Imagine you were moving to the US, or were lucky enough to be able to move to any state you wished, and had no real idea which state would suit your lifestyle and finances best.
You have 50 options. That is daunting for anybody.
You could do what I did when I moved here and literally stuck a pin in a map, or you could be more sensible and make a calculated decision.
If you are of the sensible persuasion, then this guide is for you.
Like all big decisions, start at the top and eliminate options until you are left with the best choices: Start at the state level, then whittle it down to metros, suburbs, and then neighborhoods.
There are going to be compromises along the way, but no doubt you are looking for the state which offers the best combination of opportunities, costs, risks, and lifestyle for you.
Let’s start the process of elimination:
Which States Should You Consider?
These are starting points based on the priorities of different groups of people, but it is not a definitive listing.
Type of mover
States worth considering
Main trade-off
Families with children
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah
Good schools or healthcare often come with higher housing costs
Before looking at individual states, separate what is important to you into three categories.
Non-negotiables
These are issues that could rule out a state completely:
Access to a particular medical specialist
State laws affecting your family or profession
Maximum acceptable housing payment
Proximity to relatives
School requirements
Climate limitations
Licensing requirements for your occupation
Access to a major airport
Ability to live without a car
Important preferences
These influence your quality of life, but you may need to compromise:
Political environment
Cultural diversity
Outdoor recreation
Restaurant and entertainment options
Commute time
Property size
Seasonal weather
Access to universities
Walkability
Nice-to-have features
These could be the deciding factor between two otherwise similar choices:
Beaches, mountains or lakes
Professional sports
Particular hobbies
Direct international flights
State parks
Nightlife
Historic neighborhoods
You may also like to read: Moving to Wichita, Kansas. In this guide, we share all you need to know about moving to Wichita, Kansas.
1. Cost of living
A state might appear affordable because its home prices are low, but it might still have expensive groceries, transportation, utilities, insurance, or healthcare.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis compares state prices through Regional Price Parities. A score of 100 represents the national price level.
Generally lower-cost states
States that regularly offer more affordable housing and everyday expenses include:
Arkansas
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Iowa
West Virginia
Alabama
Kansas
Missouri
Indiana
Ohio
The compromise may be a smaller job market, lower average wages, fewer direct flights, limited public transportation, or reduced access to specialized healthcare.
These states may offer higher wages, wider professional networks, better public services, or access to major economic centers, but the additional income may not compensate for housing costs.
Compare disposable income, not salary
A $100,000 salary in Ohio and a $130,000 salary in coastal California may not provide the same lifestyle.
Create a realistic monthly budget that includes:
Net income after taxes
Mortgage or rent
Home and vehicle insurance
Property taxes or homeowners association fees
Childcare
Healthcare premiums and deductibles
Utilities
Commuting
Groceries
Savings and retirement contributions
The state with the highest salary may not leave you with the most money at the end of the month.
You may also like to read: Moving to Atlanta, Georgia. In this guide, we look at the important considerations when deciding if moving to Atlanta is the right choice.
2. House prices and housing affordability
Housing costs are usually the biggest difference between states.
Zillow’s Home Value Index measures the typical value of homes in the middle portion of the market rather than the median price of only the properties sold that month.
The July 2026 figures below should therefore be taken as typical home values, not quoted selling prices.
Most affordable typical home values
As of July 2026, some of the lowest statewide values were approximately:
State
Typical home value
West Virginia
$183,000
Mississippi
$198,000
Louisiana
$218,000
Oklahoma
$225,000
Arkansas
$229,000
Kentucky
$235,000
Iowa
$241,000
Alabama
$242,000
Ohio
$252,000
Kansas
$253,000
Highest typical home values
State
Typical home value
Hawaii
$837,000
California
$776,000
Massachusetts
$673,000
Washington
$603,000
New Jersey
$585,000
Colorado
$543,000
Utah
$542,000
New York
$526,000
New Hampshire
$523,000
Rhode Island
$517,000
The national median price of an existing home was approximately $434,100 in July 2026, although a median sale price and Zillow’s typical home value are different measurements and cannot be compared side by side.
The purchase price is only the beginning
When comparing homes, also investigate:
The property-tax rate
Home insurance premium
Flood, wind, or earthquake insurance
Homeowners association fees
Heating and cooling costs
Maintenance requirements
Commuting expenses
Expected property-tax reassessment
Availability of contractors
Insurance deductibles
A $300,000 home in an area with high property taxes and expensive insurance may cost more each month than a $375,000 home elsewhere.
