Most Livable States, 2005

Morgan Quitno ^ | 3/8/05 | Morgan Quitno

[crv16]

CONCORD, N.H. - Morgan Quitno Press has named New Hampshire the ``Most Livable State'' for the second consecutive year.

Like last year, the Granite State passed Minnesota to take the top spot.

Vermont held at third, while Massachusetts ranked seventh, Connecticut 14th, Maine 15th and Rhode Island 23rd.

The 2005 award is based on 44 factors. They include median household income, the crime rate and job growth.

"1" is Most Livable, "50" is Not

2005 MOST LIVABLE STATE AWARD

ALPHA ORDER							RANK ORDER
2005 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2004 RANK*	CHANGE		2005 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2004 RANK*	CHANGE
39	Alabama	21.00	47	8		1	New Hampshire	35.45	1	0
27	Alaska	24.98	31	4		2	Minnesota	33.86	2	0
36	Arizona	22.11	38	2		3	Vermont	31.73	3	0
48	Arkansas	19.25	44	-4		4	Wyoming	31.61	6	2
35	California	22.27	36	1		5	Virginia	31.57	7	2
16	Colorado	28.00	23	7		6	Iowa	31.41	4	-2
14	Connecticut	29.68	9	-5		7	Massachusetts	30.80	16	9
17	Delaware	27.66	18	1		8	New Jersey	30.77	5	-3
37	Florida	21.82	37	0		9	South Dakota	30.73	10	1
38	Georgia	21.77	35	-3		10	Nebraska	30.52	8	-2
26	Hawaii	25.02	32	6		11	North Dakota	30.43	15	4
18	Idaho	27.32	17	-1		12	Maryland	30.25	14	2
31	Illinois	23.91	26	-5		13	Wisconsin	29.75	13	0
21	Indiana	26.11	20	-1		14	Connecticut	29.68	9	-5
6	Iowa	31.41	4	-2		15	Maine	29.36	12	-3
20	Kansas	26.80	11	-9		16	Colorado	28.00	23	7
41	Kentucky	20.48	42	1		17	Delaware	27.66	18	1
49	Louisiana	17.25	49	0		18	Idaho	27.32	17	-1
15	Maine	29.36	12	-3		19	Utah	27.14	19	0
12	Maryland	30.25	14	2		20	Kansas	26.80	11	-9
7	Massachusetts	30.80	16	9		21	Indiana	26.11	20	-1
28	Michigan	24.47	34	6		22	Missouri	25.82	20	-2
2	Minnesota	33.86	2	0		23	Rhode Island	25.77	24	1
50	Mississippi	16.11	50	0		24	Montana	25.50	27	3
22	Missouri	25.82	20	-2		25	Washington	25.07	25	0
24	Montana	25.50	27	3		26	Hawaii	25.02	32	6
10	Nebraska	30.52	8	-2		27	Alaska	24.98	31	4
29	Nevada	24.41	30	1		28	Michigan	24.47	34	6
1	New Hampshire	35.45	1	0		29	Nevada	24.41	30	1
8	New Jersey	30.77	5	-3		30	New York	24.09	33	3
42	New Mexico	20.43	41	-1		31	Illinois	23.91	26	-5
30	New York	24.09	33	3		32	Ohio	23.86	29	-3
40	North Carolina	20.61	45	5		32	Pennsylvania	23.86	22	-10
11	North Dakota	30.43	15	4		34	Oregon	22.73	27	-7
32	Ohio	23.86	29	-3		35	California	22.27	36	1
43	Oklahoma	20.37	40	-3		36	Arizona	22.11	38	2
34	Oregon	22.73	27	-7		37	Florida	21.82	37	0
32	Pennsylvania	23.86	22	-10		38	Georgia	21.77	35	-3
23	Rhode Island	25.77	24	1		39	Alabama	21.00	47	8
44	South Carolina	20.34	48	4		40	North Carolina	20.61	45	5
9	South Dakota	30.73	10	1		41	Kentucky	20.48	42	1
47	Tennessee	19.50	46	-1		42	New Mexico	20.43	41	-1
45	Texas	19.93	39	-6		43	Oklahoma	20.37	40	-3
19	Utah	27.14	19	0		44	South Carolina	20.34	48	4
3	Vermont	31.73	3	0		45	Texas	19.93	39	-6
5	Virginia	31.57	7	2		46	West Virginia	19.64	43	-3
25	Washington	25.07	25	0		47	Tennessee	19.50	46	-1
46	West Virginia	19.64	43	-3		48	Arkansas	19.25	44	-4
13	Wisconsin	29.75	13	0		49	Louisiana	17.25	49	0
4	Wyoming	31.61	6	2		50	Mississippi	16.11	50	0

[rock58seg]

Also, being in the south seems to be a handicap -- lower median income, maybe not taking into account lower taxes and lower standard of living, too.

