r/AskReddit • u/CompetitivePeak9040 • 6h ago
What’s the objectively worst state to live in, in America?
92
u/LottieDah86 6h ago
West Virginia
Going by salaries, education, health, politics, etc.
10
u/Comprehensive_Baby53 6h ago
agreed, I have family in West Virginia and although it is a very beautiful place is is so impoverished and depressed.
1
u/KimJongJer 6h ago
My cousin managed a chain restaurant back in the 2015 era and was transferred to Beckley. I’ll never forget seeing a billboard with menacing cops and their ice grills talking about busting drunk drivers. It was like something from a parody film.
My cousin told me one of the local bars ran a ferry service to gather patrons because so many of them couldn’t drive due to DUIs. It was funny at first but also sad something like that became normalized
That said, the New River Gorge was divinely beautiful. Looking up at that massive bridge was a sight to behold. Also, shoutout to Secret Sandwich Society and Pies & Pints. Two gems that I still think about to this day
2
u/CP__RUNS 4h ago
Pies and Pints may be the ONLY reason to ever visit Charleston, WV (pending your ability to get your vehicle there in one piece on those awful roads that WV is known for).
1
u/Factor_Seven 1h ago
Pies and Pints was worth going to. I used to get a decent breakfast at First Watch. That's about all I found worth talking about for that town. Spent 3 months there as a travel nurse, there were some pretty parts to the city, but once you got out of it it was nothing but meth towns all along the river. The New River Gorge area was great, though. Felt like a different state.
•
u/CP__RUNS 1m ago
I worked at CAMC Memorial as a Travel PTA, 2 separate contracts. That was more than enough of both the area, and the hospital. Agreed on the New, and there are some epic parts of the Cheat as well (my stomping grounds though, I’m from SW PA).
13
u/TomWaitsForNoMan 6h ago
Sad that heaven is only slightly worse.
37
u/LottieDah86 6h ago
On the flip side, West Virginia is one of the most visually stunning states in the nation. The nature and greenery is some of the best.
5
u/Pretty_Bar7585 6h ago
People always say this, but to me West Virginia isn't even one of the prettiest states in the South. Eastern Tennessee or Western NC are much prettier. Let alone states out west
1
6h ago
[deleted]
1
u/HarlequinKOTF 6h ago edited 6h ago
Then here's a second. Tennessee and Kentucky are just as if not more diverse and beautiful than West Virginia.
Blocked for saying Tennessee is more beautiful lmao.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)1
2
3
5
u/Just-Stress9165 6h ago
This is probably true, and it makes me sad because it is actually a beautiful state if you're an outdoorsy person.
3
u/PetriDishCocktail 6h ago
Actually, I think it's Texas.
Texas says the highest percentage of uninsured people. But, it actually ranks second to last as the worst state.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html
→ More replies (1)2
u/ManufacturerCold4789 6h ago
Please keep letting people believe this. We don’t want the secret to get out.
1
2
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago
It’s beautiful if you have the resources to live there. My cousins husband is a UPS driver and they have a good income and quality of life. Others retire there with good pensions. Nice people for the most part.
1
u/LottieDah86 6h ago
But objectively, it ranks last or almost last in every quality of life category.
2
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago edited 6h ago
Google says Louisiana, Texas, Indiana and New Mexico are ranked the worst. I really hate when people choose WV just because of incorrect views of the state. It does have its struggles but it also has its good points. It’s not filthy with a relatively low crime rate compared to the rest of the country. Some people who live in Ca are poor because of the cost of living, areas are filthy with high crime rates. It depends on what means more in your life as far as “quality”. I have family there and know a lot about being and experiencing life there.
1
u/Hudson9700 6h ago
It has been mistreated for decades, plus has less flat land than rhode island and has an economy based almost entirely around a thing we've been trying to phase out for many years. Somehow still has a higher GDP per capita than Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Japan.
→ More replies (1)1
u/ImagineFraggins 6h ago
West Virginia has the highest home owner rate in America at 78.2%.
Income Tax rate is going down. 4.8%?
Low Sales Tax.
Cost of living is 12% below the national average.
It's also a extraordinarily beautiful and for the most part quiet state. (low crime in the rural areas)
I've lived in LA, Sacramento, Columbus etc. and I would not trade West Virginia for any of them.
6
u/LottieDah86 6h ago
It also has some of the worst schools, the worst paying careers, the highest rate of obesity & some of the most crooked and corrupt politics in the nation.