State averages can be misleading
Housing prices often vary more within a state than between states.
Upstate New York is completely different from New York City. Rural Illinois bears little resemblance to the Chicago suburbs. California includes both extremely expensive coastal markets and cheaper inland communities.
You may also like to read: Moving to Texas. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving to Texas.
3. State taxes
Taxes are one of the most misunderstood parts of interstate relocation.
States without a broad individual wage-income tax
In 2026, the states generally considered not to impose a broad state tax on wage income are:
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
Washington does, however, tax certain capital gains, so it should not be treated as tax-free in every situation.
State income-tax structures and rates also change, making a current calculation important before moving.
No income tax does not mean low taxes
A state still needs revenue, so it may raise income in other ways:
Property taxes
Sales taxes
Fuel taxes
Tourism taxes
Business taxes
Vehicle registration charges
Insurance-related assessments
Natural-resource revenue
Texas, for example, offers no wage-income tax but can have substantial property taxes. Tennessee has no wage-income tax but comparatively high combined sales taxes. Florida’s tax position may be attractive, but insurance and housing costs can erase part of the gains.
Sales taxes
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not impose a statewide general sales tax, although Alaska allows local sales taxes.
Louisiana, Tennessee, and Washington were among the states with the highest average combined state and local sales-tax rates in 2026.
Sales taxes matter more to lower and middle-income households because a larger share of their income is spent on taxable consumption.
Property taxes
Compare the actual annual bill on a representative home rather than on a statewide percentage.
Property taxes may vary by:
County
City
School district
Property classification
Homestead exemption
Senior exemption
Assessment method
New Jersey and parts of Illinois, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Texas are frequently associated with substantial property-tax bills, although local differences make a huge difference.
Estate and inheritance taxes
For households planning a major estate transfer, state death taxes can affect the decision.
As of 2026, 12 states and the District of Columbia imposed an estate tax, while five states imposed an inheritance tax. Maryland imposed both.
Taxes retirees should check
Retirees need to examine:
Social Security taxation
Pension taxation
Retirement-account withdrawals
Property-tax relief
Estate and inheritance taxes
Sales tax on groceries or medicine
A state regarded as tax-friendly may be beneficial for one retiree and expensive for another, depending on where their income comes from.
You may also like to read: Moving After Retirement. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving after retirement.
4. Job market and unemployment
A low unemployment rate does not mean that a state has the best opportunities.
It may indicate a strong economy, but it can also reflect a small labor force, slow population growth, or limited availability of workers.
Lowest unemployment rates
In July 2026, the lowest state unemployment rates included:
Lowest unemployment
July 2026
South Dakota
2.0%
North Dakota
2.2%
Vermont
2.6%
Hawaii
2.7%
New Hampshire
2.8%
Nebraska
2.9%
Wyoming
3.0%
And highest:
Highest unemployment
July 2026
Connecticut
5.2%
Oregon
5.2%
California
5.1%
Nevada
5.0%
Washington
5.0%
Arizona
4.9%
Illinois
4.9%
Michigan
4.9%
These are seasonally adjusted statewide figures for July 2026.
You may also like to read: Moving to Omaha, Nebraska. In this guide, we look at 10 great reasons to move to Omaha, Nebraska.
Look at job growth too
In July 2026, the largest year-over-year percentage employment gain was in Minnesota at around 1.4%, followed by Louisiana and South Carolina at approximately 1.3% each.
Texas, California, and North Carolina recorded the largest numerical increases in jobs, while Virginia experienced a year-over-year decline.
Of course, not every industry followed the statewide trend.
Nationally, healthcare and social assistance continued to be strong employment sectors in July 2026, while leisure and hospitality employment showed little change.
Compare the state to your industry
Technology
Consider:
California
Washington
Texas
Massachusetts
Colorado
North Carolina
Virginia
Utah
Healthcare and life sciences
Consider:
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Maryland
Pennsylvania
North Carolina
New Jersey
Connecticut
Tennessee
Government and defense
Consider:
Virginia
Maryland
District of Columbia region
Texas
Colorado
Alabama
California
Manufacturing and logistics
Consider:
Michigan
Ohio
Indiana
Illinois
Wisconsin
Tennessee
South Carolina
Georgia
Texas
Finance and professional services
Consider:
New York
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Illinois
North Carolina
Texas
Florida
Delaware
Energy
Consider:
Texas
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Wyoming
New Mexico
Alaska
Colorado
The most useful question to find an answer to is: Where are employers in my profession hiring, and how far will my salary go there?
