With around 7.8% of Americans having moved according to the latest data, slightly less than the year before, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best States to Live in, with Maryland coming in ranked 34th overall.
To help Americans settle down in the best and most affordable place possible, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and income growth to the education rate and quality of hospitals.
| Top 20 States to Live in America | ||
| 1. Massachusetts | 11. Wyoming | |
| 2. Idaho | 12. Iowa | |
| 3. New Jersey | 13. Maine | |
| 4. Wisconsin | 14. Virginia | |
| 5. Minnesota | 15. Montana | |
| 6. Florida | 16. North Dakota | |
| 7. New Hampshire | 17. Illinois | |
| 8. Utah | 18. South Dakota | |
| 9. New York | 19. Colorado | |
| 10. Pennsylvania | 20. Nebraska | |
Maryland, which was ranked 34th overall, saw its lowest rankings in the ‘Affordability’ and ‘Economy’ categories (38th and 37th) and its highest ranking in the ‘Education & Health’ category (19th). It saw middle-of-the-pack ratings in the ‘Quality of life’ and ‘Safety’ categories (31st and 30th).
Best vs. Worst Highlights, per WalletHub:
- Maine has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 7.3 times less than in New Mexico, the state with the most.
- New Hampshire has the lowest share of residents living in poverty, which is 2.7 times lower than in Mississippi, the state with the highest.
- South Dakota has the shortest average commute time, which is 1.9 times shorter than in New York, the state with the longest.
- Alabama has the highest quality of roads, which is 7.4 times higher than in Rhode Island, the state with the lowest.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617