Here is a ranking of the 10 least desirable states to reside and work in for 2023, with a noteworthy discovery at the very end

These are America’s 10 worst states to live and work in for 2023, and there’s a big surprise at the very bottom

Introduction to The Criteria

The quality of living varies greatly from state to state in America. This is due to a multitude of factors, ranging from average income, job opportunities, cost of living, education standards, healthcare systems to safety and more. Taking each of these elements into consideration, we’ve ranked the ten worst states to live in for 2023.

It’s important to note that the term ‘worst’ doesn’t mean that these states are entirely unlivable or lacking value. It simply means that, in comparison to other states, they have significant pain points that can make life and work challenging. These states often struggle with a poor economy, high crime rates, low-quality education, poor health care, and other issues.

Remember, this list does not aim to discourage anyone from living in these states. Instead, it serves as a pointer of areas that require significant improvement for a better standard of living. Let’s dive into which states made the list:

Consider Michigan, a lovely state known for its great lakes. But when components like the crime rates, unemployment rates, and public health come into play, it unfortunately falls short compared to others:

• Unemployment rate sits at about 8.5%
• Poverty level reaches up to 14%
• High crime rate with over 450 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
• Lackluster educational system, ranking 31st out of 50
• The healthcare ranking is subpar, being number 34 in the country
• Cost of living index above the national average making life expensive

Economic Standing

The Economy plays a vital role in determining the quality of life a state can provide its residents. It impacts job opportunities, wage levels, and financial stability, among others.

An unfavorable business climate impedes economic growth. A slow-growing, static or declining economy results in fewer career opportunities, low wages, and high unemployment rates. These are restrictions that hinder one’s ability to achieve financial stability.

Furthermore, high poverty rates are prevalent in states with poor economies. These indicators often make living conditions challenging. Let’s look into how this reflects in some states:

Like Alaska, its economy has struggled due to falling oil prices leading to a rise in unemployment:

• The unemployment rate is highest in the nation at 12%
• Over 10% of residents live below the poverty line
• Economy largely depends on natural resources extraction, which fluctuates drastically
• High cost of basic commodities such as groceries and health care
• Ranking 47th out of 50 for fiscal stability
• Poor business environment stifling growth and innovation

Safety Concerns

Safety concerns significantly affect where people choose to work and live. States with high crime rates, particularly violent crime, often see a mass exodus of individuals seeking safer surrounds.

States failing to tackle these safety issues scare away potential employers, resulting in less economic activity and growth. Coupled with problems like poor housing infrastructure and high homelessness rates, these states genuinely struggle.

Here’s how unsafe neighborhoods have driven people away from states like Louisiana:

From recent reports, living in Louisiana does not guarantee safety due to its dangerously high crime rates:

• Highest murder rate in the country at 11.4 murders per 100,000 residents
• Violent crime rate is more than double the national average
• Poverty drives higher rates of property crime
• A significant number live below poverty line
• Ranked among the worst states for infrastructure
• High unemployment and homelessness rates

Educational System

Education plays a pivotal role in determining the economic future of a state. A strong educational system is indicative of well-prepared, skilled and knowledgeable workers that could lead to strong economies.

States that fail to invest adequately in their education systems often produce less qualified workforce. This inadequacy subsequently leads to fewer job opportunities, brain drain and low wage prospects.

West Virginia’s educational system illustrates how low ranking education affects living standards:

Unfortunately, West Virginia stands last regarding the quality of education offered:

• Low financial investment per student
• Poorly rated public schools, with many falling below national standards
• High drop-out rates
• 61% of adults lack post-secondary education
• Fewer competitive universitiesLow standardized test scores among students

Quality of Healthcare

Good healthcare systems are central to the wellbeing and productivity of residents. Poor health outcomes and inaccessible or unaffordable healthcare make life difficult and could drive away potential inhabitants.

States with inadequate infrastructure, high healthcare costs, and limited access to services tend to have lower health scores. These gaps contribute to poor life expectancy, high infant mortality, and generally poor health outcomes.

To visualize this, consider Mississippi, a state severely lacking in healthcare access and quality:

Healthcare in Mississippi illustrates the pressing need for improvement:

• Low healthcare accessibility ranking
• High infant mortality rates – the highest in the country
• Large percentage of uninsured residents
• Poor health outcomes such as high obesity and diabetes rates
• Inadequate funding for public health
• One of the most expensive states for health insurance

Cost of Living

The cost of living is essential to consider when evaluating a state’s livability. High costs of housing, groceries, utilities and transportation can make otherwise attractive places out of reach for many people.

