Overview

• Massachusetts retained its No. 1 position for the third consecutive year thanks to industry-leading healthcare coverage, the lowest premature death rate and top-ranked schools.
• Idaho climbed to second place on the strength of low property taxes, rapid household income growth and the nation’s lowest property crime rate.
• Florida’s slide to sixth place reflected a drop to 47th in housing affordability, a fall in building-permit growth from 22nd to 43rd and a weaker unemployment ranking.
• New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota filled the third through fifth spots, buoyed by high median incomes, strong education and health metrics and quality-of-life advantages.
• New Mexico ranked last among the 50 states, weighed down by the highest overall crime rate and one of the country’s highest poverty rates.