Most Livable State 2004

2004 MOST LIVABLE STATE AWARD
ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2004 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2003 RANK	CHANGE	2004 RANK	STATE	LIVABILITY RATING	2003 RANK	CHANGE
47	Alabama	19.25	47	0	1	New Hampshire	34.50	3	2
31	Alaska	24.18	32	1	2	Minnesota	34.48	1	-1
38	Arizona	21.55	45	7	3	Vermont	32.61	7	4
44	Arkansas	20.07	44	0	4	Iowa	30.80	2	-2
36	California	21.82	38	2	5	New Jersey	30.68	12	7
23	Colorado	26.84	19	-4	6	Wyoming	30.50	14	8
9	Connecticut	30.41	11	2	7	Virginia	30.48	5	-2
18	Delaware	27.59	18	0	8	Nebraska	30.43	4	-4
37	Florida	21.64	39	2	9	Connecticut	30.41	11	2
35	Georgia	22.70	34	-1	10	South Dakota	29.82	8	-2
32	Hawaii	23.93	41	9	11	Kansas	29.52	6	-5
17	Idaho	28.00	20	3	12	Maine	28.93	16	4
26	Illinois	25.02	30	4	13	Wisconsin	28.84	10	-3
20	Indiana	27.00	22	2	14	Maryland	28.73	14	0
4	Iowa	30.80	2	-2	15	North Dakota	28.66	17	2
11	Kansas	29.52	6	-5	16	Massachusetts	28.16	9	-7
42	Kentucky	20.50	37	-5	17	Idaho	28.00	20	3
49	Louisiana	17.91	49	0	18	Delaware	27.59	18	0
12	Maine	28.93	16	4	19	Utah	27.52	13	-6
14	Maryland	28.73	14	0	20	Indiana	27.00	22	2
16	Massachusetts	28.16	9	-7	20	Missouri	27.00	25	5
34	Michigan	23.82	28	-6	22	Pennsylvania	26.89	27	5
2	Minnesota	34.48	1	-1	23	Colorado	26.84	19	-4
50	Mississippi	16.70	50	0	24	Rhode Island	25.75	26	2
20	Missouri	27.00	25	5	25	Washington	25.11	23	-2
27	Montana	24.68	21	-6	26	Illinois	25.02	30	4
8	Nebraska	30.43	4	-4	27	Montana	24.68	21	-6
30	Nevada	24.23	31	1	27	Oregon	24.68	24	-3
1	New Hampshire	34.50	3	2	29	Ohio	24.48	29	0
5	New Jersey	30.68	12	7	30	Nevada	24.23	31	1
41	New Mexico	20.66	40	-1	31	Alaska	24.18	32	1
33	New York	23.91	33	0	32	Hawaii	23.93	41	9
45	North Carolina	19.93	42	-3	33	New York	23.91	33	0
15	North Dakota	28.66	17	2	34	Michigan	23.82	28	-6
29	Ohio	24.48	29	0	35	Georgia	22.70	34	-1
40	Oklahoma	20.77	34	-6	36	California	21.82	38	2
27	Oregon	24.68	24	-3	37	Florida	21.64	39	2
22	Pennsylvania	26.89	27	5	38	Arizona	21.55	45	7
24	Rhode Island	25.75	26	2	39	Texas	21.18	36	-3
48	South Carolina	19.16	43	-5	40	Oklahoma	20.77	34	-6
10	South Dakota	29.82	8	-2	41	New Mexico	20.66	40	-1
46	Tennessee	19.64	48	2	42	Kentucky	20.50	37	-5
39	Texas	21.18	36	-3	43	West Virginia	20.48	46	3
19	Utah	27.52	13	-6	44	Arkansas	20.07	44	0
3	Vermont	32.61	7	4	45	North Carolina	19.93	42	-3
7	Virginia	30.48	5	-2	46	Tennessee	19.64	48	2
25	Washington	25.11	23	-2	47	Alabama	19.25	47	0
43	West Virginia	20.48	46	3	48	South Carolina	19.16	43	-5
13	Wisconsin	28.84	10	-3	49	Louisiana	17.91	49	0
6	Wyoming	30.50	14	8	50	Mississippi	16.70	50	0

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