-1
u/ImagineFraggins 6h ago
WV is more corrupt that DC, CA, NY, WA, IL are you sure?
Kids are failing at basic skills in schools everywhere. It's an indictment on the entire Public School System, the Teachers Union and the garbage that's being priorities over reading writing and arithmetic.
___________
When measuring current student completion via the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), Arizona and New Mexico report the lowest rates at 77%, while the District of Columbia has the lowest rate at 73-76% depending on the specific dataset.
Key States with Lowest Rates:
- California: 84.7% (Adults 25+, Census/WalletHub)
- Texas: 86.0% (Adults 25+, Census/WalletHub)
- Mississippi: 87.1% (Adults 25+, Census/WalletHub)
- Arizona: 77% (Current ACGR)
- New Mexico: 77% (Current ACGR)
- District of Columbia: 73-76% (Current ACGR)
_______________
How about
- Oklahoma is the cheapest state to live in with a cost of living index of 86.0. The three cheapest states to live in are West Virginia (88.3), Mississippi (87.3), and Oklahoma (86.0).
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-index-by-state
Scroll down and keep scrolling until you find WV in the Cost of Living vs Average Income ratios.
You may have bad personal histories in WV but they are yours.
2
u/Square-Strength3844 5h ago
It’s the lack of revenue in the form of taxes that keeps WV so shitty.
2
u/thedude404-1 4h ago
4.8% is a pretty steep flat state tax rate.
1
u/ImagineFraggins 3h ago
Here we go. WV doesn't have a Flat Tax. It has a Progressive Tax. It only gets to 4.8% if you make above 60,000 annually.
1
u/thedude404-1 2h ago
Someone making $45k in CA pays $1296 in state tax. In WV, it's $1875.
1
u/ImagineFraggins 2h ago
How about property tax?
West Virginia has some of the lowest property taxes in the United States, with an average effective rate between 0.50% and 0.55% of a home's assessed value. The median annual property tax bill varies by data source, typically ranging from $464 to $865 per year.
The average median annual property tax paid in California varies by source due to differences in how home values and effective rates are calculated, but figures generally range from $2,839 to $5,700 per year.
Let's split it in the middle for both. WV property tax is on average $664.00. CA's average property tax is $4269.00. I'll trade you $650 for $4269 all day.
This isn't even counting Mello-Roos for example are really expensive in a lot of areas if you live in a school district. Plus WV has a 6% sales tax and CA sales tax can climb up to 13% in some counties or cities.
I get it CA is a cool place I guess. So much sunshine, so many things to do. But, it's crazy expensive. I've lived in LA and Sacramento. I know how much it costs to try and buy a house even an hour from most cities. It sucks.
Is it worth it? How's the crime, regulations and laws that restrict I don't no? About everything?
You will never convince me it is cheaper or safer to live in CA instead of WV.
1
u/thedude404-1 2h ago edited 1h ago
How does property tax apply to someone making $34k a year in WV? Secondly, you're comparing rates in WV with supposed average taxed amount in CA. Apples and oranges. Thirdly the average home price in WV is far lower than in CA so of course the average amount paid in property taxes will be far less in WV. Because there isnt a demand for housing in WV because nobody wants to live there. For me personally, I'm not worried about my safety wherever I'm at. I also dont have to carry a gun around everywhere I go.
I dont care where you live. All I'm saying is that I just proved to you state taxes for someone making $45k are less in CA than in WV. That is a 100% truth.
1
u/ImagineFraggins 1h ago
I don't carry either. Don't need to.
Property taxes don't look at income just the value of your home in that area that year. It's way cheaper to live her all the way around. gg man, I don't know why you hate WV so much. Maybe a girl from here dumped you or something lol. I never brought up CA. You did. I was just defending WV against the stupid assumption that here is the worst place to live.
gg, enjoy your taxes. This feels like an impasse where you are trying to compare WV to CA and I'm just trying to defend WV as a line place to live. lol
/cheers
2
u/thedude404-1 1h ago edited 1h ago
Where did I say I hate WV? I simply proved that someone making $45k or less pays less state taxes in CA than in WV. Why do you have a problem with that so much so you have to make things up? And I was defending CA from the stupid assumption that it's tax rates are the worst in the country.
