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What Is The Best Place To Live In America? Pros And Cons For All 50 States
TEC ^ | 09/01/2012 | Michael Snyder

Posted on 09/02/2012 6:42:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

If you could live in any state in America, where would you go? During troubled times like these, what is the best place in the United States to live? A lot of people are asking these kinds of questions these days. Our economy is on the verge of collapse, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more intense, the U.S. population is becoming angrier and more frustrated by the day, our government has become incredibly oppressive and controlling, war could break out at any time and evidence that society is breaking down is all around us. As our world becomes increasingly unstable, many families are considering moving somewhere else. But what areas are best and what areas should be avoided? Is there really a "best place to live" in America? Well, the truth is that each family is facing a different set of circumstances. If you have a great support system where you live, it can be really tough to pick up and move 3000 miles away from that support system. If you have a great job where you live now, it can be really tough to move some place where there may be no job at all for you. But without a doubt there are some areas of the country that will be far better off than others in the event of a major economic collapse. This article will take a look at each of the 50 U.S. states and will list some of the pros and cons for moving to each one.

Not all of the factors listed below will be important to you, and a few have even been thrown in for humor. But if you are thinking of moving in the near future hopefully this list will give you some food for thought.

A few years ago when my wife and I were living near Washington D.C. we knew that we wanted a change and we went through this kind of a process. We literally evaluated areas from coast to coast. In the end, we found a place that is absolutely perfect for us. But different things are important to different people.

And if I gave your particular state a low rating, please don't think that I am trashing the entire state or all of the people who live there.

For example, there are some absolutely wonderful people that live in the state of California, and there are some areas of California that I would not mind visiting at all. But for the times that are coming I am convinced that it is going to be a really bad place to live.

Not that I have all the answers either. Hopefully this article can get some debates started, and hopefully those debates will help people that are thinking of moving to another state to be more informed.

The following are some pros and cons for all 50 states....

Alabama

Pros: warm weather, southern hospitality, relatively low population density

Cons: hurricanes, tornadoes, crime, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: C+

Alaska

Pros: great fishing, lots of empty space, low population density, great for rugged individualists

Cons: very high cost of living, earthquakes, volcanoes, extremely cold, short growing season, too much snow, potentially cut off from supplies from the lower 48 states during an emergency situation

Overall Rating: B

Arizona

Pros: warm weather

Cons: illegal immigration, wildfires, return of dust bowl conditions, not enough jobs, not enough rain, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence, Phoenix

Overall Rating: D+

Arkansas

Pros: southern hospitality, warm weather, Ozark National Forest

Cons: tornadoes, Clintons, New Madrid fault zone, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: C

California

Pros: Disneyland, warm weather, Malibu

Cons: high taxes, Jerry Brown, earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires, gang violence, crime, traffic, rampant poverty, insane politicians, ridiculous regulations, bad schools, political correctness, illegal immigration, not enough jobs, air pollution, multiple nuclear power plants, possible tsunami threat along the coast, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, Sacramento, huge drug problem, high population density, the state government is broke, many more reasons to leave California right here

Overall Rating: F

Colorado

Pros: Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs

Cons: wildfires, illegal immigration, short growing season, not enough rain, too much snow, huge drug problem

Overall Rating: B

Connecticut

Pros: beautiful homes

Cons: high taxes, insane politicians, ridiculous regulations, political correctness, short growing season, multiple nuclear power plants, high population density

Overall Rating: C-

Delaware

Pros: good fishing

Cons: Joe Biden, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, crime, high population density

Overall Rating: D

Florida

Pros: University of Florida Gators, oranges, low taxes, southern hospitality, Disneyworld, Gainesville, warm weather, beautiful beaches, Daytona

Cons: hurricanes, most of the state is barely above sea level, high population density, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence, illegal immigration

Overall Rating: C

Georgia

Pros: peaches, southern hospitality, warm weather

Cons: not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence, flesh eating disease, Atlanta

Overall Rating: B-

Hawaii

Pros: awesome beaches, warm weather, great vacation destination

Cons: vulnerable to tsunamis, very high cost of living, volcanoes, traffic, high population density, high taxes

Overall Rating: C-

Idaho

Pros: awesome people live there, great potatoes, low population density, high concentration of liberty-minded individuals, low crime, Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, north Idaho has plenty of water compared to the rest of the interior West, beautiful scenery

