Most Livable State 1998

ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
1998 RANK	STATE	RATING	1997 RANK	CHANGE	1998 RANK	STATE	RATING	1997 RANK	CHANGE
47	Alabama	19.70	47	0	1	Minnesota	32.91	1	0
33	Alaska	23.21	37	4	2	Nebraska	32.28	5	3
41	Arizona	21.95	46	5	3	Iowa	32.14	8	5
44	Arkansas	20.67	41	-3	4	Utah	31.84	4	0
36	California	22.67	34	-2	5	Wisconsin	30.53	3	-2
8	Colorado	29.90	14	6	6	South Dakota	30.49	10	4
12	Connecticut	28.65	11	-1	7	Massachusetts	30.40	7	0
14	Delaware	28.40	26	12	8	Colorado	29.90	14	6
39	Florida	22.35	36	-3	9	North Dakota	29.86	15	6
38	Georgia	22.40	35	-3	10	Kansas	29.49	6	-4
30	Hawaii	24.42	33	3	11	New Hampshire	29.09	2	-9
16	Idaho	27.86	12	-4	12	Connecticut	28.65	11	-1
25	Illinois	25.60	25	0	13	New Jersey	28.49	17	4
22	Indiana	26.74	21	-1	14	Delaware	28.40	26	12
3	Iowa	32.14	8	5	15	Virginia	28.19	9	-6
10	Kansas	29.49	6	-4	16	Idaho	27.86	12	-4
42	Kentucky	21.67	43	1	17	Vermont	27.72	13	-4
50	Louisiana	14.79	50	0	18	Oregon	27.28	18	0
26	Maine	24.98	16	-10	19	Maryland	27.19	27	8
19	Maryland	27.19	27	8	20	Wyoming	27.09	22	2
7	Massachusetts	30.40	7	0	21	Missouri	26.91	19	-2
27	Michigan	24.98	20	-7	22	Indiana	26.74	21	-1
1	Minnesota	32.91	1	0	23	Washington	26.28	24	1
49	Mississippi	17.65	49	0	24	Nevada	26.09	32	8
21	Missouri	26.91	19	-2	25	Illinois	25.60	25	0
32	Montana	23.81	29	-3	26	Maine	24.98	16	-10
2	Nebraska	32.28	5	3	27	Ohio	24.98	23	-4
24	Nevada	26.09	32	8	27	Michigan	24.98	20	-7
11	New Hampshire	29.09	2	-9	29	Pennsylvania	24.74	30	1
13	New Jersey	28.49	17	4	30	Hawaii	24.42	33	3
45	New Mexico	20.35	44	-1	31	Rhode Island	24.30	28	-3
35	New York	22.84	40	5	32	Montana	23.81	29	-3
34	North Carolina	23.09	31	-3	33	Alaska	23.21	37	4
9	North Dakota	29.86	15	6	34	North Carolina	23.09	31	-3
27	Ohio	24.98	23	-4	35	New York	22.84	40	5
37	Oklahoma	22.51	38	1	36	California	22.67	34	-2
18	Oregon	27.28	18	0	37	Oklahoma	22.51	38	1
29	Pennsylvania	24.74	30	1	38	Georgia	22.40	35	-3
31	Rhode Island	24.30	28	-3	39	Florida	22.35	36	-3
43	South Carolina	20.72	42	-1	40	Texas	22.14	39	-1
6	South Dakota	30.49	10	4	41	Arizona	21.95	46	5
46	Tennessee	19.91	44	-2	42	Kentucky	21.67	43	1
40	Texas	22.14	39	-1	43	South Carolina	20.72	42	-1
4	Utah	31.84	4	0	44	Arkansas	20.67	41	-3
17	Vermont	27.72	13	-4	45	New Mexico	20.35	44	-1
15	Virginia	28.19	9	-6	46	Tennessee	19.91	44	-2
23	Washington	26.28	24	1	47	Alabama	19.70	47	0
48	West Virginia	18.86	48	0	48	West Virginia	18.86	48	0
5	Wisconsin	30.53	3	-2	49	Mississippi	17.65	49	0
20	Wyoming	27.09	22	2	50	Louisiana	14.79	50	0

METHODOLOGY: To determine a state's "Livability Rating," each state's rankings for 43 categories were averaged. The scale is 1 to 50, the higher the number, the better. Data used are for the most recent year in which comparable numbers are available from most states. All factors were given equal weight. States with no data available for a given category were ranked based only on the remaining factors. In our book, data are listed from highest to lowest. However, for purposes of this award, we inverted rankings for those factors we determined to be "positive." Thus the state with the highest median income in the book (ranking 1st) would be given a number 50 ranking for this award.

Which State Is The Most Livable?

Which State Is Not?

1998 Most Livable State

[43 Factors] [Methodology] [Press Release]

[State Rankings for the 43 Factors] [Award Rankings 1991 to 1998]

"1" is Most Livable, "50" is Not