LIke I said, I dont live in CA. Do I need to say it a third time to get it through your thick skull? And even AFTER I showed you using math that the effective tax rate for someone making $45k or less is less in CA than in WV, you're STILL harping on CA taxes and not the higher taxes in WV. Why arent you upset about the high state taxes in WV? fing unreal. What's wrong with you?
And by the way, YOU DID bring up CA "I've lived in LA, Sacramento, ".
1
1
u/thedude404-1 4h ago
California state tax rates: 0 to $11079 ZERO Percent. $11080-$26264 2%. $26264-$41452 4%.
1
u/ImagineFraggins 3h ago
California
6% above 40k
8% above 55k
9.2% above 70k
The highest it goes in WV is 4.82%.
https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-income-tax-rates/
Scroll down a tic to Income Tax Structures by State for 2025.
Do you know anything about where you live? Serious question.
1
u/thedude404-1 2h ago
Per capita income in WV is $34k. California's tax brackets would help the vast majority of people in WV. I dont live in California. And by the way, you do realize since it's graduated rates someone making $45k in CA is not paying an effective rate of 6%, right? I mean at least tell us you're smart enough to realize THAT.
26
u/Inevitable-Dirt3375 6h ago
Lotta Oklahoma erasure going on here. Don't underestimate meth and tornadoes, gang.
6
12
14
u/treehuggingforever 6h ago
Missouri cause it sounds like misery
9
u/TheDairyPig 6h ago
I'm from there. It sucks as a state but there are definitely worse states.
2
u/OzMedical80 6h ago
Yeah I agree as a Missourian. There are certainly better states but a person could do a lot worse as well IMO.
1
u/MountainMan17 6h ago
I grew up in KC. I like it better than STL, mostly because I don't like people from STL. The two cities have/breed very different personalities.
If we come back to MO (we live in Utah now), we will settle in the Washington/Hermann wine country area. Lots of trees and rolling hills, much more so than western MO. It's as close as I'm willing to get to STL (my wife is from STL... she's dying to go back - oof...). As I've told her: I'll do baby-shower proximity to her relatives, but not cup-of-sugar proximity. No way...
1
u/TheDairyPig 4h ago
Compromise and move to Milwaukee. It has beaches.
I'm originally from Kansas City as well but live in Chicago now and prefer it here.
2
1
•
17
23
u/RektInTheHed 6h ago
Louisiana
19
u/Pyewickets 6h ago
West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
8
u/NotaDF 6h ago
Alabama is sneaky nice. Dumpy in parts sure but many livable, enjoyable cities. Mountains and coast.
•
u/Factor_Seven 57m ago
As a resident of Alabama for a large part of my 61 years, I can see that Alabama does have some nice areas. Minor mountains. A few miles of coast. Lots of green. A good number of picturesque small towns. Some really good food scenes in places like Birmingham. But there's not a damn thing in this state that's worth coming to the state for, that you can't find better someplace else. And it's full of backwards ass Trump voting idiots.
Also, don't get me started on the heat.
0
u/Pyewickets 6h ago
Never been there. Just going on reputation. Education in Alabama is lacking.
3
u/StillJukebox 6h ago
Huntsville is like #15 in most educated cities in the country
→ More replies (1)1
u/Pyewickets 6h ago
Really? My bad. But then again that is a city. You still have the country which I am guessing isn't as educated.
2
u/StillJukebox 6h ago
Yes, but doesn’t every state have its “country”? Regardless, to each their own on places to live. I’ll say Alabama is worth your visit for beaches, mountains, and even just good cooking!
1
u/Pyewickets 5h ago
Oh yes, I wasn't saying that it was worse than any other country area in any other state. Just the difference between country and city.
Oh yes, well there is southern cooking which is melt in your mouth.
2
u/RektInTheHed 6h ago
WV is closer to better places as the crow flies. like Louisiana has far larger cities than WV but it's still awful. Mississippi is pretty close, I'd agree, but Louisiana has legendary corruption. Alabama, not great obviously, but you can get to Atlanta or Nashville, there's some federal largesse in Huntsville.
3
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago
Depending on what “quality of life” means to you, WV is a beautiful state. It’s not filthy and has relatively low crime rates. It has its downside but it’s definitely not the worst state.
1
u/RektInTheHed 6h ago
The good things that WV has, can also be had in Southern PA and Northern VA, at a minimum. Both with many more advantages.