Cons: cold in the winter, wildfires, short growing season, not enough jobs

Overall Rating: A

Illinois

Pros: once you get away from Chicago things are not quite so bad

Cons: Barack Obama, drought, New Madrid fault zone, high population density, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, crime, gang violence, Chicago, East St. Louis, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, mob robberies, the state government is drowning in debt

Overall Rating: D-

Indiana

Pros: it is in better shape than Illinois, good farming, high Amish population

Cons: drought, tornadoes, the city of Gary, relatively high population density, near the New Madrid fault zone, a "rust belt" state

Overall Rating: C-

Iowa

Pros: low population density, low crime, good farming

Cons: drought, tornadoes, cold in the winter, multiple nuclear power plants, too much snow, very flat

Overall Rating: B-

Kansas

Pros: low population density, low crime, good farming

Cons: drought, tornadoes, return of dust bowl conditions, very flat

Overall Rating: B

Kentucky

Pros: southern hospitality, great horses, Lexington

Cons: New Madrid fault zone, not enough jobs, rampant poverty, Louisville

Overall Rating: C

Louisiana

Pros: southern hospitality, warm weather

Cons: hurricanes, New Orleans, not enough jobs, tornadoes, multiple nuclear power plants, oil spills, crime, gang violence, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: D

Maine

Pros: low population density, low crime, polite people

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, too much snow

Overall Rating: B-

Maryland

Pros: the Washington Redskins play there

Cons: Baltimore, borders Washington D.C., high population density, really bad traffic, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence

Overall Rating: C-

Massachusetts

Pros: beautiful homes

Cons: high taxes, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, high population density, short growing season, almost everything is illegal in Massachusetts

Overall Rating: D+

Michigan

Pros: once you get away from Detroit and Flint things get better

Cons: Detroit, Flint, Dearborn, extremely cold, short growing season, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, too much snow, a "rust belt" state

Overall Rating: D-

Minnesota

Pros: land of 10,000 lakes

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, multiple nuclear power plants, too much snow, high taxes

Overall Rating: C

Mississippi

Pros: southern hospitality, relatively low population density, warm weather

Cons: hurricanes, tornadoes, not enough jobs, rampant poverty, crime

Overall Rating: C+

Missouri

Pros: good farming, Branson

Cons: drought, tornadoes, New Madrid fault zone, not enough jobs, crime

Overall Rating: C

Montana

Pros: low population density, low taxes, high concentration of liberty-minded individuals, Missoula, Kalispell

Cons: extremely cold in the winter, wildfires, short growing season, not enough rain, near Yellowstone super volcano, rampant poverty, too much snow

Overall Rating: B+

Nebraska

Pros: low population density, good farming

Cons: tornadoes, drought, multiple nuclear power plants, cold in the winter, very flat

Overall Rating: B

Nevada

Pros: low population density, lots of empty space, low taxes, warm weather

Cons: Harry Reid, Las Vegas, Reno, not enough water, not enough rain, wildfires, hard to grow food, not enough jobs, crime, gang violence, huge drug problem, Yucca Mountain

Overall Rating: D+

New Hampshire

Pros: low crime, beautiful homes

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, too much snow

Overall Rating: C

New Jersey

Pros: anyone got something?

Cons: high population density, Camden, Newark, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, Atlantic City, crime, gang violence

Overall Rating: D-

New Mexico

Pros: low population density, warm weather

Cons: illegal immigration, wildfires, return of dust bowl conditions, not enough jobs, not enough rain, crime, gang violence, huge drug problem

Overall Rating: C-

New York

Pros: the entire state is not like New York City

Cons: New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, high taxes, cold in the winter, high population density, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, the "too big to fail" banks

Overall Rating: D

North Carolina

Pros: southern hospitality, warm weather, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cons: hurricanes, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants

Overall Rating: B

North Dakota

Pros: low crime, lots of oil-related jobs, low population density

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, too much snow

Overall Rating: B

Ohio

Pros: the Cincinnati Reds, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, high Amish population

Cons: not enough jobs, cold in the winter, multiple nuclear power plants, high population density, Toledo, Cleveland, a "rust belt" state

Overall Rating: C

Oklahoma

Pros: warm weather, good farming

Cons: drought, tornadoes, wildfires, return of dust bowl conditions, not enough rain, crime, Oklahoma City, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: C