You may also like to read: Moving for Work. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of relocating for a new job.
5. Safety
How safe somewhere is should not be based on a statewide crime score. Compare local data to include:
Violent crime
Property crime
Road deaths
Natural disasters
Emergency response
Environmental risks
Neighborhood conditions
Insurance availability
Why state crime rankings can be misleading
FBI crime information is collated from voluntary reporting by thousands of law-enforcement agencies, but data capturing and reporting methods can vary. More importantly, crime is highly localized.
A state may contain:
Very safe suburbs
High-crime urban neighborhoods
Low-crime rural counties
Tourist areas with elevated property crime
College towns with unusual reporting patterns
New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont are often good starting points for safety-focused movers, but the final decision should be based on the specific city, neighborhood, and route to work or school.
What to check locally
Violent crime within a defined radius
Vehicle theft
Burglary
Pedestrian safety
Traffic fatalities
School incidents
Police and fire response times
Street lighting
Flood evacuation routes
Distance to emergency care
Visit the neighborhood during the day, after dark, and on a weekend. Online statistics cannot show noise, aggressive driving, poor lighting, or how safe a place feels while walking.
One person may consider hot summers an acceptable price for avoiding snow. Another may prefer four seasons rather than months of extreme heat.
Weather is both a lifestyle issue and a financial risk.
FEMA’s National Risk Index data, now available through the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT), assesses community-level exposure and risk across 18 natural hazards.
NOAA recorded 403 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the United States between 1980 and 2024. The 27 events during 2024 alone caused an estimated $182.7 billion in damage.
Gulf Coast and Florida
Main concerns:
Hurricanes
Storm surge
Flooding
Extreme humidity
Heat
Insurance availability
Large windstorm deductibles
Warm winters are a big plus, but buyers should obtain real insurance quotes before making an offer.
Atlantic Coast
Main concerns:
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Coastal flooding
Nor’easters
Sea-level exposure
Humid summers
Risk varies dramatically between coastal and inland locations.
Great Plains and Midwest
Main concerns:
Tornadoes
Hail
Severe thunderstorms
Winter storms
River flooding
Rapid temperature changes
Homeowners should investigate roof age, basement flooding, sump pumps, and wind or hail deductibles.
Mountain West
Main concerns:
Wildfire
Smoke
Snow
Drought
Water availability
Altitude
Long distances between services
Mountain scenery may come with higher insurance costs, difficult winter driving, and seasonal smoke.
Southwest
Main concerns:
Extreme heat
Drought
Water supply
Dust
Wildfire
High cooling costs
Do not judge Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico only by pleasant winter temperatures. Consider how several months of intense summer heat will affect you.
Pacific Coast
Main concerns:
Earthquakes
Wildfire
Smoke
Drought
Landslides
Coastal flooding
The Pacific Northwest also has long periods of cloud cover that some people find difficult.
Northeast and Upper Midwest
Main concerns:
Snow
Ice
Freezing temperatures
Heating costs
Short winter days
Road salt and vehicle corrosion
The advantage is generally lower exposure to extreme heat and tropical cyclones, although inland flooding and severe storms are possible.
The insurance test
Before selecting a home, request quotes using the property’s real address for:
Standard homeowners insurance
Flood insurance
Windstorm coverage
Earthquake coverage
Wildfire coverage
Vehicle insurance
A property is not affordable if the insurance is very expensive and is likely to only keep rising.
You may also like to read: Climate Migration. In this guide, we look at how climate change affects where you choose to live and the best places to move to avoid climate change.
7. Healthcare
Healthcare should be measured on access as well as quality.
A state may have world-class hospitals but limited rural coverage, whereas another may have affordable premiums but long distances to specialists.
America’s Health Rankings placed New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Utah at the top of its 2025 overall state rankings.
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia occupied the bottom five positions.
What to investigate
Distance to a primary-care doctor
Availability of specialists
In-network hospitals
Marketplace insurance premiums
Employer coverage
Medicaid eligibility
Mental-health services
Maternity care
Emergency response
Rural hospital stability
Medicaid expansion matters
In 2024, the uninsured rate among people under 65 was approximately 14.5% in states that had not expanded Medicaid, compared with 8.0% in expansion states.
A large share of uninsured Americans lived in the remaining non-expansion states.