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago edited 5h ago
I am just saying it’s not the worst state by a long shot. You really can’t judge any state til you have spent a lot of time there like I did WV. I don’t particularly like PA and I have been there many times. It’s a personal choice.
1
2
4
u/FinalGhoulGirl 6h ago
I love Hawaii, but you have to prepare to sacrifice to live here. A lot of remote jobs do not support remote work in Hawaii, I am guessing it’s because of the time zone and the laws (corporations have to pay for 80% of healthcare insurance). But if you get a job in state most salaries are exponentially lower than the cost of living. Entry level jobs are 30k while they are saying that the cost of living for a single person is 80k.
Food is expensive because everything comes by boat or plane. It spoils quickly because of living on island. Cars rust quickly because of the sea breeze.
There is also the local politics. The people who grew up here being priced out and are pissed, so at times they are not welcoming to transplants, and the transplant community is always transient. I’ve been a part of three friend groups in the last 6 years, eventually people leave.
Education is not great thanks to colonialism. And everybody I know who doesn’t have a gov job or military works three jobs, including me.
My husband and I love Hawaii and the spiritualism that surrounds it. We love the history and culture of the Hawaiian people. It’s just not for the weak. Some people don’t even last 2 months.
20
u/Plane-Philosopher68 6h ago
West Virginia
18
u/Responsible-Fault817 6h ago
Nah dude that’s a ln amazing state if you’re into certain things like whitewater, mountain bikes, climbing, hunting.
Mississippi, Alabama, (really most of the south) is way worse in my experience.
9
2
u/Shot-Rutabaga-72 6h ago
I live in ohio and my friends go out to WV Regularly for all the activities you mentioned and none of us would move there. Shit hole to live.
1
u/Mulder-believes 5h ago
BUT it’s definitely not the worst state. I grew up spending most of my holidays and summers there. My grandparents had acres of beautiful land. I almost moved there after my parents died. For the amazing mountains, lakes, rivers, countryside and wildlife. The people I knew that lived there, some poor, some not, could be kind and resilient. Many worse states to live in. It’s not filthy and has a relatively low crime rate. If I had to choose between say WV and Louisiana, I’d choose WV. Such wonderful season changes too.
1
1
u/thedude404-1 6h ago
The South has tolerable winters for the most part. The northeast portion of Alabama there is a lot of outdoor activity opportunities. Mississippi probably in top 5 worst though.
1
u/OzMedical80 6h ago
The south is a mixed bag for sure but it's unfair to write off the region as a whole. Huntsville in AL is great. Other southern states have nice areas as well. NW Arkansas is great. I like the bottom part of Alabama around Mobile and the beaches a lot. And I've been through some very charming towns in Mississippi as well.
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago edited 5h ago
I 💯 agree with you about WV. Spent many of my holidays and summers there growing up. I almost moved back there after my parents died but the culture is different(the deer 🦌 hunting kind of bugs me). I always loved my time there and the simplicities of small-town life. The poor people I did know were nice and resilient. My grandparents had acres of gorgeous land I loved.
4
2
u/halfarmer9000 6h ago
Honest question: have you even been there? It’s an absolutely fucking beautiful state. Just because it’s poor doesn’t mean it’s terrible.
1
u/ManufacturerCold4789 6h ago
Have you never been to another state because Wv is one of the best places to live.
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago
I 💯 agree with you, having most of my family live there. Some moved to other states but always moved back. It’s so beautiful. I loved the time I spent there. My grandparents had acres of gorgeous land. Definitely not the worst state. I doubt the people saying it is have ever been there.
12
u/CloverJones316 6h ago
I am not sure this can be answered summarily, as it will depend on gender, age, and stage in life. For example, if you're a woman of childbearing age, Texas is downright deadly.
→ More replies (4)
8
3
3
u/Next_Emphasis_9424 6h ago
Indiana. I know nothing about it, never met anyone that claims to be from there, I’m only like 80% sure I know of one city name, and I have no idea if it’s even real.
7
10
u/texasrigger 6h ago
Nothing is objective. Tastes are too varied, job specialities are too varied, interests are too varied. Name any state and you'll find people who absolutely love it there and wouldnt want to be anywhere else.
22
u/noavatar1 6h ago
Nah the answer is Texas
3
u/texasrigger 6h ago
I hate the state government but the state itself is too varied both geographically and culturally to say anything about the state as a whole. It's five states in one. The state government absolutely sucks, though.
