Most Livable State 2007

2007 MOST LIVABLE STATE AWARD
ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2007 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2006 RANK	CHANGE	2007 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2006 RANK	CHANGE
42	Alabama	20.86	39	-3	1	New Hampshire	34.66	1	0
24	Alaska	25.75	23	-1	2	Minnesota	33.32	2	0
32	Arizona	24.16	29	-3	3	Wyoming	32.86	6	3
48	Arkansas	18.59	48	0	4	Utah	32.05	11	7
30	California	24.61	34	4	5	New Jersey	31.16	5	0
18	Colorado	27.36	20	2	6	Iowa	30.84	3	-3
10	Connecticut	29.86	10	0	7	Vermont	30.41	4	-3
21	Delaware	25.98	18	-3	8	Massachusetts	30.30	7	-1
27	Florida	25.27	31	4	9	South Dakota	29.95	13	4
41	Georgia	21.09	38	-3	10	Connecticut	29.86	10	0
19	Hawaii	26.73	22	3	11	Nebraska	29.84	9	-2
14	Idaho	28.89	18	4	12	Virginia	29.68	8	-4
26	Illinois	25.36	28	2	13	North Dakota	29.32	12	-1
35	Indiana	22.91	36	1	14	Idaho	28.89	18	4
6	Iowa	30.84	3	-3	15	Maryland	28.82	16	1
17	Kansas	28.00	15	-2	16	Maine	28.27	17	1
47	Kentucky	18.66	47	0	17	Kansas	28.00	15	-2
49	Louisiana	18.39	50	1	18	Colorado	27.36	20	2
16	Maine	28.27	17	1	19	Hawaii	26.73	22	3
15	Maryland	28.82	16	1	20	Wisconsin	26.09	14	-6
8	Massachusetts	30.30	7	-1	21	Delaware	25.98	18	-3
38	Michigan	22.00	35	-3	22	Montana	25.82	21	-1
2	Minnesota	33.32	2	0	23	Oregon	25.77	33	10
50	Mississippi	15.86	49	-1	24	Alaska	25.75	23	-1
34	Missouri	23.18	27	-7	25	Nevada	25.70	24	-1
22	Montana	25.82	21	-1	26	Illinois	25.36	28	2
11	Nebraska	29.84	9	-2	27	Florida	25.27	31	4
25	Nevada	25.70	24	-1	28	Rhode Island	25.05	26	-2
1	New Hampshire	34.66	1	0	29	New York	25.02	32	3
5	New Jersey	31.16	5	0	30	California	24.61	34	4
37	New Mexico	22.02	41	4	31	Washington	24.34	25	-6
29	New York	25.02	32	3	32	Arizona	24.16	29	-3
42	North Carolina	20.86	40	-2	33	Pennsylvania	23.70	30	-3
13	North Dakota	29.32	12	-1	34	Missouri	23.18	27	-7
36	Ohio	22.30	37	1	35	Indiana	22.91	36	1
40	Oklahoma	21.30	43	3	36	Ohio	22.30	37	1
23	Oregon	25.77	33	10	37	New Mexico	22.02	41	4
33	Pennsylvania	23.70	30	-3	38	Michigan	22.00	35	-3
28	Rhode Island	25.05	26	-2	39	Texas	21.55	41	2
46	South Carolina	18.84	46	0	40	Oklahoma	21.30	43	3
9	South Dakota	29.95	13	4	41	Georgia	21.09	38	-3
44	Tennessee	20.11	45	1	42	Alabama	20.86	39	-3
39	Texas	21.55	41	2	42	North Carolina	20.86	40	-2
4	Utah	32.05	11	7	44	Tennessee	20.11	45	1
7	Vermont	30.41	4	-3	45	West Virginia	18.93	44	-1
12	Virginia	29.68	8	-4	46	South Carolina	18.84	46	0
31	Washington	24.34	25	-6	47	Kentucky	18.66	47	0
45	West Virginia	18.93	44	-1	48	Arkansas	18.59	48	0
20	Wisconsin	26.09	14	-6	49	Louisiana	18.39	50	1
3	Wyoming	32.86	6	3	50	Mississippi	15.86	49	-1

METHODOLOGY: To determine a state's "Livability Rating," each state's rankings for 44 factors 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