Most Livable State 1999

ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
1999 RANK	STATE	RATING	1998 RANK	CHANGE	1999 RANK	STATE	RATING	1998 RANK	CHANGE
45	Alabama	21.12	47	2	1	Minnesota	33.91	1	0
37	Alaska	22.63	33	-4	2	Colorado	31.31	8	6
42	Arizona	21.47	41	-1	3	Iowa	31.07	3	0
46	Arkansas	20.09	44	-2	4	Kansas	31.02	10	6
35	California	23.07	36	1	5	Utah	30.88	4	-1
2	Colorado	31.31	8	6	6	Nebraska	30.37	2	-4
11	Connecticut	28.79	12	1	7	Wisconsin	30.26	5	-2
26	Delaware	25.51	14	-12	8	New Hampshire	29.56	11	3
37	Florida	22.63	39	2	9	Massachusetts	29.53	7	-2
31	Georgia	24.05	38	7	10	Wyoming	29.05	20	10
41	Hawaii	21.81	30	-11	11	Connecticut	28.79	12	1
17	Idaho	27.53	16	-1	12	Virginia	28.33	15	3
24	Illinois	25.86	25	1	13	New Jersey	27.84	13	0
16	Indiana	27.57	22	6	14	Vermont	27.67	17	3
3	Iowa	31.07	3	0	15	Maine	27.60	26	11
4	Kansas	31.02	10	6	16	Indiana	27.57	22	6
39	Kentucky	22.40	42	3	17	Idaho	27.53	16	-1
48	Louisiana	19.21	50	2	18	Missouri	27.40	21	3
15	Maine	27.60	26	11	19	South Dakota	27.35	6	-13
20	Maryland	27.09	19	-1	20	Maryland	27.09	19	-1
9	Massachusetts	29.53	7	-2	21	Washington	26.47	23	2
23	Michigan	25.88	27	4	22	Oregon	26.12	18	-4
1	Minnesota	33.91	1	0	23	Michigan	25.88	27	4
50	Mississippi	17.51	49	-1	24	Illinois	25.86	25	1
18	Missouri	27.40	21	3	25	Ohio	25.72	27	2
32	Montana	23.60	32	0	26	Delaware	25.51	14	-12
6	Nebraska	30.37	2	-4	27	Nevada	25.42	24	-3
27	Nevada	25.42	24	-3	28	North Dakota	25.19	9	-19
8	New Hampshire	29.56	11	3	29	Texas	24.95	40	11
13	New Jersey	27.84	13	0	30	North Carolina	24.65	34	4
47	New Mexico	19.47	45	-2	31	Georgia	24.05	38	7
43	New York	21.26	35	-8	32	Montana	23.60	32	0
30	North Carolina	24.65	34	4	33	Pennsylvania	23.58	29	-4
28	North Dakota	25.19	9	-19	34	Rhode Island	23.49	31	-3
25	Ohio	25.72	27	2	35	California	23.07	36	1
36	Oklahoma	22.65	37	1	36	Oklahoma	22.65	37	1
22	Oregon	26.12	18	-4	37	Alaska	22.63	33	-4
33	Pennsylvania	23.58	29	-4	37	Florida	22.63	39	2
34	Rhode Island	23.49	31	-3	39	Kentucky	22.40	42	3
40	South Carolina	22.16	43	3	40	South Carolina	22.16	43	3
19	South Dakota	27.35	6	-13	41	Hawaii	21.81	30	-11
44	Tennessee	21.14	46	2	42	Arizona	21.47	41	-1
29	Texas	24.95	40	11	43	New York	21.26	35	-8
5	Utah	30.88	4	-1	44	Tennessee	21.14	46	2
14	Vermont	27.67	17	3	45	Alabama	21.12	47	2
12	Virginia	28.33	15	3	46	Arkansas	20.09	44	-2
21	Washington	26.47	23	2	47	New Mexico	19.47	45	-2
49	West Virginia	18.77	48	-1	48	Louisiana	19.21	50	2
7	Wisconsin	30.26	5	-2	49	West Virginia	18.77	48	-1
10	Wyoming	29.05	20	10	50	Mississippi	17.51	49	-1

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?

1999 Most Livable State

[43 Factors] [Methodology] [Press Release]

[State Rankings for the 43 Factors] [Award Rankings 1991 to 1999]

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