AL · South
Living in Alabama
Alabama combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 88.6 #5 lowest
- Violent crime
- 447.8 per 100k #40 lowest
- Annual climate
- 62.8°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 47.01 #41 of 50
50 state moving guides
Where should you live?
Search every state or narrow the list by statewide affordability, safety, climate, and quality of life. Open any card for costs, housing, income, schools, healthcare, pros and cons.
Browse all states
Find a state living guide
Filters are shortcuts, not final recommendations. A state can qualify for more than one.
AK · West
Living in Alaska
Alaska combines above-average statewide costs with cool annual climate.
- Cost of living
- 125.8 #46 lowest
- Violent crime
- 837.8 per 100k #50 lowest
- Annual climate
- 26.6°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 44.17 #46 of 50
AZ · West
Living in Arizona
Arizona combines above-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 103.1 #29 lowest
- Violent crime
- 473.4 per 100k #41 lowest
- Annual climate
- 60.3°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 51.01 #31 of 50
AR · South
Living in Arkansas
Arkansas combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 87.6 #3 lowest
- Violent crime
- 556.3 per 100k #46 lowest
- Annual climate
- 60.4°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 42.07 #48 of 50
CA · West
Living in California
California combines above-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 138.5 #48 lowest
- Violent crime
- 499.5 per 100k #44 lowest
- Annual climate
- 59.4°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 50.49 #32 of 50
CO · West
Living in Colorado
Colorado combines above-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 110.2 #36 lowest
- Violent crime
- 407.3 per 100k #35 lowest
- Annual climate
- 45.1°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 53.58 #19 of 50
CT · Northeast
Living in Connecticut
Connecticut combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 113.1 #38 lowest
- Violent crime
- 178.0 per 100k #3 lowest
- Annual climate
- 49.0°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 52.09 #24 of 50
DE · South
Living in Delaware
Delaware combines above-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 103.2 #30 lowest
- Violent crime
- 404.0 per 100k #34 lowest
- Annual climate
- 55.3°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 50.03 #33 of 50
FL · South
Living in Florida
Florida combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 100.5 #27 lowest
- Violent crime
- 252.4 per 100k #13 lowest
- Annual climate
- 70.7°F Warm annual climate
- Livability
- 58.51 #6 of 50
GA · South
Living in Georgia
Georgia combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 93.4 #17 lowest
- Violent crime
- 340.3 per 100k #27 lowest
- Annual climate
- 63.5°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 51.59 #27 of 50
HI · West
Living in Hawaii
Hawaii combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 186.8 #50 lowest
- Violent crime
- 242.5 per 100k #11 lowest
- Annual climate
- 70.0°F Warm annual climate
- Livability
- 49.38 #35 of 50
ID · West
Living in Idaho
Idaho combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 103.3 #31 lowest
- Violent crime
- 224.7 per 100k #10 lowest
- Annual climate
- 44.4°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 60.19 #2 of 50
IL · Midwest
Living in Illinois
Illinois combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 95.2 #19 lowest
- Violent crime
- 390.5 per 100k #30 lowest
- Annual climate
- 51.8°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 54.60 #17 of 50
IN · Midwest
Living in Indiana
Indiana combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 91.3 #11 lowest
- Violent crime
- 349.4 per 100k #29 lowest
- Annual climate
- 51.7°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 51.17 #29 of 50
IA · Midwest
Living in Iowa
Iowa combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 91.0 #9 lowest
- Violent crime
- 277.2 per 100k #16 lowest
- Annual climate
- 47.8°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 56.23 #12 of 50
KS · Midwest
Living in Kansas
Kansas combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 90.2 #8 lowest
- Violent crime
- 394.2 per 100k #31 lowest
- Annual climate
- 54.3°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 52.20 #23 of 50
KY · South
Living in Kentucky
Kentucky combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 88.0 #4 lowest
- Violent crime
- 218.6 per 100k #9 lowest
- Annual climate
- 55.6°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 47.53 #37 of 50
LA · South
Living in Louisiana
Louisiana combines below-average statewide costs with warm annual climate.