Sounds pretty dumb.

SHHHH!!!!! There are too many people not paying attention to that list and moving here anyway.

[dixiechick2000]

"MS "#50 Again!"


Good! I'd hate for our friends
up north to figure out how wonderful
it is to live in MS. Y'all have
enough folks living there.


"Mississippi will never be last again!"
-- former (F.O.B. "New Democrat") Governor of Mississippi Ray Mabus in 1987."


'Rat...it figures.

[rock58seg]

If the weather is such a negative factor, how does that explain that NH is one of the fastest growing states in the US?

You can have all those Massachusetts and NYC expatriots you want,since it seems to make you feel good. It keeps them away from here.

(New, New Hampshire State Motto: "In New York we did it this way.")

[OB1kNOb]

"Ask any native Minnesotan about the cold and you'll get the same response: "Keeps the riff-raff out"."

Hmmm. Following that logic, Canada must be Paradise! ;>)

[HostileTerritory]

Aha, but taxes in Massachusetts are relatively low as a share of our per capita income. We've had 15 years of Republican governors to clean up Dukakis's mess and now we pay less in tax per capita than Georgia or North Carolina.

The real secret here is that Massachusetts has a very low crime rate and very low divorce rate compared to other states. Quality of life is excellent. Yes, there are a lot of liberals, but they can't do too much harm because our taxpayers keep them in line. If you think Missouri or Texas is prettier than Cape Cod in June, the Berkshires, or Copley Square, you're welcome to them. I believe this list and that's why no one can afford to move here any more.

[petitfour]

Me! I currently live elsewhere, but I love the heat, and I love the Spring especially.

[HostileTerritory]

Very low crime rate? High education rates?

[strongbow]

It's true, Alaska is a terrible place to live. Believe in this study and don't come up here. The winters are unbearable, food is scarce and the natural beauty will soon be destroyed by evil capitalist oil robber barons. Go to New Hampshire or Minnesota where you will find utopia and stay far away from Alaska.</sarcasm>

[vetvetdoug]

..who in their right mind would want to live in Mississippi in August?

God made the Tennessee River and provided me with a Sea Ray Cuddy Cabin boat, ice chests and cold beer to use in August. He also provided me with air conditioners but I can take the heat, its the excessive cold that gets to me.

[zippee]

If Florida is 37---(which is not good)--WHY IS EVERYONE COMING HERE?? YA'LL GET OUT.

[Babu]

Arizona #36 ??? I guess all this thousands of folks moving into my back yard in the #1 or #2 fastest growing state forgot to consult this list first -- wish they had.

It's been great for my property value, but bad for traffic congestion.

[crv16]

My family and I lived in NH for about 9 months. We looked for a house and found that the property tax was going to be nearly as much as the mortgage. We quickly decided to move to KY. As we were packing up the moving truck, we got some tax bill in the mail. Something about a "you are human and living in the state of New Hampshire, so pay this once per year tax". We LOVE Kentucky.

Yes, NH has high property taxes, but no sales or income tax, so it all evens out. Compare the taxes paid, NH vs KY. Almost identical, 26.7% vs 26.1%

Personally, I view tax collection at the local level preferable to the state or national level. At the local level, the taxpayer has much more of a voice determining how money is spent, or more importantly *not spent*.

[DManA]

God gave us the same thing (cept we call them furnaces ). He also provided me with air conditioners

[MississippiMan]

I'd say some states like Mississippi probably suffer from the fact that a disproportionate percentage of the population lives in particular cities that drag down the whole state. For example, enough Mississippians live in Jackson to skew crime stats for the whole state, even though the vast majority of the state is NOTHING like the hellhole that Jackson has become. (No offense intended to my friends who live in the Jackson area; they probably agree, however.)

MM

[Die_Hard Conservative Lady]

This survey must not be based on where you would like to live after retirement! If it was, California would be number 50!

[DManA]

Spring is the worst here. I'd just as soon cut April and May out of the calender.

[Rex Anderson]

Go Virginia!

[Preachin']

I didn't mention their politics.

I mentioned cost of living.

Anyone can create a poll if they want to make their own region best.

How exactly does higher education make a region a better place to live?

In the end, it sounds like they are saying that the people in the New England states are better than everyone else.

What a bunch of bragging.

[Professional Engineer]

What a crock!

[Corin Stormhands]

It's okay P.E. Don't hold back. Go ahead and tell 'em what you think...