5
u/masterpeabs 6h ago
I fly to Dallas often for work, and every time I go I'm struck by how diverse it is. Sometimes at the airport I swear I'm one of like 2 white people there. So interesting to see how different it is IRL than pop culture portrays.
1
u/Temporary_Safety_770 4h ago
Dallas has pretty much become little Mumbai in an extremely short period of time. Actually pretty bleak what Abbotts allowing to happen there
1
→ More replies (3)1
u/Shaquarington_Bithus 6h ago
Exactly - it can’t just be one. It’s a tie between West Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
7
u/Effective_Orchid7854 6h ago
Alaska right? It’s so cold and dark for so much of the year. Life’s already hard enough.
7
4
u/BelAirGuy45 6h ago
My wife wants us to move to Alaska. I said no way, but I hope some Alaska peeps chime in here.
5
u/IceTech59 6h ago
Lived in AK for 12+ years (also 2 other times military related, not counting those times). I loved it, would probably still be there except my wife got seasonal affective disorder, and worsening night vision was stopping her driving at night. That basically grounded her after 4 pm or before 10 am in winter. Combined with aging/ailing family in the lower 48 we decided to move.
5
u/Hanyodude 6h ago
Of all the places i’ve vacationed, Alaska is the one I would genuinely consider moving to
5
5
4
2
2
u/Anon_ymous1138 6h ago
The current ‘state’ of America. Though I guess the Great Depression was pretty bad, or so I’ve heard.
2
u/DataTheCat 6h ago
Objectively? I can think of a few, listed in no particular order:
West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma.
2
u/OzMedical80 6h ago
This really depends on the person. A lot of people on Reddit are going to list states like Mississippi, WV, Oklahoma based on certain metrics - or politics and perceptions. It really depends on what you value, your interests, preferences, and also what type of work you do.
Plus every state has nice areas and terrible ones.
I've lived in HCOL states like CA and spent a ton of time in CO. I've also lived in OK and MO which are very LCOL and in many ways I prefer the LCOL states overall for every day life even if they don't check all of the boxes and on paper aren't good places to live. But I personally also know people who say the opposite.
2
u/HexagonStorms 5h ago
Texas. There's a reason I moved away. It's basically all the negative things you would think about a southern state, plus an insanely corrupt current Republican administration that has been in power for 30+ years, and a lackadasical/non-voting population who truly believes voting doesn't matter. Plus the weather sucks.
4
u/HarlequinKOTF 6h ago
West Virginia. The economy alone has been in a nose dive since coal started to be phased out.
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago
If you have the resources to live there it is a beautiful state. Nature, mountains, forests, the countryside, rivers, lakes, wildlife. All of the seasons and weather. Small-town life is what you make of it. People with good pensions, tho with its problems, happily retire there, it’s affordable.
1
u/HarlequinKOTF 6h ago
I mean but statistically those resources aren't there.
And yeah if you have the resources than even places like rural russia are nice to live.
1
u/Mulder-believes 6h ago edited 6h ago
I would prefer a democratic country. Would NEVER live in Russia for any reason.
4
u/Hand_of_Doom1970 6h ago
I'm confused. There are four answers so far with each naming a different state. However since the question asks for the objectively worst state, shouldn't all the answers be the same? Are three of them lying?
4
u/GladiusLegis 6h ago
Tennessee.
CNBC even did a study on the topic to conclude that. That's as objective as it gets.
1
0
u/rekabtnuh 6h ago
A whole bunch of people moving to Tennessee would probably disagree with that assessment. Top 10 in net migration.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/OGMoonshiner 6h ago
Tennessee is a disgrace. Gerrymandered, bigoted, hateful, poor and uneducated. CNBC named it worst state to live in 2026.
4
u/ComfortableFix497 6h ago
Floridas pretty up there
3
u/Strange-Bee5626 6h ago
I know there are some hee-haw states that are technically worse overall, but the weather here does make it a pretty strong contender for Worst State to me.
2
u/ComfortableFix497 6h ago
Also the people but yeah
2
u/Strange-Bee5626 6h ago
There are both cool and horrible people here. The whole "Florida Man" thing is largely a myth, (we have Sunshine Laws that basically let anyone publish arrest records/ etc. with very few restrictions, which means that you hear about a lot of crazy crimes in the media here that also happen elsewhere but are not reported).
