to create our proprietary index. However, the state's water quality is negatively impacted by the state's high level of agricultural activity, with concerns about herbicide runoff into the groundwater. Read on for the 25 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2022. That's according to a new study from personal finance website WalletHub, which published a report on Tuesday ranking the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. as the best and worst places for millennials people roughly between the ages of 26 and 41 to live right now. It's election day. For the past several years, we have also considered inclusiveness of state laws in areas like protections against discrimination and voting rights. New York; Score: 60.64 4. Jenny Goff, right, reaches out to a child at Central Park Child Care Center in Vancouver, Washington. Charleston attracts chefs and foodies eager for a taste of the region's traditional "Low Country" cuisine. The area is also home to the NBA's Utah Jazz and a "Real Housewives" franchise. Understand what the average wages and employment opportunities are like in your target state. Please see our. Read on for these lists or head to Niche.com, where you can see the healthiest cities, the best spots for families, the best places (defined as a non-rural town with a population of 1,000 or more), the best suburbs and more. California 50. While the nation's average is 104 unhealthy air quality days annually, New Hampshire experiences just 14 days of poor air quality a year. The unemployment rate sits at 2.8%, significantly lower than the national average. A Division of NBC Universal, Jeffrey Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images. Horses running in field near Valentine, Nebraska. Youll find that many of these less expensive states fall in similar regions like the Southeast and Midwest, but that doesnt mean there arent still hotspots in those areas. Another thing going for The Woodlands: opportunities for employment. But Hawaii slips to its lowest ranking in this category since 2009 largely because of the addition of childcare as a metric (before 2021, we referred to the category as "Quality of Life"). This study analyzed all 50 states across 11 different, relevant factors, including various cost of living indices for everyday expenditures like transportation, groceries, and healthcare, to larger, monthly, and annual expenditures like monthly rent, mortgage payments, property, and sales taxes. Minnesota, just like North Dakota, exhibits a uniquely low. Next: 25. So where are the bestand most affordableplaces to live in America? Delaware Lowest 46. It's close to the affluent areas of Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach, and about 30 minutes away from downtown Los Angeles. Maine isn't just a safe state it's getting safer. Massachusetts is the ninth-best state to live in, according to U.S. & World News. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. To round out our top 10 is the great state of Indiana with a score of 90.6. In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list was Fort Wayne, Indiana, which also took the top spot in three previous years: 2021, 2019 and 2018. Arkansas. Violent crime dropped nearly 5% and property crime fell more than 6%. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers offers appear on the site. A Division of NBC Universal. Cost-of . The air is clear in The Cornhusker State among the cleanest in the nation. Discovery through its US networks division. An individual's well-being is determined by material conditions, such as housing and income, and more abstract things like health, education, and security. Average Annual Salary: $57,160. Massachusetts also scored the third-highest on average earnings for millennials. 1: Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!. Bellevue ranks as one of the best suburbs in Washington state. Bellevue is only about 20 minutes away from popular destinations such as Seattle, local wine country and hiker favorite Cougar Mountain. All Rights Reserved. Below is a list of the five most expensive states to live in the U.S. according to the study: The full list of all themost expensive states and least expensive states to live inprovides a more thorough breakdown of all 11 factors that went into the study. In fact, the two top states in WalletHub's rankings, Florida and Virginia, are both among the 10 most affordable states in the U.S. The increasing pressure of inflation on the American economy, and household, is making cost of living an even greater issue than it had already been. Florida takes the top marks in the rankings, with relatively low costs of living and a high percentage of retirees to mingle with. That is why CNBC's annual America's Top States for Business study has always measured quality of life, and why it is especially important in this year's methodology. Take a look at the average salaries for the place youre looking to move and consider economic factors and employment rates. This comes out to about $61,334 per year. Missouri comes in at seventh cheapest with an overall cost of living index score at 89.8. In addition to being a writer at Forbes, she works as a freelance architectural designer specializing in residential design. Fans wave to children at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital during the Iowa football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Alabama the beautiful comes in third for overall lowest cost of living with a 87.9 cost of living index score. