Best US States To Live In This 2021 Revealed, New York Only Third

Many people from around the world want to live in the United States to chase the American dream and make the most out of their lives. But how do you determine which state is the best for you and your family?

The coronavirus pandemic, which started in March 2020, forced many residents to leave their home states in search of more affordable and less dangerous areas. More and more people started leaving cities such as New York and San Francisco in favor of places such as Austin or Phoenix.

But with the steady rise in vaccination rates across the United States, some residents who left their hometowns are starting to come back. Others, on the other hand, have taken work-from-home opportunities and are searching for the cheapest areas to live in, CNBC reported.

How exactly do you figure out which American state is the best to live in? There are several factors to consider, the main ones are affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life and safety. Based on the aforesaid criteria, these 10 states are currently the best to live in across the country:

10. Pennsylvania

Famous for being the place where the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Gettysburg Address were written, Pennsylvania scored in the top 10 for quality of life (2) and safety (7). However, it fell short in terms of its economy (42).

9. Iowa

Located in the Midwest, Iowa is the birthplace of sliced bread because it is where Otto Rohwedder, the inventor of the food, was born in 1880, as per World Atlas. In terms of scores, the state ranked high in education and health (11) and economy (13) but is somewhat expensive in terms of its affordability (20).

8. New Hampshire

Having a good economy (4) and services relating to education and health (6), New Hampshire is famous for its extensive granite formations and quarries, which earned it the nickname “Granite State,” according to US News. But the state is a bit on the expensive side with its affordability (40).

7. Utah

If you’re looking for a cheap state with high growth potential, Utah is a good choice with its economy (2) and affordability (6). You should be careful, however, as it ranks relatively low in safety (32).

6. Wisconsin

Also known as “America’s Dairyland,” Wisconsin has a high quality of life (8)and safety (9) in exchange for being a little bit on the expensive side with its affordability (32).

5. Minnesota

If you have kids, Minnesota is a good choice of a state to live in with its health and education (4) and affordability (9). But be sure to be careful because it ranks a bit low in terms of safety (21).

4. Idaho

Despite being popular for its potatoes, Idaho’s official nickname is the “Gem State'' for its collection of some 72 precious and semi-precious gemstones, as per Mental Foss. This state is relatively safe (4) and has a good economy (5). Its major drawback is the rating for its education and health (29).

3. New York

Despite being one of the most famous states in America that has the best quality of life (1) and is one of the safest (2), New York fails to top the list due to its affordability (47). Most people would not be able to afford to live here for extended periods.

2. Massachusetts

Massachusetts comes out on top in terms of education and health (1), and it is one of the best states when it comes to quality of life (5) and safety (5). However, similar to New York, living in this state is not cheap, which explains its low ranking in affordability (45).

1. New Jersey

Despite being one of the most expensive states because of its affordability (49), New Jersey tops the list of the best states to live in this 2021 because it is considered the safest (1). It also has an amazing quality of life (7) and great education and health (5).