Oregon

Pros: tremendous natural beauty

Cons: high taxes, Portland, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, not enough jobs, huge drug problem, possible tsunami threat along the coast

Overall Rating: C-

Pennsylvania

Pros: high Amish population

Cons: high population density, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, a "rust belt" state

Overall Rating: C

Rhode Island

Pros: so small that most people don't notice their problems

Cons: the state is flat broke, short growing season, political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians, not enough jobs, high population density

Overall Rating: D+

South Carolina

Pros: southern hospitality, warm weather, Myrtle Beach

Cons: hurricanes, not enough jobs, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: B

South Dakota

Pros: low population density, fun tourist traps, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, very flat, too much snow

Overall Rating: B

Tennessee

Pros: Nashville, Michael W. Smith, southern hospitality, warm weather, Gatlinburg

Cons: Memphis, New Madrid fault zone, multiple nuclear power plants, crime, gang violence, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: B-

Texas

Pros: low taxes, warm weather, Austin

Cons: drought, illegal immigration, tornadoes, wildfires, West Nile Virus, the Dallas Cowboys, return of dust bowl conditions, speed traps, not enough rain, multiple nuclear power plants, George W. Bush, crime

Overall Rating: B-

Utah

Pros: beautiful mountains, low crime, low population density

Cons: cold in the winter, wildfires, Salt Lake City, short growing season, not enough rain, illegal to collect rain

Overall Rating: B-

Vermont

Pros: low crime, beautiful homes

Cons: cold in the winter, insane politicians, ridiculous regulations, short growing season, political correctness, not enough jobs, too much snow

Overall Rating: C

Virginia

Pros: the University of Virginia, southern hospitality, Charlottesville

Cons: borders Washington D.C., high population density, multiple nuclear power plants, Richmond, really bad traffic in northern Virginia

Overall Rating: B-

Washington

Pros: the eastern half of the state is quite nice and much different from the coast

Cons: way too much rain along the coast, volcanoes, wildfires, insane politicians, ridiculous regulations, political correctness, not enough jobs, possible tsunami threat along the coast, Seattle

Overall Rating: C

West Virginia

Pros: beautiful mountains

Cons: not enough jobs, rampant poverty

Overall Rating: B

Wisconsin

Pros: cheese, the Green Bay Packers

Cons: extremely cold, short growing season, multiple nuclear power plants, too much snow,

Overall Rating: B-

Wyoming

Pros: low population density, lots of empty space, low taxes

Cons: extremely cold, too windy, too flat, wildfires, short growing season, not enough rain, Yellowstone super volcano

Overall Rating: B-

What do you think of these rankings?

What do you think is the best place to live in America?

Do you have any additional pros and cons that should be added to this list?

Please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts below....



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: america; bestplaces; beststates; beststatetolive; leftyauthor; states; usa
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To: SeekAndFind
Wyoming is too flat?

Maybe when viewed from 40,000 ft.

21 posted on 09/02/2012 7:05:20 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: SeekAndFind
About New Hampshire:

"...political correctness, ridiculous regulations, insane politicians..."

Hell, that's not just in NH: that's everywhere. I grew up in NH and the only real negative is the cold and snow.

As a friend of mine used to say about the weather in NH: "nine months of winter and three months of damn poor sledding".

The Kenyan must go.

22 posted on 09/02/2012 7:05:52 AM PDT by ex91B10 (We've tried the Soap Box,the Ballot Box and the Jury Box; ONE BOX LEFT!)
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To: norwaypinesavage

I agree.


23 posted on 09/02/2012 7:06:24 AM PDT by brivette
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To: GotMojo

I think New Jersey is a great place to work, a bad place to raise a family, and a miserable place to retire. In fact, from a purely financial perspective there is no good reason to stay here in retirement.


24 posted on 09/02/2012 7:06:24 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested.")
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To: Springman; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; madison10; ...
Anybody else give Michigan a better grade than a D-? I give us a C or even a C+.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
25 posted on 09/02/2012 7:06:51 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Georgia - warm weather...

Yeah if you like incredibly hot humid stifling heat!! for about 4 months in the fall its great... the rest of the time
dont go outside!!


26 posted on 09/02/2012 7:09:21 AM PDT by wyowolf
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To: SeekAndFind
Texas sucks! It should get an F-. PLEASE DON'T MOVE HERE.

