Best U.S. States to Reside In

Posted on by

I always follow the U.S. News and World Report annual data compilation of Best States to reside because it offers anyone in America a good, objective litmus test and comparison of how states are ranked in making living, a quality of life, and affordability to live there for U.S. citizens. The final tallies are always very telling. Without further delay here is this year’s 2026 overall rankings:

#1 – Utah

#2 – New Hampshire

#3 – Idaho

#4 – Minnesota

#5 – Nebraska

#6 – Florida

#7 – Vermont

#8 – South Dakota

#9 – Massachusetts

#10 – Washington

My home state of Texas usually, well… almost always ranks in the middle half to the lower one-third of the fifty United States. For 2026 they rank #29, the lower half once again. And once again for 6-10 years running our “economy” is the ONLY category that ranks high compared to the other 49 states, with “fiscal stability” ranking 12th; no surprise. But every other category has always been dismally low or barely average for the last 2-3 decades. It begs the question, What changed in Texas in 1994-1995 to the present? Hmmm. 🤔 It’s pretty obvious.

If you would like to see how all the other states rank and their breakdown of why their ranking status go to: Best States Rankings at U.S. News & World Report for an excellent, unbiased assessment. You might be surprised between what is hype and propaganda about states and what is actual fact(s).

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always – Be Objective

The Professor’s Convatorium © 2025 by Professor Taboo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

8 thoughts on “Best U.S. States to Reside In”

  1. Putting aside the statistics … Utah is Mormon country … would you want to live there? Idaho is Republican country … would you want to live there?

    I don’t know that much about the rest of them, although Washington seems pretty OK. In any event, I think I’ll stick with Oregon. Not the best in many ways (although Dems are pretty dominant☺️), but sure a beautiful place to live.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  2. Putting aside the statistics …

    Utah is Mormon country … would you want to live there?

    Idaho is Republican country … would you want to live there?

    I don’t know that much about the rest of them, although Washington seems pretty OK. In any event, I think I’ll stick with Oregon. ☺️ Not the best in many ways (although politically, Dems tend to be dominant), but sure a beautiful place to live.

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Live in Utah? No.

      Live in Idaho? No.

      I was merely sharing the new rankings of states according to U.S. News & World Report that I follow yearly. I mainly check it to see if Texas will ever reach higher than the bottom half, but they never do. They always sit in the bottom half or the bottom third… and this DESPITE the super hype proclaimed by Texas Republicans. Their delusions just don’t hold any water, much less facts. Texas has never been as great as it was prior to 1995. It has fallen in every life-category EXCEPT wealth and more toll booths and higher taxes. Period.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  3. Anyone who has awakened in NH in early April to a foot of snow blocking their driveway…
    Anyone who has discovered that not only can their kids not spel gud, they can’t add, neither…
    Our winter starts in November (remember that iconic “over the river and through the woods” thing with dad spurring the horses along in a damn blizzard for Thanksgiving…
    blackflies followed by mosquitoes and tics…
    your neighbor raises geese but doesn’t believe in fencing, your other neighbor raises pitbulls…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • Yes Judy, I can relate. Here in Texas over the past 20-25 years I have noticed we are no longer the “Friendly State” as we once proudly proclaimed. Today, especially in rural areas, we are the “Me, Me, Me State.” In other words, ‘I have rights in Texas that cannot be infringed upon by anyone that is not like-minded religiously and politically.’ Judy, I am not kidding.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  4. Tennessee made #32 on the list? How? I was expecting to be in the upper 40’s! Apparently they haven’t shared in my experiences here… Education is dismal in rural areas. Jobs you can get if you know somebody, or wear a cross around yer red neck. The red hats wander around proudly wearing the stupid fucking red hats. Scenery is still pretty nice… No way we are #32 lol.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • Shell, I know full well that Tennessee (other than Nashville maybe?) deserves to be lower than #32 for many reasons, first being a Red state for far too long. How do I know this?

      Because I married my wife last Aug. 8 and she is from Chattanooga. She grew up there most of her life except when we met in college Aug. 1981. She moved to Atlanta, GA, for a bit (work), but soon returned to Chattanooga… until marrying me.

      Therefore, she can tell me everything about “The Volunteer State,” both good, bad, and downright redneck hick. 😄

      Like

      Reply ↓

Go Ahead, Start the Discussion!