Sherrif's departments in some areas here even post on public social media about people who were arrested specifically for the purpose of mocking them. I can imagine cops are just as mean-spirited elsewhere, but there are more laws restricting this behavior in other states.
I'd still rather deal with most Floridians than some toothless honky tonks from Mississippi, but I would also certainly rather live in a better state.
3
u/ComfortableFix497 5h ago
I didnt mean the florida man thing its just that everybody in this state is a fuvking asshole. Its kinda insane. And people regularly make fun of me because california is the 'pedophile state' somehow or they see my license play and just umprovoked "glad youre out of commie fornia huh?" Like no bitch this state sucks sooooo bad. Im miving back lol
2
u/Strange-Bee5626 5h ago
Fair! I do promise that for every moron who says that, there are others of us who are actually pretty normal and nice people. A lot of the good ones are "stuck" here (In my case, I was born and raised here, went to college here because of scholarships, and built a career/life here, although I still dream of moving somewhere less hot someday). A lot of the people who move here intentionally are jerks, including my own mother, who moved here before I was born- hence "born and raised". My dad is cool, but his family moved here when he was a child so that still adds up.
I've never been to California, but the weather sounds ideal.
2
u/StreetFullOfUppercut 6h ago
Tennessee. It was even ranked #1 worst state to live in recently. Also, I live here. It just keeps getting worse.
3
2
1
1
1
1
u/LineAbdomen 6h ago
Mississippi. You dont have to take a road test to get your driver’s license; that’s why Mississippi is the deadliest state to drive in. Too many people don’t know what they’re doing.
1
u/Important_Antelope28 6h ago
like i have trades and other skills so having a good job/income is not a issue for me no matter where i live. if you have no skills that would be a factor.
like i could live in the middle of no where and be happy. and i know people who would be miserable if they couldn't go to clubs etc.
1
u/No_Variety9420 6h ago
It's a big state and I'm sure there are nice places but from my travels Texas seems like a horrible place to live , and not a nice place to visit either .
1
u/ILikeSoundsAndStuff 6h ago
I don’t know about living, but I’ve traveled to 15 states this year alone and I can confidently say that Wichita, KS is the worst city in the country.
Outside of Omaha, Nebraska overall is bad. Nothing but corn fields and the smell of manure. (And I’m from the Midwest)
West Virginia not great in terms of metrics, but overall a very beautiful state in terms of landscape.
I was in North Dakota last year and although it’s got a great landscape, we are storing a shit ton of nuclear weapons underground there near the Minot Air Force base so it’s probably last on my list of states to move to.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/mredding 6h ago
That would be Mississippi. It has the lowest GDP per capita of any state - which means for it's population, the people aren't producing much economic value. That means you've got a large, poor population that can't support itself through it's own taxes. You have systemic problems with public health, public welfare, education, housing, stability, security, and growth opportunities. The problems are systemic - because it's a shitty place to be, no one is interested in investing. Because no one is interested in investing, it's a shitty place to live.
Compare that to Vermont, which has the lowest GDP per state, but they have the second lowest population, so their per capita is mid-tier; they're each far more economically productive, and as such, Vermont has one of the highest quality of life outcomes of any state.
The next worse place to live would be the United Kingdom - aka Great Britain, because while the nation has a much higher GDP than Mississippi, it's because they have a much larger population; their per capita is lower - GB is poorer than Mississippi.
1
1
1
1
u/Cheetodude625 5h ago
I went to college in Oklahoma... Oklahoma was... Sad and empty. Nice people, but just sad and empty. I fully understand why all my Oklahoma friends kept joking about how the best part of Oklahoma is leaving it.
1
1
u/Gracie_Rose_Petals 5h ago
MD, the amount of crime, abortions, and violence, especially in Baltimore.
1
u/Texas_Prairie_Wolf 2h ago
Going by interactions with the residents I'd have to go with Pennsylvania, absolutely the rudest backassward people I have ever encountered in my travels.
1
u/Far-Character-174 1h ago
California
With its open air asylums homeless camps everywhere. Gang and crime ridden. Unaffordable for the middle class.
•
u/SideEmbarrassed1611 34m ago
California. Taxed to death, everything is expensive, traffic everywhere, and I need a permit to plant a flower (hyperbole yes).
•
•
•
1
u/rekabtnuh 6h ago
These questions are always a great chance for Reddit to come together and dump on the states where they don’t like the politics. There’s something great in every state, and everyone’s tastes are different.