States with a high cost of living often also have higher poverty rates, as earning an average wage may not be enough to meet everyday expenses. Sometimes, even though wages may be high, they do not match up with the exceedingly high prices of goods and services.

In this regard, Hawaii is an attractive yet costly place to live, especially for middle-class families:

Living in Hawaii seems like a dream until you check the cost of living:

• The highest cost of living index in the country
• Exorbitant housing prices
• Many families struggle due to low median household income
• High energy costs, almost double the national average
• Groceries cost around 60 percent more than the national average
• Ranked 49th in affordability by US News & World Report

Infrastructure Quality

Good infrastructure – from roads, bridges, airports to public services like water supply and electricity – plays a significant role in attracting citizens and businesses. It significantly impacts daily living experience.

States where the infrastructure is falling apart tend to discourage settlement and investment. A lack of adequate planning or investment in this area can hold back economic potential.

Poor infrastructure in Rhode Island provides a glimpse into the problems residents face:

Rhode Island’s ageing infrastructure poses various challenges to its citizens:

• Low-quality road networks with many rated poor or mediocre
• A significant percentage of bridges deemed structurally deficient
• Energy infrastructure needs serious upgrading
• Water systems are old with high risk of lead contamination
• Poor public transportation system
• Inadequate broadband access in rural areas

Fiscal Stability

A state’s financial stability directly affects the ability to invest in vital areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. It’s essential for offering tax breaks, attracting businesses, improving housing, and stimulating overall economic activity.

States ridden with debt, budget deficits, and low cash reserves struggle to provide basic services to their residents. These states often have no choice but to raise taxes or cut down services, both of which make life difficult for occupants.

New Mexico is one such state struggling with fiscal stability:

The situation in New Mexico highlights the issue of fiscal instability:

• Largest budget deficit among all states
• Poorest fiscal stability ranking on US News & World Report
• Local governments carrying heavy pension liability
• Low reserves mean less responsiveness during financial downturns
• High tax burdens on residents due to lack of commercial activity
• Frequent budget cuts affecting essential services like healthcare and education

Quality of Life

The overall quality of life entails a state’s capacity to provide not just the basic needs but also elements that impact happiness, satisfaction and opportunity for growth. The environment, recreational facilities, culture, affordability, safety and community involvement play into the quality of life one experiences.

States with high pollution levels, limited cultural events, poor environmental policies or low community involvement often score poorly in terms of quality of life.

Oklahoma falls short in terms of overall quality of life:

Despite efforts to make improvements, Oklahoma still struggles with certain elements that directly impact its quality of life:

• Poor air and water quality
• Lack of recreational and outdoor activities
• Low satisfaction among residents
• Ranked 48th in the nation for quality of life by U.S. News & World Report
• High obesity rates
• Low community involvement

The Big Surprise at The End: New York

New York, home to bustling cities, greater job opportunities and worldwide known landmarks, surprisingly finds itself at the bottom of the list. Unknown to many, living and working in New York presents significant challenges despite its popularity.

Surely, with all the opportunities available, it might seem shocking, but when cost of living, infrastructure quality, traffic congestion, taxes and other issues come into play, the balance tilts unfavorably.

Despite its allure, New York has crucial issues to address:

Living and working in New York is not as easy as it sounds:

• The highest taxes in the entire nation
• One of the most expensive states to live in
• Poor infrastructure, especially roads and public transportation
• Traffic congestion making commuting a nightmare
• High crime rates in certain areas
• An education system that struggles with disparities

State	Economic Standing	Safety Concerns	Education System	Healthcare Quality	Living Cost	Infrastructure Quality	Fiscal Stability	Life Quality	Surprising Factor
Michigan	Poor	Moderate	Poor	Below Average	Above Average	Average	Average	Average	N/A
Alaska	Very Poor	High	Average	Below Average	Very High	Below Average	Vulnerable	Low	N/A
Louisiana	Below average	Very High	Poor	Poor	Average	Poor	At risk	Very low	N/A
West Virginia	Poor	Average	Very Poor	Below Average	Below Average	Below Average	Average	Low	N/A
Mississippi	Poor	High	Poor	Very Poor	Below Average	Poor	Average	Very low	N/A
Hawaii	Average	Low	Above Average	Average	Very High	Average	Vulnerable	High	N/A
Rhode Island	Below Average	Moderate	Below average	Average	Above Average	Poor	Vulnerable	Low	N/A
New Mexico	Very Poor	Very High	Poor	Poor	Below Average	Below Average	In Crisis	Low	N/A
Oklahoma	Below Average	Moderate	Below average	Below average	Average	Below Average	Vulnerable	Very Low	N/A
New York	Above Average	Moderate	Good	Good	Very High	Poor	At risk	High	Surprise