(forgive me, Davy Crockett)

27 posted on 09/02/2012 7:11:38 AM PDT by ConservaTexan (February 6, 1911)
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To: SeekAndFind

I was talking to this guy living in Southern Jersey yesterday on the train to Yankee Stadium. He tells me his property taxes are 16/k year and his business property taxes are 9/k year.
Asked what he thought he got for all that NJ tax extortion?
Jacksheet was his answer.


28 posted on 09/02/2012 7:11:58 AM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
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To: txrefugee

I noticed that too and thought the guy was nuts. On another note, in PA, how in this world could he mention Pittsburgh as a con and completely overlook Philadelphia?
Other than that, PA is an absolutely beautiful state with something for everyone.


29 posted on 09/02/2012 7:13:32 AM PDT by MestaMachine (obama kills and bo stinks)
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To: SeekAndFind

Adding to the cons in PA: Lousy roads, stupid reckless drivers, high taxes, poor municipal services, a heavy infestation of liberals, the boy mayor of Pittsburgh who is more concerned about Chick fil A than fixing roads, still powerful unions, particularly teachers and government workers, bad schools. Probably more, but I can’t think of them.

One pro is housing. You can still buy a reasonably priced home here, provided you are working.


30 posted on 09/02/2012 7:14:47 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: SeekAndFind

Lists Iowa, Illinois, and other central states as “good farming”. Ha! I wouldn’t trade my corn bins for theirs, if you threw in $5. a bushel! In between those 10,000 lakes, we’ve got record harvests.


31 posted on 09/02/2012 7:15:00 AM PDT by Fireone (It's nice to have a couple adults in the room, for a change!)
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To: tflabo

RE: He tells me his property taxes are 16/k year and his business property taxes are 9/k year.

He must have a huge property. But let’s say you are a retiree living on a fixed income, how does one afford to live there with that kind of taxes?

Or is NJ signalling this — SENIORS NOT WELCOME HERE.


32 posted on 09/02/2012 7:15:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (bOTRT)
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To: SeekAndFind
Pros: good farming, Branson

Branson is a pro???

33 posted on 09/02/2012 7:15:57 AM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
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To: ConservaTexan

I moved here and I love it. I was going to say:

Texas

Pros: It’s Texas

Cons: It’s Texas


34 posted on 09/02/2012 7:17:31 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (obozo could bring back literal slavery with chains and still he will get 97+% of the black vote)
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To: SeekAndFind

This guy considers nuclear power plants a negative?! So we know to just flip his ratings. Oh and AZ is bigger than most of the European nations, you can live here your whole life and never go to Phoenix.


35 posted on 09/02/2012 7:19:43 AM PDT by discostu (Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends.)
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To: SeekAndFind; GotMojo
Two points:

in Florida, there is none of that overrated "southern hospitality"' other than a dwindling portion of the panhandle.

New York should be reversed, the rest of the state wishes it had NYC's amenities and high real estate prices. Upstate can be lovely, but it's population centers have been bleeding jobs and population as part of the rust belt, while suburban Lawn Guyland has a stagnant population and high taxes, without the class and excitement of NYC.

The best thing about NJ is that you can live near NYC but get more square footage for your condo. That and tax free clothing. Other than that, nada.

36 posted on 09/02/2012 7:20:02 AM PDT by Clemenza ("History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil governm)
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To: SeekAndFind

I consider multiple nuclear power plants a big plus.


37 posted on 09/02/2012 7:20:38 AM PDT by W. W. SMITH ((Yuri Bezmenov (KGB Defector) - "Kick The Communists Out of Your Govt. & Don't Accept Their Goodies.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Visited Mpls lately ?


38 posted on 09/02/2012 7:22:19 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (I didn't post this. Someone else did.)
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To: freedumb2003

I was trying to discourage people from moving here. I see too many “foreign” license plates. Of all the “foreign” plates I see, Illinois plates are, by far, the most common. I want Texas to remain Texas.


39 posted on 09/02/2012 7:23:02 AM PDT by ConservaTexan (February 6, 1911)
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To: SeekAndFind

What does this tree hugging idiot have against nuclear power. Also, the crime rate for the state of NJ is quite low compared to North and South Carolina overall.


40 posted on 09/02/2012 7:23:41 AM PDT by Clemenza ("History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil governm)
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