From the lush mountain scenery of the Berkshires to the sand dunes of Cape Cod and many historic small towns, Massachusetts is a vacationer's dream. But the Bay State also has a lot to offer those looking to move here full-time, with WalletHub ranking it as the best state to live in. The company analyzed 51 factors, such as income and education growth, in all 50 states, with Massachusetts ranking first. With an overall score of 60.52 out of 100.
The Commonwealth performed best in the Education and Healthcare category, taking first place. WalletHub also found that Massachusetts has the highest percentage of residents with health insurance coverage — 97.3 percent, and the lowest premature death rate in the country. It is ranked sixth for quality of life and seventh for safety, with the third lowest property crime rate in the United States. According to WalletHub's analysis, the Bay State's economy is the 15th best.
“It has the fourth-best high school graduation rate in the country as well, at over 90 percent. A good education has helped the state's residents succeed financially, with the third-highest median household income, at more than $94,000,” WalletHub noted. exit, also highlighting the state's excellent public transportation system.
Recently, Boston was named a Best College City by Niche.com thanks to its attractive colleges and abundance of leisure and entertainment activities it offers.
However, Massachusetts is among the most expensive states, ranking 44th in terms of affordability. Earlier this year, a real estate report found it has the second-highest cost of living and third-highest home prices after Hawaii and California. In Boston, the median home value is $748,710, according to Zillow. Massachusetts is also among the ten most expensive states for food.
“When deciding on a place to move to, you should first consider financial factors such as cost of living, housing prices, and job availability. However, many states have strong economies, so you should also consider a wide range of other factors, such as How where you live affects your health and safety, and whether you'll have adequate access to activities you enjoy if you have children, says Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst, a strong education system is also key.
Florida and New Jersey ranked second and third on WalletHub's list of the best states to live in, with the company highlighting the Sunshine State's low unemployment rate and the Garden State's high median household income, the highest in the country. However, neither tops the states in terms of affordability. If this is your priority, consider Alabama, West Virginia, or Utah. You'll find the lowest housing costs in Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
You can read the full report on Wallethub.com.
