Best U.S. States to Live In for 2026, Ranked from Worst to Best

There are definitely certain states that are better to live in than others and we’re taking a look at the best places to live right now. If you’re looking to move in 2026, make sure to view this ranking first!

U.S. News & World Report has been publishing rankings every year for a very long time and considers 71 different metrics to determine those rankings.

Here’s a breakdown of the rankings through eight different categories: 15.79% is education, 15.51% is health care, 12.88% is economy, 12.74% is infrastructure, 12.2% is opportunity, 12.19% is fiscal stability, 9.69% is natural environment, and 9.01% is crime and corrections.

So, where does your state fall in the ranking?

Browse through the slideshow to see the best states to live in…