This may not directly affect a well-insured employee, but it can influence statewide access, uncompensated care, and the stability of local health systems.
Healthcare for retirees
The leading states in the 2025 Senior Health report included:
Vermont
Colorado
Washington
Utah
Connecticut
Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky were at the lower end.
A retiree should also confirm the nearest hospital’s specialties rather than relying only on the state ranking.
You may also like to read: Moving to Washington. In this guide, we discover why people move to Washington.
8. Education
Families often make the mistake of choosing a state for education rather than choosing a school district.
State funding and education policy matter, but individual districts, and sometimes individual schools, can differ enormously.
States with large and diverse higher-education systems include:
California
Texas
New York
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
North Carolina
Illinois
Virginia
Florida
Research in-state tuition rules and residency waiting periods before assuming your children will immediately qualify for lower tuition.
Childcare
For families with young children, childcare may cost as much as housing.
Compare:
Daycare tuition
Waiting lists
Public pre-K
Kindergarten schedules
After-school care
Summer programs
Availability of caregivers
A state with lower home prices can still be expensive for a family if childcare costs are astronomical.
You may also like to read: How to Choose a Good School. In this guide, we suggest things to take into consideration when choosing a new school.
9. Politics and state laws
Politics is not just about presidential elections. State government can influence daily life through laws involving:
Abortion and reproductive healthcare
Gun ownership
LGBTQ protections
Voting
Labor unions
Minimum wage
Paid leave
School curriculum
Home-schooling
Environmental regulation
Tenant protections
Business regulation
Professional licensing
Treat politics as a compatibility filter
Avoid giving a state the thumbs up just because it is red or blue.
Instead ask:
Do current laws affect my healthcare?
Are my professional rights protected?
Does the state’s education policy fit my family?
Are worker protections important to me?
Do firearm laws make me feel safer or more restricted?
Will upcoming elections plausibly change the rules?
Also remember that metropolitan and rural political cultures can differ significantly within the same state.
You may also like to read: Moving to Portland, Oregon. In this guide, we look at some great reasons to move to Portland.
10. Diversity and community
Diversity can include race, ethnicity, immigration background, religion, language, age, income, politics, and family structure.
Diversity can include race, ethnicity, immigration background, religion, language, age, income, politics, and family structure.
For racial and ethnic diversity specifically, the Census Bureau considers the representation and relative size of different racial and ethnic groups.
Its American Community Survey provides additional demographic information for states and local communities.
Good starting points for racial, ethnic, and international diversity
California
Texas
New York
New Jersey
Florida
Maryland
Nevada
Hawaii
But state-level diversity does not guarantee that every community feels diverse or welcoming.
Community fit is more than demographics
Consider whether you can find:
Cultural organizations
Religious institutions
Food from your background
Language services
International schools
Professional networks
Social groups
Communities for children
Support for newcomers
A diverse city may make it easier to build a social network, but established smaller communities can sometimes feel more connected.
You may also like to read: Moving to Cleveland, Ohio. In this guide, we find out what makes Cleveland a great place to live.
11. The hidden factors people forget
Home and vehicle insurance
Insurance can dramatically change the affordability of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, California, and other disaster-prone places.
Utilities
Compare:
Electricity rates
Heating fuel
Air-conditioning use
Water and sewer charges
Trash collection
Internet service
Transportation
A cheaper home 40 miles from work may not be cheaper after fuel, tolls, parking, vehicle depreciation, and lost time are taken into consideration.
Airports
Frequent travelers should check:
Distance to the airport
Direct routes
Competition between airlines
International flights
Winter reliability
Parking costs
Internet and mobile coverage
Statewide broadband maps don’t guarantee reliable service inside a particular property, so check your specific address.
Professional licensing
Teachers, nurses, physicians, attorneys, contractors, therapists, and other licensed professionals may need to transfer credentials or complete additional requirements.
Water and air quality
Check:
Drinking-water reports
Wildfire smoke
Industrial pollution
Radon
Mold risk
Allergens
Heat-related ozone
Agricultural pollution
Access to family and friends
A lower cost of living may not offset the cost of expensive flights, long drives, or the loss of informal childcare and social support.
You may also like to read: Moving to Buffalo, NY. In this guide, find out why Buffalo is fast becoming the best place in the Northeast to live.
12. Best states by type of mover
Best starting points for families
Massachusetts
Strengths: Healthcare, universities, strong school systems, professional jobs, and cultural opportunities.
