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Which State Is The Most Livable?

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2003 Most Livable State Awards Publication

43 Factors | Methodology | Press Release

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

2003 MOST LIVABLE STATE AWARD

ALPHA ORDER

  

RANK ORDER
2003 RANK STATE LIVABILITY RATING 2002 RANK CHANGE 2003 RANK STATE LIVABILITY RATING 2002 RANK CHANGE
47 Alabama 20.35 48 1   1 Minnesota 32.95 1 0
32 Alaska 23.88 28 -4   2 Iowa 31.91 2 0
45 Arizona 20.60 40 -5   3 New Hampshire 30.81 3 0
44 Arkansas 21.14 47 3   4 Nebraska 30.74 6 2
38 California 22.33 33 -5   5 Virginia 30.65 4 -1
19 Colorado 26.76 7 -12   6 Kansas 30.30 13 7
11 Connecticut 29.00 9 -2   7 Vermont 29.95 18 11
18 Delaware 26.79 19 1   8 South Dakota 29.79 13 5
39 Florida 22.16 39 0   9 Massachusetts 29.37 5 -4
34 Georgia 23.09 35 1   10 Wisconsin 29.33 11 1
41 Hawaii 21.74 43 2   11 Connecticut 29.00 9 -2
20 Idaho 26.44 21 1   12 New Jersey 28.98 10 -2
30 Illinois 24.28 31 1   13 Utah 28.84 12 -1
22 Indiana 25.50 20 -2   14 Maryland 28.81 17 3
2 Iowa 31.91 2 0   14 Wyoming 28.81 8 -6
6 Kansas 30.30 13 7   16 Maine 28.07 15 -1
37 Kentucky 22.51 42 5   17 North Dakota 28.02 16 -1
49 Louisiana 18.40 49 0   18 Delaware 26.79 19 1
16 Maine 28.07 15 -1   19 Colorado 26.76 7 -12
14 Maryland 28.81 17 3   20 Idaho 26.44 21 1
9 Massachusetts 29.37 5 -4   21 Montana 26.23 32 11
28 Michigan 24.79 23 -5   22 Indiana 25.50 20 -2
1 Minnesota 32.95 1 0   23 Washington 25.16 21 -2
50 Mississippi 17.47 50 0   24 Oregon 25.07 27 3
25 Missouri 25.02 26 1   25 Missouri 25.02 26 1
21 Montana 26.23 32 11   26 Rhode Island 24.88 30 4
4 Nebraska 30.74 6 2   27 Pennsylvania 24.81 24 -3
31 Nevada 24.02 34 3   28 Michigan 24.79 23 -5
3 New Hampshire 30.81 3 0   29 Ohio 24.35 25 -4
12 New Jersey 28.98 10 -2   30 Illinois 24.28 31 1
40 New Mexico 22.12 46 6   31 Nevada 24.02 34 3
33 New York 23.49 37 4   32 Alaska 23.88 28 -4
42 North Carolina 21.72 36 -6   33 New York 23.49 37 4
17 North Dakota 28.02 16 -1   34 Georgia 23.09 35 1
29 Ohio 24.35 25 -4   34 Oklahoma 23.09 38 4
34 Oklahoma 23.09 38 4   36 Texas 22.58 29 -7
24 Oregon 25.07 27 3   37 Kentucky 22.51 42 5
27 Pennsylvania 24.81 24 -3   38 California 22.33 33 -5
26 Rhode Island 24.88 30 4   39 Florida 22.16 39 0
43 South Carolina 21.37 41 -2   40 New Mexico 22.12 46 6
8 South Dakota 29.79 13 5   41 Hawaii 21.74 43 2
48 Tennessee 19.56 43 -5   42 North Carolina 21.72 36 -6
36 Texas 22.58 29 -7   43 South Carolina 21.37 41 -2
13 Utah 28.84 12 -1   44 Arkansas 21.14 47 3
7 Vermont 29.95 18 11   45 Arizona 20.60 40 -5
5 Virginia 30.65 4 -1   46 West Virginia 20.58 45 -1
23 Washington 25.16 21 -2   47 Alabama 20.35 48 1
46 West Virginia 20.58 45 -1   48 Tennessee 19.56 43 -5
10 Wisconsin 29.33 11 1   49 Louisiana 18.40 49 0
14 Wyoming 28.81 8 -6   50 Mississippi 17.47 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.