- Cost of living
- 91.8 #14 lowest
- Violent crime
- 640.8 per 100k #48 lowest
- Annual climate
- 66.4°F Warm annual climate
- Livability
- 40.57 #49 of 50
ME · Northeast
Living in Maine
Maine combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 110.3 #37 lowest
- Violent crime
- 109.8 per 100k #1 lowest
- Annual climate
- 41.0°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 56.21 #13 of 50
MD · South
Living in Maryland
Maryland combines above-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 121.7 #44 lowest
- Violent crime
- 431.7 per 100k #36 lowest
- Annual climate
- 54.2°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 49.79 #34 of 50
MA · Northeast
Living in Massachusetts
Massachusetts combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 148.8 #49 lowest
- Violent crime
- 283.3 per 100k #18 lowest
- Annual climate
- 47.9°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 60.23 #1 of 50
MI · Midwest
Living in Michigan
Michigan combines below-average statewide costs with cool annual climate.
- Cost of living
- 91.6 #12 lowest
- Violent crime
- 432.3 per 100k #38 lowest
- Annual climate
- 44.4°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 51.07 #30 of 50
MN · Midwest
Living in Minnesota
Minnesota combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 99.5 #24 lowest
- Violent crime
- 268.9 per 100k #14 lowest
- Annual climate
- 41.2°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 58.69 #5 of 50
MS · South
Living in Mississippi
Mississippi combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 85.5 #2 lowest
- Violent crime
- 269.8 per 100k #15 lowest
- Annual climate
- 63.4°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 43.53 #47 of 50
MO · Midwest
Living in Missouri
Missouri combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 90.0 #7 lowest
- Violent crime
- 495.2 per 100k #43 lowest
- Annual climate
- 54.5°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 51.23 #28 of 50
MT · West
Living in Montana
Montana combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 105.2 #34 lowest
- Violent crime
- 401.3 per 100k #33 lowest
- Annual climate
- 42.7°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 55.21 #15 of 50
NE · Midwest
Living in Nebraska
Nebraska combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 91.7 #13 lowest
- Violent crime
- 311.2 per 100k #22 lowest
- Annual climate
- 48.8°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 52.89 #20 of 50
NV · West
Living in Nevada
Nevada combines above-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 103.4 #32 lowest
- Violent crime
- 516.8 per 100k #45 lowest
- Annual climate
- 49.9°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 44.61 #45 of 50
NH · Northeast
Living in New Hampshire
New Hampshire combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 117.1 #41 lowest
- Violent crime
- 164.4 per 100k #2 lowest
- Annual climate
- 43.8°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 58.21 #7 of 50
NJ · Northeast
Living in New Jersey
New Jersey combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 121.7 #44 lowest
- Violent crime
- 188.9 per 100k #5 lowest
- Annual climate
- 52.7°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 59.81 #3 of 50
NM · West
Living in New Mexico
New Mexico combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 93.1 #16 lowest
- Violent crime
- 779.0 per 100k #49 lowest
- Annual climate
- 53.4°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 39.68 #50 of 50
NY · Northeast
Living in New York
New York combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 132.7 #47 lowest
- Violent crime
- 319.6 per 100k #25 lowest
- Annual climate
- 45.4°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 57.94 #8 of 50
NC · South
Living in North Carolina
North Carolina combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 96.4 #22 lowest
- Violent crime
- 346.4 per 100k #28 lowest
- Annual climate
- 59.0°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 52.32 #22 of 50
ND · Midwest
Living in North Dakota
North Dakota combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 99.1 #23 lowest
- Violent crime
- 282.5 per 100k #17 lowest
- Annual climate
- 40.4°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 54.63 #16 of 50
OH · Midwest
Living in Ohio
Ohio combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 91.0 #9 lowest
- Violent crime
- 316.5 per 100k #24 lowest
- Annual climate
- 50.7°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 51.61 #26 of 50
OK · South
Living in Oklahoma
Oklahoma combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 88.6 #5 lowest
