Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the US., per CNBC ranking

Axios ^ | 7/14/2026 | Story by Adam Tamburin

[Lazamataz]

Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the country, according to CNBC, which gave the Volunteer State an F for quality of life in its annual ranking of the best states for businesses.

Why it matters: State leaders often pride themselves on making Tennessee as business-friendly as possible, but CNBC's closely watched rankings highlight some reasons businesses might stay away.

How it works: Multiple variables were considered when scoring states on their quality of life, including crime rates, the availability of affordable child care and paid leave policies.

CNBC also considered "inclusiveness in state laws, including protections against discrimination of all kinds."

The score also factors Tennessee's strict anti-abortion laws, with CNBC citing data showing many younger workers avoid working in states that ban abortions.

The top state based only on quality of life was Vermont.

[Psalm 73]

Too bad we can’t just toss Commies out of helicopters like Pinochet....

[jacknhoo]

Good, don’t California our Tennessee!

[Lazamataz]

I just might have to try a Starbucks coffee for the first time… if I win a lottery.

I qualified to buy a Starbucks. I had to show my Loan Officer my last 6 pay stubs and produce some other documentation, and eventually I was granted a second mortgage on my house.

[PGalt]

👍

[FLT-bird]

Which alone discredits the whole ranking. Every state listed was a red state so you automatically know where the person who compiled the list is coming from. Next question....how come all the states on the list except Missouri are growing while a whole bunch of blue states are shrinking? The American people are voting with their feet exactly the opposite of this list. Tennessee has gorgeous land, a relatively mild climate, no state income tax, reasonable home prices and reasonable cost of living, not much red tape, top notch professional and college sports, the "headquarters" of both Country and Blues, a pretty rapidly growing economy, etc etc. My brother and sister live in Tennessee. It would be among my top 10 states to live in.

My bottom 10 would be Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, Delaware, New York, Illinois.

[Soul of the South]

Progressives constantly speak of tolerance, inclusion, acceptance, and coexisting. They do not practice what they preach.

[Pete Dovgan]

Abortion restrictions and a lack of DEI were the primary reasons why Tennessee was considered ‘the worst state’.

No property taxes and the above......”Almost Heaven”. One Liberals hell is another persons dream.

[animal172]

Here in upper East Tennessee we are over run with out of staters moving in. A good portion of those who are working in our local businesses do not sound like us. I guess it can’t be all that bad here.

[Starboard]

The article is a joke. Tennessee is one of the top states for in-migration.

[Lazamataz]

Oh, and I love the illustration.

Sad little daisy...

[USS Alaska]

The score also factors Tennessee's strict anti-abortion laws, with CNBC citing data showing many younger workers avoid working in states that ban abortions.

The top state based only on quality of life was Vermont.

Vermont is a beautiful state, but # 1 for quality of life?

It just shows that a group of self appointed talking heads can come up with any "result" that they choose.

There is no shortage of jobs and people to fill them in TN, in Vermont, after tree pluggers for maple syrup, what the hell else do they do?

With less than 700,000 residents, "The Quality of Life" ain't selling in drawing residents to VT.

This is just another bullshit opinion piece.

[FlingWingFlyer]

CNBC. ROTFL!!!

[usconservative]

Bad news, brother. Turns out you live in the absolute worst state in the country.

Let me see, Tennessee is:

- Pro Life;
- Pro Equal Rights FOR ALL (not just the alphabet people);
- Pro Freedom, INCLUDING our First and Second Amendments!!;
- IMO the most BEAUTIFUL state to live in our great country!;
- One of the TOP DESTINATIONS for businesses fleeing California, Washington, New York and other states!;
If Tennessee was so bad, I have to wonder: did Axios talk to any of the dozens and dozens of companies that are fleeing Commiefornia and coming to Tennessee?

Didn't think so...

For those of you who don't know, I FLED HELLINOIS which has been utterly destroyed by Gov. Fatso, JB Pritzker. More than 60% of what I earned went to Federal and ILLINOIS STATE TAXES, of which HELLINOIS alone was responsible for 70% of that!

That's outrageous taxation.

I meet so many people here in Tennessee who fled BLUE STATES to come here. I've met ONE couple from Texas who came here.

If Tennessee is "so bad" then why are SO MANY people and businesses coming here?

I'll answer that: Because it's a NORMAL STATE, not run by some dumbass "DEI" (Didn't Earn It) agenda and this state doesn't cater to any one group, especially the alphabet people. Cry harder.

I live in the foothills of Tennessee. The most BEAUTIFUL place in our great country. This is my home. For twenty years it was my home in my heart and I consider myself SO BLESSED by the Lord our God to be here.

Axios and CNN can go suck on a Los Angeles tail-pipe if they think it's "so great" there. Why, just ask the people who had their homes get burned down in the Pacific Palisades by a government that ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN and are losing their land due to government seizure.

Ask the people who've fled LA due to drugs, homelessness, lawlessness, illegal aliens, and more.

Ask the people of Commiefornia who lost their businesses due to Gavin Newscum's policies during COVID (Freedom for me, not for thee, isn't that right Gov. French Laundry private dinner party?)

Ask Elon Musk about fleeing Commiefornia because Gavin Newscum and his fellow travelers wanted 60% tax on him and his "net wealth" (not "income").

Ask so many businesses that closed up and left for greener pastures like those here in TENNESSEE where businesses are WELCOMED from ALL OVER!

Ask those of us from BLUE HELLHOLE STATES that came here for FREEDOM and the natural beauty of this state.

Nah, CNBC nor Axios can ask those questions. They don't want the answers.

F'em. I LOVE TENNESSEE and have yet to meet someone who doesn't.

[HIDEK6]

CNBC?

[Lazamataz]

Brilliant response. Thank you for a sane perspective.

[mund1011]

I don’t live in Tennessee but know a lot of people who do.

+++++++++++

What a horseshit article. The desired outcome was predetermined and they worked backwards to fulfil that goal. I live in neighboring state Hellinois. The number of folks I know that are fleeing to Tennessee is so out of proportion to any other state. There is a reason. Tennessee must be a great place to live.

[Lazamataz]

CNBC?

CNBC stands for "Communists. Nothing But Communists."

[usconservative]

It's the best place to live, in my own humble opinion.

I vacationed here with the family every summer for almost twenty years in the Smokey Mountains. My first time here, I fell in love with this state, the people, the beauty of it.

I told my (then) wife I wanted to retire here.

Here I am. Loving every minute of it. So much beauty to see here, I don't think I'll get to see it all before my time on this planet expires. But I'm damn' sure gonna try.

[devane617]

I read another article about this list earlier today. The list is almost completely related to Trans and Gay stuff like Trans using any bathroom they choose.

[No name given]

Apparently so.