From housing costs to hospital quality, this annual list did the math to rank the most and least desirable states to call home.

WalletHub ‘s “Best States to Live In” ranking of 2025 set all 50 states against a lengthy list of 51 indicators — giving a numerical value to the livability of each proud state.

Some things stayed the same in this annual ranking — Massachusetts reigned supreme for the second year in a row, and New York held on to its precarious slot in the top ten. While New Jersey earned itself a spot in the top 5, other states were knocked down a peg.

Massachusetts won thanks to its strong health care system and high-quality education, according to WalletHub. The Northeastern state put up strong numbers for 2025, boasting the lowest premature death rate in the country a

See Full Page