- Violent crime
- 442.7 per 100k #39 lowest
- Annual climate
- 59.6°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 46.34 #43 of 50
OR · West
Living in Oregon
Oregon combines above-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 117.1 #41 lowest
- Violent crime
- 293.8 per 100k #19 lowest
- Annual climate
- 48.4°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 47.20 #39 of 50
PA · Northeast
Living in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 101.7 #28 lowest
- Violent crime
- 299.5 per 100k #21 lowest
- Annual climate
- 48.8°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 57.90 #10 of 50
RI · Northeast
Living in Rhode Island
Rhode Island combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 115.2 #39 lowest
- Violent crime
- 215.5 per 100k #7 lowest
- Annual climate
- 50.1°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 52.05 #25 of 50
SC · South
Living in South Carolina
South Carolina combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 96.3 #21 lowest
- Violent crime
- 490.4 per 100k #42 lowest
- Annual climate
- 62.4°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 45.65 #44 of 50
SD · Midwest
Living in South Dakota
South Dakota combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 99.7 #25 lowest
- Violent crime
- 400.6 per 100k #32 lowest
- Annual climate
- 45.2°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 54.12 #18 of 50
TN · South
Living in Tennessee
Tennessee combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 92.0 #15 lowest
- Violent crime
- 640.7 per 100k #47 lowest
- Annual climate
- 57.6°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 47.02 #40 of 50
TX · South
Living in Texas
Texas combines below-average statewide costs with mild-to-warm climate.
- Cost of living
- 94.3 #18 lowest
- Violent crime
- 431.8 per 100k #37 lowest
- Annual climate
- 64.8°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 47.21 #38 of 50
UT · West
Living in Utah
Utah combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 107.2 #35 lowest
- Violent crime
- 243.4 per 100k #12 lowest
- Annual climate
- 48.6°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 57.94 #8 of 50
VT · Northeast
Living in Vermont
Vermont combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 117.6 #43 lowest
- Violent crime
- 187.6 per 100k #4 lowest
- Annual climate
- 42.9°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 52.71 #21 of 50
VA · South
Living in Virginia
Virginia combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 103.7 #33 lowest
- Violent crime
- 195.2 per 100k #6 lowest
- Annual climate
- 55.1°F Mild-to-warm climate
- Livability
- 56.18 #14 of 50
WA · West
Living in Washington
Washington combines above-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 115.3 #40 lowest
- Violent crime
- 319.8 per 100k #26 lowest
- Annual climate
- 48.3°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 49.17 #36 of 50
WV · South
Living in West Virginia
West Virginia combines below-average statewide costs with four-season climate.
- Cost of living
- 83.6 #1 lowest
- Violent crime
- 312.0 per 100k #23 lowest
- Annual climate
- 51.8°F Four-season climate
- Livability
- 47.00 #42 of 50
WI · Midwest
Living in Wisconsin
Wisconsin combines below-average statewide costs with a top-third livability score.
- Cost of living
- 95.5 #20 lowest
- Violent crime
- 295.8 per 100k #20 lowest
- Annual climate
- 43.1°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 59.66 #4 of 50
WY · West
Living in Wyoming
Wyoming combines above-average statewide costs with a top-third safety standing.
- Cost of living
- 100.4 #26 lowest
- Violent crime
- 216.5 per 100k #8 lowest
- Annual climate
- 42.0°F Cool annual climate
- Livability
- 57.90 #10 of 50
No states match
Clear the search or choose another quick filter.
How the filters work
Simple thresholds, transparent data
“Affordable” means a cost-of-living index at or below the national benchmark of 100. “Safer” and “Quality of life” show the best-scoring third of states with available data. “Warm climate” means an annual statewide average of at least 60°F.
Ranks are calculated only among states with a value for that metric. The cards are screening tools; cities, counties, and neighborhoods can differ sharply from statewide averages.
Primary sources
MERICCost of Living Index · 2026 incorporated release FBI Crime Data ExplorerViolent crime · 2022 UCR data NOAAClimate · 1991–2020 normals WalletHubBest States to Live In · 2025 comparisonSource inventory reviewed July 23, 2026. Each state guide shows metric-level periods and source links.