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

[metesky]

Interesting. Compare with this list: Comparing the 50 States' Combined State/Local Tax Burdens in 2004

[LadyPilgrim]

I'm right next to you, Southern Gal. I'm a Southern Belle in Alabama!
Let them go right ahead and believe it! Maybe they will stay away from our states!

99% of the people from the South don't move UP that direction. But the yankees sure do like to move here when they get weak, old and wobbly!

The cold has frozen their brains and their bodies!

It's an okay place to visit...but...NO to living!

Let them stay up there. Yeah!!!!!

[stainlessbanner]

Ok, so how come all the southern states are listed last???

The Yankees keep moving South, contributing to lower scores in Southern states.

[redhead]

"Hey look! Mississippi is last! And I think it's the best place in the country. Who in their right mind would want to live in the Northeast? Or in Minnesota? The cold just does not beckon this Southern gal."

LOL! I'm really sorry that news about the livability of Minnesota has gotten out. We were sort of wanting to keep the place to ourselves, so, don't worry, we don't want you! ;o)

[crv16]

Ok, so how come all the southern states are listed last??? There seems to be a bit of bias here. Who wants to put up with all that cold weather?

Talk to me in July, when you're baking in 100+ degree weather and high humidity... When you are cold, you can always add another layer of clothing. But when you are hot, there's only so much clothing one can take off... :)

Some of us *like* the snow. Sledding, skiing and snowmobiling are tough to do down south.

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

[donozark]

Must be all those Libertarians that chose NH as the state to re-settle in.

[libertyman]

Being Republican doesn't mean a whole lot anymore: after all, it's the party of Arlen Specter, Aenold, John McCain, Christie Todd-Whitman, Michael Bloomberg......

[j_k_l]

I moved to Tennessee about five years ago and I hope to never leave. It is a wonderful place to live.

I just hope that the Dems and Gov. Bredesen don't get their way and kill a good thing with their income tax plan.

[donozark]

I don't think any of the possum bellies that did this survey have ever actually been to MS. Tunica rules!

[Energizer45678]

Good thing they didn't take roads into condideration. PA would be dead last.

[petitfour]

I just so hate the snow! Minnesota may be a great place to live, but I'll leave the snow to folks who like to move faster. We have lived in the Midwest, and I was so happy to move away. It was all right until the winter months. Then I wanted to go home!!!!!!! Give me heat and humidity and thunderstorms!

[metesky]

Five of the six N.E. states are in the top 20, all but R.I. (the R.I. license plate should read, "It's Who You Know.")

Hard to believe.

[crv16]

Interesting. Compare with this list: Comparing the 50 States' Combined State/Local Tax Burdens in 2004

This seals the deal for NH, which has the 2nd lowest state/local tax burden in the COUNTRY

[SueAngel]

This ranking list doesn't jibe at all with the cost of living standards for metropolitan areas. For example, in an article called "The Standard of Living in Right to Work States," cities in TX occupy 5 of the top 10 slots, and many of the northern state cities are last. Here is the link (sorry I don't know how to make it active yet, but you can copy and paste it into your browser)http://www.nilrr.org/Poulson%20SOL%20Study.pdf

P.S. I can personally vouch for the standard of living in TX since I live in the Dallas area.

[Hatteras]

"You are so right about North Carolina!"

NOOOOOooooo!!!! No, he's not. It's nasty in NC. People shouldn't live there, there's nasty rednecks with no teeth driving old pick-up trucks and living in double-wide squallers. There's liberals and the Klan and hog lagoons and liberal hogs in the Klan lagoons! Nasty, nasty, nasty.... I'd turn back if I were you!

[Chapita]

I sure hope Mississippi maintains it's reputation! I like it just as it is.

[LadyPilgrim]

I like the Mississippi coast! And, I love the whole South!
I love Alabama's better. But that's just because I'm from here. ;-)

I hope all of the folks that were used to do this study....stay where they are!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Do they wear little gloves?

[MamaB]

I was born in MS and lived there until my husband finished college and then we moved to AL. I would not want to live anywhere else. Keep all those dems up in the NE. We do not need them down here. I doubt if they knew that an international Ballet Company only performs in Jackson in the USA. I think there are 3 or 4 other cities in other countries where they go.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Even kinkier, spurs.