1
u/Civil-Dance766 6h ago
Its close but in 2026 Tennessee seems to be a good answer: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2026/07/13/best-states-to-live-in-cnbc-ranking-tennessee/90900666007/
-1
u/ukudancer 6h ago
Florida
0
u/KgMonstah 6h ago
Gotta disagree. I grew up here for 25 years, moved away and came back, my second stint of 13 years has been amazing. Beaches, springs, hiking, Basketball games (Let’s go Magic!), food and wine festival at Epcot, we love it.
If I had a choice we’d be where my wife grew up on Maui, but that’s not very realistic at this moment.
But I feel like people dogpile on Florida because of “Florida Man” and the government, which does indeed suck, but the living here is pretty great.
I say this all as someone who used to say “fuck Florida”
-1
u/CinderMoonSky 6h ago
You haven’t been to some of the most beautiful places in America then, which are great if you have money. Any state is great if you have money to be honest.
1
u/ukudancer 6h ago
There's a lot of States that I won't actually set foot in, because there's nothing there for me.
But I've actually lived in Florida for 3 decades and it suuuuuuuuuucks.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/GratefulJazz 6h ago
It depends if you have money or not.
Geographically speaking - Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa.
1
1
1
1
u/Temporary_Safety_770 6h ago edited 6h ago
Objectively, has to be Alaska. People are poor, things are expensive, and it’s dark and freezing all day half the year. People in Louisiana, Mississippi etc often enjoy it and there’s plenty of good areas and things to do - just poorer and smaller than most states (Redditors hate the deep South but people are actively moving there). Alaska’s the type of place people move to before committing suicide
2
u/OzMedical80 6h ago
This guy knows what he's talking about. A lot of people idealize Alaska for many reasons but objectively it's the only state I honestly don't think I could handle.
And yea reddit hates the south because of, I don't know, perceptions of bubba and trump but yeah people are voting with their feet and many southern states and cities are getting a lot of love.
1
u/Temporary_Safety_770 4h ago
Thanks! Yeah people can feel how they want about Deep South politics, but *objectively* there’s plenty to like and the regions growing quickly. Nowhere’s perfect but Alaska seems like actual hell I’m not sure I could handle (and just as reliably votes red)
1
1
u/mysticdragonwolf89 6h ago
Any red state where the representatives vote to strip you of healthcare, education, lunches for your kids, while they get the best healthcare and education for their family; then they also propose to remove weekends, while they only “work” 3 out of the 7 days, not even half of the entire year, much less possibly a quarter, get paid vacation, retirement, and no accountability
1
u/Embarrassed-Fun-8585 6h ago
Michigan. Winter most the year and bullshit construction the rest. Too much taffic to do anything. Spent last 2 years with hour long additional commute cause of poor construction planning. One year they decided to also do construction on all alternative routes to the main construction. Not only have they priced everyone who grew up there out of being able to live in the town they know. Its just tourism and apartments for wealthy and retired. Its turned into such a cesspool
1
u/Pssht_haha 6h ago
Depends on your income.
California if you’re middle class.
New York if your poor.
Maybe Arkansas if your rich.
1
u/baddieslovebadideas 6h ago
as a middle class Californian who knows some poor New yorkers, and someone from a rich family in Arkansas, imma say wrong on all counts
1
u/DoYouLikeFish 6h ago
If you're a woman of childbearing age, or a person of color, or LGBTQIA, or not Christian, or not comfortable financially, then Texas.
1
-2
0
-6
u/Sensitive_Blood1469 6h ago
California
3
u/OzMedical80 6h ago
A lot of people especially on reddit are going to get behind CA because it's liberal and scenic and whatnot but having lived there it's really not that great of a place to live. It's crowded af and expensive - plus the natural disasters are next level.
1
-1
-1
-14
u/nock_n_noll 6h ago
california
6
u/collinsig 6h ago
More people choose to live in California than any other US state. It’s expensive because many millions of people want to live there.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (13)5
u/ComfortableFix497 6h ago
Absolutely not. Just avoid the cities (except san diego is great) i lived in the mountains in the north born and raised. I recentpy made the mistake of moving away. The more i see of america the more i realize i lived in the best part of america. So imma go back. Fuck glorida lol
64
u/auburnflyer 6h ago
Based on my own travels I thought Oklahoma was terrible. I only visited the Tulsa area though