Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Worst Place to Live in the U.S.?

Tennessee ranks dead last, below Alabama, Arkansas. Here's why

Posted by Corky at 11:46 AM | 14 COMMENTS | permalink

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The Volunteer State was recently named the worst state for quality of life, according to a CNBC study. While Tennessee has previously been among the worst states, this is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the state has come in dead last.

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What are the worst states for quality of life in 2025?

"The quality of life ranking is a subsection of CNBC's Best States for Business study. Points are awarded to states based on crime rates, environmental quality, health care and more, according to CNBC.

Tennessee has the lowest score in CNBC's quality of life metric, dubbing it the worst state to live in. Here's which other states are at the bottom of the list.

9: Oklahoma (97 out of 265)

8: Arkansas (95 out of 265 )

7: Alabama (92 out of 265)

6: Georgia (89 out of 265)

5: Louisiana (87 out of 265)

4: Utah (87 out of 265)

3: Indiana (73 out of 265)

2: Texas (72 out of 265)

1: Tennessee (61 out of 265)

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-16 11:50 AM

"What are the best states for quality of life in 2025?
In this poll, the number 1 spot belongs to the state with the best quality of life.

8 (tie): Virginia (167 out of 265)

8 (tie): Nebraska (167 out of 265)

8 (tie): Massachusetts (167 out of 265)

7: North Dakota (171 out of 265)

6: Hawaii (173 out of 265)

5: Connecticut (179 out of 265)

4: Minnesota (189 out of 265)

3: New Jersey (201 out of 265)

2: Maine (207 out of 265)

1: Vermont (228 out of 265)

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-16 11:51 AM

#1
The Mason-Dixon Line appears to be a good place to start.

#3 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-07-16 03:40 PM

The first time I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line was as a teen, driving one of two Big Rigs hauling huge bulldozers chained to flatbed trailers going from Dallas to Montreal; Permit Loads that were too wide and high for normal traffic, but with no Escort Cars.

CB radios were new, and we had a couple... so when I saw that the next bridge across the Line had NO HEIGHT Markings, I started hitting the brakes and yelling at the the older driver about stopping.

He came back to me and said, 'they don't have height signs up North... just try to stay in the middle!". I was freaking out.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-16 04:08 PM

I would have been surprised by Minnesota being on the list of best places until I went and interviewed for a job in Minneapolis.

I was shocked at how much I liked it. Took a day and drove around looking at potential places to live and was shocked by how nice it was, how easy the commutes were and what it was like after you got outside the city itself. Lakes everywhere. Many with beaches. Had a beautiful lunch along the river in Stillwater.

Just seemed like a chill, great place to live with tons to do, tons of nature and outdoor space to enjoy and good food.

#5 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-16 09:17 PM

It's different in the winter. But it is a very reasonable place to live. They believe in social services, much like California does.

It's the only major city in a 500 mile radius so anyone who wants to leave the small town life but doesn't want to leave the other parts of the culture ends up there. You know, like gay people from the neighboring states will end up there.

Also, the entire city burned to the ground when the police assaulted the George Floyd protesters, according to Republicans.

#6 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-16 09:31 PM

Also, the entire city burned to the ground when the police assaulted the George Floyd protesters, according to Republicans.

#6 | Posted by snoofy

Oh it's true. When driving on the interstates I had to weave around burned out shells of cars with charred skeletons inside and avoid the bandits emerging from the burned out neighborhoods,still smoking and collapsing.

But once you passed the checkpoints into the suburbs and dodged the roving bands of big hairy dudes wearing chaps and old school hockey goalie masks it was alright.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-17 12:02 AM

I had to weave around burned out shells of cars with charred skeletons inside and avoid the bandits emerging from the burned out neighborhoods

Sounds like Portland.

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-07-17 12:10 AM

I would have thought hairy dudes in chaps would have sparked memories of Portland.

#9 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-17 02:04 AM

#5

I felt the same way about Madison, Wisconsin when I was there a couple of years ago... what a great little college town.

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2025-07-17 11:19 AM

This article references states. Some states are very diverse, depending on where you go. New York? I only go to the closest hotel to JFK. Wouldn't live in NYC for anything. But upstate looks like it has some nice places. In CA you can surf in the morning and still make it to the slopes to get in a few turns in the afternoon.

What I don't understand is how Mississippi didn't make this list. Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the US. I don't think anyone is moving to Mississippi.

And how in the AF did North Dakota hit @7? That's a rough place to live. I did it for eight years.

#11 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-07-18 09:26 AM

Re: upstate NY

Depends on where you go. Most of it is just Alabama in the north east. Economic deserts filled with service job slaves, meth heads and old cars on blocks filled lawns.

There are some bright spots. Lake George is and will always be the place I get a second home if I ever choose to go that route. Not the town itself (touristy), but near it. Between the lake being stunningly beautiful and the easy access to the Adirondacks, it's a fantastic place. The capital region is also quite nice in general.

Buffalo is turning it around some and the lake is a nice draw, but getting away from the lake into the interior gets Alabama-y.

Central NY/Finger Lakes is also a beautiful place with some quaint towns (ie Watkins Glen).

But no, NYC metro area would be unbearable to live in for me.

#12 | Posted by jpw at 2025-07-18 11:07 AM

Tennessee?

Tennessee gets most of those crime numbers from Memphis. If they could just dig a canal on the east side of the city and let Memphis become an island in the Mississippi River, things would improve immediately.

#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-18 08:34 PM

@#11 ... This article references states. Some states are very diverse, depending on where you go. ...

100% agreement.

And also worthy to keep in mind when other state-level statistics are noted here, including when I post such notations. ;)

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-18 08:50 PM

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