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. The family-oriented city is highly rated for its year-round warm weather and access to outdoor activities including beaches, parks and community events. The Northern California city is a top spot, thanks to its good public schools, wealth of outdoor activities and for its easy commute across the East Bay from San Francisco. Minnesota 4. Utah's capital city ranks highly for its family-friendly atmosphere, thanks in part to its well-liked public schools. The state has one of the lowest poverty levels in the country, with nine percent of residents living at or below the poverty line. Despite its good housing value, West Virginia is often listed as one of the worst states to live in alongside Mississippi due to concerns around economic growth and the education system. These are the top 10 best cities to live, according to Niches report. Wallethub ranks Minnesota the fourth-best state to raise a family, citing the high median family salary and low levels of separation and divorce. No state offers better access to childcare, and the health care system is top notch. These are the top 10 best cities to live, according to Niche's report. That's not politics, it's business. Its family friendly and just friendly in general. Kansas 3. The typical household in the state earns just $52,528 a year, and 16.3% of the . Sunnyvale gets top marks for its outdoor activities and for the health and fitness of its residents. Still, on average, people across the U.S. have roughly $400,000 dollars to nest on. For the first time in 2022, we also consider the availability of childcare, which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found remains a major obstacle to parents seeking to reenter the workforce as the pandemic wanes. The Aloha spirit is alive and well here, with a pristine environment, good health care, and low crime. So, workers increasingly can name their own terms. The company also looks at factors like affordability, the local housing market, neighborhood diversity and public schools, to name a few. To see how the rest of the cities in the U.S. ranked, you can access the full list here. Virginia is the seventh-best state in the U.S. & World News ranking, a significant improvement from 2018, when the state was ranked 20th. Tourists take in a sunset over the Seattle, WA skyline. Tennessee 7. Weve pulled together the 10 cheapest states to live in for 2022, reviewing the cost of living index to help you understand what makes these states so affordable. Massachusetts - 62.65 New Jersey - 62.01 New York - 60.64 Idaho - 58.73 Virginia - 58.73 New Hampshire - 58.25 Florida - 58.07. Therma-Tru Benchmark Doors 36-in x 80-in Fiberglass 3/4 Lite Right-Hand Inswing Navy Painted Single Front Door with Brickmould Insulating Core in Blue - TTB642906SOS. Austin is also a cultural hub. The . The best states to retire in 2022 According to Bankrate's study, Florida is the best state for retirement in 2022, followed by Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. That's because there are not nearly enough of them to fill more than 11 million job openings. In 2021, Florida's GDP was over $1.1 trillion. Second, we also include links to advertisers offers in some of our articles; these affiliate links may generate income for our site when you click on them. To take the number one spot, Fort Wayne had to have strong performance in several factors we take into account for the lowest cost of living rankings, says Bell. The great state of Kansas is the second cheapest state to live in with a score of 86.5. Infrastructure in Massachusetts, however, ranks among the worst in the nation. The diverse city ranks highly for its outdoor activities and the health and fitness of its residents. The top 10 states to live in and their grades are listed below. This state borders two of its inexpensive brethren and has a median single family house cost of $194,226, making it a great compromise if youre having trouble choosing between the South and the Midwest. The picture isn't nearly as rosy for the bottom of the list. New Jersey; Score: 62.01 3. U.S. & World News ranks New Hampshire the fourth-best state to live in in 2022. most expensive states and least expensive states to live in. The state's unemployment rate sits at 4.1%, slightly better than the national average. This is another highly rated location for families thanks to its good public schools, low rents and high employment rate. Virginia, like Idaho, was unable to pull off a top score in any of the categories, but came in 11th for safety, 15th for education and health, 16th for affordability, 20th for quality of life, and . 47 Arkansas, and No. Three-hundred and twenty-eight of its dams have high-hazard potential. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The capital city is known as the Hollywood of the South. Education benefits: The University of Wyoming offers in-state tuition rates to veterans with a 100% disability rating. California is the seventh-most liberal state in the United States. The city is home to a variety of music and film festivals, including Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. 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