US State Rankings

Explore rankings of all 50 US states across taxes, cost of living, income, climate, housing, and more. Every ranking is fully data-driven, using the latest figures on tax rates, cost of living indices, median incomes, unemployment, and climate. Click any ranking below to see the full list with a per-state explanation.

Retirement

Which states make the most sense financially and climatically for retirees? These rankings score states on taxes, cost of living, sunshine, property tax, and winter temperatures.

• Best States to Retire in the US — ranked by composite retirement score covering taxes, cost of living, sunshine, and climate
• Worst States to Retire in the US — states that score lowest for retirees across the same criteria

Cost of Living

Cost of living varies dramatically across the US. The index below is based on MERIC/C2ER data where 100 equals the national average. States below 100 are cheaper; above 100 more expensive.

• Cheapest States to Live in the US — ranked by overall cost of living index, lowest first
• Most Expensive States to Live in the US — states with the highest cost of living index
• Cheapest States for Housing — ranked by median home price, lowest first
• Most Expensive States for Housing — states with the highest median home prices

Taxes

State tax policies vary enormously. Tax burden measures total state and local taxes as a percentage of income — the most complete single measure of a state's overall tax load.

• Lowest Tax States in the US — ranked by overall state and local tax burden, lowest first
• Highest Tax States in the US — states with the heaviest overall tax burden
• States with No Income Tax — the 9 states that levy no state income tax on wages
• Lowest Property Tax States — ranked by effective property tax rate, lowest first
• Highest Property Tax States — states with the highest effective property tax rates

Income & Economy

Median household income, unemployment rates, and population growth tell the story of each state's economic health and job market strength.

• Highest Income States in the US — ranked by median household income, highest first
• Lowest Income States in the US — states with the lowest median household incomes
• States with the Lowest Unemployment Rate — the strongest job markets in America
• Fastest Growing States in the US — ranked by population growth rate, fastest first
• Richest Cities in the US — the 100 richest US cities by median household income
• Poorest Cities in the US — the 100 cities with the lowest median household income

Climate

Climate is one of the most searched factors when considering a move. These rankings cover sunshine, winter temperatures, summer heat, and snowfall.

• Sunniest States in the US — ranked by average annual sunny days, most first
• Warmest States in the US — ranked by average January temperature, mildest winters first
• Coldest States in the US — states with the harshest winters ranked by January temperature
• Snowiest States in the US — ranked by average annual snowfall, highest first

Population & Density

Population density shapes quality of life, traffic, housing costs, and the feel of a place. These rankings show where America is most and least crowded.

• Least Crowded States in the US — ranked by population density, least dense first
• Most Crowded States in the US — the most densely populated states in America
• Largest Cities in the US — the 100 largest US cities by population