Most Livable State 2002

The 2002 Most Livable State Award
ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2002 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2001 RANK	CHANGE	2002 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2001 RANK	CHANGE
48	Alabama	18.12	46	-2	1	Minnesota	33.91	1	0
28	Alaska	24.86	37	9	2	Iowa	32.26	3	1
40	Arizona	21.67	36	-4	3	New Hampshire	31.81	13	10
47	Arkansas	18.88	44	-3	4	Virginia	31.47	4	0
33	California	23.88	32	-1	5	Massachusetts	30.98	9	4
7	Colorado	30.29	2	-5	6	Nebraska	30.84	10	4
9	Connecticut	29.63	6	-3	7	Colorado	30.29	2	-5
19	Delaware	25.93	21	2	8	Wyoming	29.72	12	4
39	Florida	21.95	40	1	9	Connecticut	29.63	6	-3
35	Georgia	23.42	33	-2	10	New Jersey	29.60	11	1
43	Hawaii	20.53	34	-9	11	Wisconsin	29.37	8	-3
21	Idaho	25.56	20	-1	12	Utah	29.07	5	-7
31	Illinois	24.00	31	0	13	Kansas	29.02	7	-6
20	Indiana	25.79	21	1	13	South Dakota	29.02	16	3
2	Iowa	32.26	3	1	15	Maine	28.53	17	2
13	Kansas	29.02	7	-6	16	North Dakota	28.23	25	9
42	Kentucky	21.07	43	1	17	Maryland	28.09	14	-3
49	Louisiana	17.02	49	0	18	Vermont	27.63	15	-3
15	Maine	28.53	17	2	19	Delaware	25.93	21	2
17	Maryland	28.09	14	-3	20	Indiana	25.79	21	1
5	Massachusetts	30.98	9	4	21	Idaho	25.56	20	-1
23	Michigan	25.51	27	4	21	Washington	25.56	18	-3
1	Minnesota	33.91	1	0	23	Michigan	25.51	27	4
50	Mississippi	17.00	50	0	24	Pennsylvania	25.49	30	6
26	Missouri	25.37	19	-7	25	Ohio	25.40	24	-1
32	Montana	23.98	39	7	26	Missouri	25.37	19	-7
6	Nebraska	30.84	10	4	27	Oregon	25.33	23	-4
34	Nevada	23.77	26	-8	28	Alaska	24.86	37	9
3	New Hampshire	31.81	13	10	29	Texas	24.37	29	0
10	New Jersey	29.60	11	1	30	Rhode Island	24.26	28	-2
46	New Mexico	19.93	47	1	31	Illinois	24.00	31	0
37	New York	22.72	35	-2	32	Montana	23.98	39	7
36	North Carolina	22.88	42	6	33	California	23.88	32	-1
16	North Dakota	28.23	25	9	34	Nevada	23.77	26	-8
25	Ohio	25.40	24	-1	35	Georgia	23.42	33	-2
38	Oklahoma	22.60	41	3	36	North Carolina	22.88	42	6
27	Oregon	25.33	23	-4	37	New York	22.72	35	-2
24	Pennsylvania	25.49	30	6	38	Oklahoma	22.60	41	3
30	Rhode Island	24.26	28	-2	39	Florida	21.95	40	1
41	South Carolina	21.30	38	-3	40	Arizona	21.67	36	-4
13	South Dakota	29.02	16	3	41	South Carolina	21.30	38	-3
43	Tennessee	20.53	45	2	42	Kentucky	21.07	43	1
29	Texas	24.37	29	0	43	Hawaii	20.53	34	-9
12	Utah	29.07	5	-7	43	Tennessee	20.53	45	2
18	Vermont	27.63	15	-3	45	West Virginia	20.14	48	3
4	Virginia	31.47	4	0	46	New Mexico	19.93	47	1
21	Washington	25.56	18	-3	47	Arkansas	18.88	44	-3
45	West Virginia	20.14	48	3	48	Alabama	18.12	46	-2
11	Wisconsin	29.37	8	-3	49	Louisiana	17.02	49	0
8	Wyoming	29.72	12	4	50	Mississippi	17.00	50	0

METHODOLOGY: To determine a state's "Livability Rating," each state's rankings for 43 categories were averaged. The scale is 1 to 50, the higher the number, the better. Data used are for the most recent year in which comparable numbers are available from most states. All factors were given equal weight. States with no data available for a given category were ranked based only on the remaining factors. In our book, data are listed from highest to lowest. However, for purposes of this award, we inverted rankings for those factors we determined to be "positive." Thus the state with the highest median income in the book (ranking 1st) would be given a number 50 ranking for this award.

Which State Is The Most Livable?

"1" is Most Livable, "50" is Not