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

[The Loan Arranger]

I can lend in all 50 states, so it doesn't matter to me, but what are they basing this on? I think the South is your best deal nowadays(good weather, lower cost of living, more "traditional" values). Here's some examples in my area:

http://www.livingchoices.com/home/homedetail.aspx?refer=lycos&mid=0920&hid=534281779

http://www.livingchoices.com/home/homedetail.aspx?refer=lycos&mid=0920&hid=533972198

http://www.livingchoices.com/home/homedetail.aspx?refer=lycos&mid=0920&hid=534280978

http://www.millenniummortgagemississippi.lenderhost.com

[tx_eggman]

The Problem: Now Texas in July? I don't open my front door either.

The Solution:

It's not hot in July when you're chest deep in the surf at San Luis Pass.

[daybreakcoming]

Oh now you are a dog. :o) What a catch!

[houeto]

Hey look! Mississippi is last!

Amazing! Simply amazing!! Gave me a good chuckle though.

[houeto]

I am happy to live in the least livable state. My 10 year old, 2-story brick house with a pool cost $104,000. The last time I bought gas, I paid $1.76 a gallon. It's probably 70 degrees outside right now.

SHHHHHHHH!!!! Would you be quiet before the rest of the country hears you!

[tx_eggman]

What a catch!

It's not me, I had to grab pics from the web. I do have several pics on my wall here at the office that are as good or better.

Standing on the 2nd or 3rd sand bar looking over the Gulf is the most mind refreshing thing I have ever found to do. No billboards or wires, just horizon and an occasional shrimp boat.

The speckled trout caught are simply a bonus.

[Timmy]

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.

Actually, I do believe that. Plus, I can afford them and that beauty isn't limited to five months of the year. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess most people like where they live, which is why they stay or move there. I'll take Missouri hills and rivers, or Texas girls (don't EVEN try to tell me Mass. girls can compare to Texas) anyday, but that's just me. Take care.

[SueAngel]

NO way can this be based on a higher standard of living. Here are the top 10 (best) places to live, based on buying power/standard of living, according to :

Fort Worth-Arlington TX, Austin-San Marcos TX, Dallas TX, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Cedar Rapids IA, Jackson MS, Des Moines IA, Salt Lake City-Ogden UT, Victoria TX

And here are the worst places, based on how far your household income stretches: Burlington VT, Worcester MA, Toledo OH, Boulder-Longmont CO, Lima OH, Spokane WA, Elmira NY, Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria OH, Eau Claire WI, Portland ME.

This is based on a survey in the publication, "Cities Ranked and Rated", by Bert Sperling and Peter Sanders. In that publication, the cost of living indexes take into account the cost of food, health care, transportation, recreation, utilities, property taxes, housing prices and rents, and state and local income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.

[KC_Conspirator]

Without meaningful descriptions of what data are used to derive the rankings, this is pure fluff.

Exactly. I bet this has to do with how much government rules ones life and not the quality of life at all (such as education, low taxes, afforidability, crime).

And if this is true, why are demographics shifting away from the blue states at top of the list?

[bourbon]

As a native-born Jacksonian who presently lives in Jackson, I completely agree w/ you. Jackson is largely a hellhole.

[Anticommie]

Without meaningful descriptions of what data are used to derive the rankings, this is pure fluff.

Seems like "likable" from a perspective of a delusional liberal, (All Kerry states in the top half, and all but one Southern states in the bottom half).

In real life there is a long lasting trend of Southern states gaining population at an expense of North and Northestern states.

Typical distortion of reality by some lunatic leftist.

[bourbon]

Many years ago during F.O.B. Mabus' campaign for a second term, The Clarion-Ledger ran a great editorial cartoon. This cartoon featured two bumper stickers on the back of Ray Mabus' car, one from the first campaign which read "Mabus for Governor: Mississippi Will Never Be Last Again!", and another from the second campaign, which read "Mabus for Governor: Support Puerto Rican Statehood!"

[onyx]

According to the VB Post, ole #60 Mabus and loser
Ronnie are joining forces to "make certain" MS is
not a red state come '08. LOL.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Another Yankee survey only meant to inflate Yankee egos.

[bourbon]

Yeah, those guys plus Howard Dean and Wayne Dowdy will make us vote Democratic. Suuuuuurrrrrre! :-)

[bourbon]

Yeah, those guys plus Howard Dean and Wayne Dowdy will make us vote Democratic. Suuuuuurrrrrre! :-)

[onyx]

That's precisely what the arrogant duo have in mind.

[SamAdams76]

Has anybody noticed how nearly all the states at the top are "cold-weather" states and all the states at the bottom are "warm-weather" states.

Obviously weather does not play a part in a state being livable. Here in 7th ranked Massachusetts, we are still buried in snow and freezing cold and likely will be until mid-April.

Meanwhile I was in 44th ranked South Carolina last week and it was 70 degrees and everything was green already!

[Senator Pardek]

Too late - blame my HS sweety.