These are the 5 best states to live in, according to a new study. I’ve lived in 2 of the top 3

WalletHub compared all 50 states on affordability, safety, quality of life, and more. I’ve actually lived in two of the top three.

Where you choose to live comes down to a lot more than whether you like the weather or can afford a house there. Jobs, schools, safety, health care, and even how much time you spend sitting in traffic can make a huge difference in how much you actually enjoy living somewhere.

WalletHub recently compared all 50 states to find the best places to live in 2026, and some of the results caught my attention. Wisconsin, where I live now, landed in the top five, as did New Jersey, where I also lived for a period of time. Having lived in both, I can see the appeal of each for very different reasons.

The ranking looked at 51 metrics divided into five main categories: affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Each category was worth 20 points toward the final score, but individual factors were weighted differently. Cost of living, for example, carried more weight than homeownership rates, while weather was one of the most heavily weighted factors within quality of life.

The study considered everything from housing costs and unemployment to commute times, restaurants, trails, crime, and health insurance coverage. I recently looked at which states landed at the very bottom of a similar ranking, but this time I wanted to focus on the five that came out on top.

5. New Hampshire

New Hampshire finished fifth overall with a score of 58.89. Its strongest showing was in the economy category, where it ranked second in the country. It also came in third for education and health and fourth for safety.

The tradeoff is affordability. New Hampshire ranked 40th in that category, and its quality-of-life ranking was also surprisingly low at No. 36. So while it performed extremely well on some of the practical factors that matter when choosing somewhere to live, it certainly was not near the top in every category.

4. Massachusetts

Massachusetts has an even more dramatic split between its strengths and weaknesses.

It ranked No. 1 in the country for education and health, while also placing sixth for both quality of life and safety. Its economy came in at No. 12. Those strong scores were enough to push Massachusetts into fourth place overall, with a total score of 59.28.

Affordability is where things fall apart. Massachusetts ranked 44th in that category, making it one of the least affordable states among WalletHub’s top performers.

It is a good reminder of why the overall ranking is more interesting than simply looking at which states are cheapest. Massachusetts is expensive, but it scored extremely well in several of the other areas WalletHub measured.

3. Wisconsin

Wisconsin ranked 10th for its economy, 10th for education and health, 14th for quality of life, and eighth for safety. While its overall affordability ranking was only 30th, Wisconsin did much better specifically on housing affordability, ranking ninth in the country.

I grew up in Wisconsin, but I’ve lived in several other states and countries over the years before eventually coming back and making Wisconsin home again. A lot of the reasons I like living here line up with this study. Day-to-day life is pretty manageable, traffic is generally easy, and I can still afford to have a house while also having plenty to do close to home.

I also appreciate Wisconsin as a travel destination much more now than I did growing up here. Green Bay has plenty to do beyond Packers games, and places like Elkhart Lake make for an easy weekend away without having to get on a plane. I recently spent a weekend in Elkhart Lake going to Road America, getting out on the water, visiting the spa, and eating my way around town.

Of course, the weather is a trade-off. WalletHub gave weather triple weight within its quality-of-life calculations, so I’m actually a little impressed Wisconsin still managed to come in third. I love summer and fall here, but by February, I’m usually very ready to be somewhere else.

2. New Jersey

New Jersey ranked first for safety, seventh for education and health, and ninth for quality of life. Its glaring weakness was affordability, where it came in 49th. WalletHub also pointed to the state’s high household incomes, relatively low debt compared with earnings, and strong health outcomes as reasons it performed so well overall.

I lived near Princeton for a while, and I can see the appeal. There was an incredible amount to do within a short drive or train ride, and having New York City and Philadelphia so accessible was great. The weather was also better than Wisconsin’s.

But I found living there much more hectic. Driving around the Princeton area stressed me out, and a place being relatively close on a map did not necessarily mean it was going to be quick or easy to get there. I loved having so much within reach, but I prefer the pace of life in Wisconsin.

1. Idaho

Idaho took the No. 1 spot, ranking 10th for affordability, seventh for its economy, and third for safety. WalletHub highlighted its low real estate tax rate, high homeownership rate, and strong household income growth. The state also performed well when it came to traffic, with relatively little congestion and some of the shorter average commute times in the country.

Idaho did not score especially well everywhere. It ranked 22nd for education and health and 31st for quality of life, but its strengths in affordability, the economy, and safety were enough to put it at the top of WalletHub’s list.

I don’t think any study can tell you where you personally are going to be happiest living. Having lived in both New Jersey and Wisconsin, I can see why each ended up near the top of this ranking, but I also know which one works better for me.

I chose Wisconsin. I’d just happily take New Jersey’s winters.

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