Quality of Life
Alaska vs California: Best State to Live In
California scores higher as a state to live in Alaska.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for best state to live in.
Alaska
#46 · 44.17
California
#32 · 50.49
Lowest
Highest
Top 10 States — Best State to Live In
#1
Massachusetts
60.23
Massachusetts
#2
Idaho
60.19
Idaho
#3
New Jersey
59.81
New Jersey
#4
Wisconsin
59.66
Wisconsin
#5
Minnesota
58.69
Minnesota
#6
Florida
58.51
Florida
#7
New Hampshire
58.21
New Hampshire
#8
New York
57.94
New York
#9
Utah
57.94
Utah
#10
Pennsylvania
57.90
Pennsylvania
Selected states
#46
Alaska
44.17
Alaska
#32
California
50.49
California
Alaska ranks 46th and California ranks 32nd nationally for best state to live in.
What this means
Alaska vs California: Best State to Live In in context
California's best state to live in is 50.49, compared with 44.17 in Alaska, a gap of 14.3%. Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.
Alaska
44.17
California
50.49
Difference
6.32 points
People also ask
Alaska vs California Best State to Live In — common questions
QWhat is Alaska's best state to live in?
Alaska's best state to live in is 44.17.
QWhat is California's best state to live in?
California's best state to live in is 50.49.
QWhich state has a higher best state to live in — Alaska or California?
California scores higher as a state to live in Alaska.
More comparisons: Alaska vs California
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Data source and freshness
Primary source
Data period
Inputs shown on this comparison page
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Derived score built from the component metrics described on the page; it is not a government statistic.