Most Livable State 2000

ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2000 RANK	STATE	RATING	1999 RANK	CHANGE	2000 RANK	STATE	RATING	1999 RANK	CHANGE
42	Alabama	21.88	45	3	1	Minnesota	35.02	1	0
41	Alaska	22.33	37	-4	2	Iowa	32.40	3	1
39	Arizona	22.42	42	3	3	Colorado	30.98	2	-1
45	Arkansas	20.47	46	1	4	Utah	30.95	5	1
36	California	23.26	35	-1	5	New Hampshire	30.02	8	3
3	Colorado	30.98	2	-1	6	Kansas	29.88	4	-2
13	Connecticut	28.16	11	-2	6	Wisconsin	29.88	7	1
17	Delaware	27.33	26	9	8	Virginia	29.57	12	4
40	Florida	22.40	37	-3	9	Nebraska	29.47	6	-3
30	Georgia	24.21	31	1	10	Massachusetts	29.42	9	-1
43	Hawaii	21.86	41	-2	11	South Dakota	28.81	19	8
24	Idaho	25.79	17	-7	12	Vermont	28.50	14	2
29	Illinois	24.74	24	-5	13	Connecticut	28.16	11	-2
19	Indiana	27.00	16	-3	14	North Dakota	27.65	28	14
2	Iowa	32.40	3	1	15	Maine	27.60	15	0
6	Kansas	29.88	4	-2	16	New Jersey	27.42	13	-3
32	Kentucky	23.77	39	7	17	Maryland	27.33	20	3
48	Louisiana	18.17	48	0	17	Delaware	27.33	26	9
15	Maine	27.60	15	0	19	Indiana	27.00	16	-3
17	Maryland	27.33	20	3	20	Wyoming	26.60	10	-10
10	Massachusetts	29.42	9	-1	21	Oregon	26.26	22	1
28	Michigan	24.88	23	-5	22	Washington	25.98	21	-1
1	Minnesota	35.02	1	0	23	Missouri	25.93	18	-5
50	Mississippi	17.37	50	0	24	Idaho	25.79	17	-7
23	Missouri	25.93	18	-5	25	Ohio	25.77	25	0
33	Montana	23.58	32	-1	26	Nevada	25.28	27	1
9	Nebraska	29.47	6	-3	27	Texas	25.00	29	2
26	Nevada	25.28	27	1	28	Michigan	24.88	23	-5
5	New Hampshire	30.02	8	3	29	Illinois	24.74	24	-5
16	New Jersey	27.42	13	-3	30	Georgia	24.21	31	1
47	New Mexico	19.37	47	0	31	Rhode Island	24.07	34	3
38	New York	22.44	43	5	32	Kentucky	23.77	39	7
35	North Carolina	23.47	30	-5	33	Montana	23.58	32	-1
14	North Dakota	27.65	28	14	34	Pennsylvania	23.51	33	-1
25	Ohio	25.77	25	0	35	North Carolina	23.47	30	-5
37	Oklahoma	22.98	36	-1	36	California	23.26	35	-1
21	Oregon	26.26	22	1	37	Oklahoma	22.98	36	-1
34	Pennsylvania	23.51	33	-1	38	New York	22.44	43	5
31	Rhode Island	24.07	34	3	39	Arizona	22.42	42	3
44	South Carolina	21.40	40	-4	40	Florida	22.40	37	-3
11	South Dakota	28.81	19	8	41	Alaska	22.33	37	-4
46	Tennessee	20.23	44	-2	42	Alabama	21.88	45	3
27	Texas	25.00	29	2	43	Hawaii	21.86	41	-2
4	Utah	30.95	5	1	44	South Carolina	21.40	40	-4
12	Vermont	28.50	14	2	45	Arkansas	20.47	46	1
8	Virginia	29.57	12	4	46	Tennessee	20.23	44	-2
22	Washington	25.98	21	-1	47	New Mexico	19.37	47	0
49	West Virginia	17.42	49	0	48	Louisiana	18.17	48	0
6	Wisconsin	29.88	7	1	49	West Virginia	17.42	49	0
20	Wyoming	26.60	10	-10	50	Mississippi	17.37	50	0

METHODOLOGY: To determine a state's "Livability Rating," each state's rankings for 43 categories were averaged. The scale is 1 to 50, the higher the number, the better. Data used are for the most recent year in which comparable numbers are available from most states. All factors were given equal weight. States with no data available for a given category were ranked based only on the remaining factors. In our book, data are listed from highest to lowest. However, for purposes of this award, we inverted rankings for those factors we determined to be "positive." Thus the state with the highest median income in the book (ranking 1st) would be given a number 50 ranking for this award.

Which State Is The Most Livable?

2000 Most Livable State

[43 Factors] [Methodology] [Press Release]

[State Rankings for the 43 Factors] [Award Rankings 1991 to 2000]

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