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)

"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)

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.