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With Massachusetts at the top spot, New Hampshire is the only other New England state in the top 10 at No. 7.
The other 49 states can step aside, because Massachusetts has been named the best state to live in for the second year in a row.
WalletHub conducted the “Best State to Live (2025)” survey based on 51 indicators of livability with five key factors: affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety.
The Bay State ranked first primarily because of its education and health care systems.
Massachusetts has the 10th best high school graduation rate in the nation at 90%, according to WalletHub.
Massachusetts also ranked first for the percentage of the population that is insured at 97.4%. The state ranked third best for public transportation access and has the third lowest crime rate, WalletHub reported.
The median household income more than $101,000, the second-highest in the country, the survey reported.
New Hampshire was the only other New England state to rank in the top 10, at No. 7. The Granite State is fifth best for homeownership and has the fourth highest rate of residents 25 and older with with a high school diploma or higher. New Hampshire also has the lowest poverty and crime rates in the nation.
Maine came in at 13 as the third and final New England state in the top 20. The Pine Tree State came in second best for homeownership and has the third lowest crime rate.
Maine is tied with Vermont for the second highest percentage of residents 25 and older with high school degrees or higher.
How New England states ranked on the list:
| STATE | RANK | AFFORD. | ECON. | ED. & HEALTH | QUAL. OF LIFE | SAFETY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass. | 1 | 44 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| N.H. | 7 | 40 | 3 | 7 | 36 | 3 |
| Maine | 13 | 35 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 10 |
| Vt. | 21 | 42 | 1 | 8 | 45 | 31 |
| Conn. | 24 | 46 | 36 | 4 | 23 | 13 |
| R.I. | 25 | 45 | 14 | 22 | 44 | 5 |
Coming in at dead last is New Mexico, due to the high percentage of residents living in poverty and having the highest crime rate in the nation, according to the survey report.
“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo wrote in the report.
WalletHub determined the scores of each factor on a 100-point scale, with 100 being the most favorable living conditions, and using the weighted average of each state’s individual score determine its total score and subsequent ranking.
Top 10 best states to live:
- Massachusetts
- Idaho
- New Jersey
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Florida
- New Hampshire
- Utah
- New York
- Pennslyvania
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