Compromises: Very expensive housing, cold winters, and relatively high taxes.
Minnesota
Strengths: Healthcare, education, employment diversity, parks, and family amenities.
Compromises: Long, severe winters and a moderately high tax environment.
New Hampshire
Strengths: Good health care, low unemployment, access to New England, and no broad tax on wage income.
Compromises: Expensive housing, substantial property taxes in many communities, and winter weather.
Virginia
Strengths: Robust employment around Northern Virginia, government and technology jobs, varied geography, and many well-regarded school districts.
Compromises: High housing costs and traffic near Washington, D.C.; opportunities vary elsewhere.
Utah
Strengths: Employment growth, outdoor recreation, and many family-oriented communities.
Compromises: Expensive housing, air-quality concerns in some valleys, water issues, and a political culture that may not suit everyone.
Best starting points for first-time buyers
Ohio
Large and mid-sized metropolitan areas, comparatively affordable housing, and significant healthcare, education, and manufacturing employment.
Michigan
Affordable housing in many markets, abundant freshwater, and a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and university economies.
Pennsylvania
Access to major East Coast employment centers while retaining affordable cities and smaller communities.
Iowa
Low home values and low unemployment, although specialized career opportunities may be limited outside major employment centers.
Kansas and Nebraska
Relatively affordable housing and stable labor markets, with the trade-off of smaller metropolitan areas and severe-weather exposure.
Best starting points for high earners
Washington
No broad tax on wage income, major technology employment, and excellent outdoor recreation. Housing is expensive, and certain capital gains are taxed.
Texas
No broad personal wage-income tax and diverse employment centers. Property taxes, heat, traffic, and insurance need researching.
Florida
No broad personal wage-income tax and warm winters. Housing, hurricane exposure, and insurance costs are major considerations.
Tennessee
No wage-income tax, growing metropolitan areas, and comparatively moderate home values. Sales taxes are high, and housing has become less affordable in the most popular places.
Best starting points for retirees
Retirees seeking warm weather and lower income taxes may consider Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Nevada, or South Carolina.
Those placing healthcare and senior amenities first may prefer Vermont, Colorado, Washington, Utah, or Connecticut.
The best retirement state depends on:
Income sources
Expected medical needs
Housing budget
Desire for warm weather
Proximity to family
Estate planning
Ability to drive
Best starting points for remote workers
Good choices for remote workers include:
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Virginia
North Carolina
The best choice may be a smaller city within reach of a major airport rather than an isolated low-cost rural area.
Best starting points for outdoor recreation
Mountains and skiing
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Vermont.
Coast and water
Maine, Florida, Hawaii, California, Washington, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Hiking and public lands
Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Four-season recreation
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
You may also like to read: Moving to Raleigh, NC. In this guide, we find out why Raleigh makes such a good choice for a fresh start.
13. All 50 states at a glance
The typical home values shown are approximate Zillow Home Value Index figures for July 2026. They represent statewide values and should not be taken as a quote for a particular city or property.
State
Typical home value
Who it may suit
Main caution
Alabama
$242,000
Budget-conscious buyers, manufacturing and aerospace workers
Heat, storms, and uneven healthcare or school access
Alaska
$401,000
Outdoor enthusiasts, energy workers, people seeking no state individual income or statewide sales tax
Remoteness, expensive goods and limited specialist care
Arizona
$423,000
Sun seekers, retirees and workers in growing metros
Extreme heat, drought, water concerns and rising housing costs
Arkansas
$229,000
Buyers prioritizing low housing and living costs
Health outcomes, severe weather and smaller professional markets
California
$776,000
Technology, entertainment, international communities and climate variety
Housing, taxes, wildfire and insurance
Colorado
$543,000
Professionals and outdoor enthusiasts
High housing costs, wildfire, snow and water pressure
Connecticut
$455,000
Families seeking healthcare, schools and Northeast access
Taxes, expensive housing and winter
Delaware
$412,000
Mid-Atlantic access, coastal living and no statewide sales tax
Small job market and coastal flooding
Florida
$378,000
Warm-weather movers, retirees and tax-sensitive earners
Hurricanes, heat and home insurance
Georgia
$335,000
Atlanta-area professionals and families seeking a major diverse metro
Traffic, humidity and severe weather
Hawaii
$837,000
Movers prioritizing climate, health and island culture
Highest housing costs, imported goods and isolation
Idaho
$482,000
Outdoor-focused movers and people seeking smaller cities
Housing affordability, smoke, wildfire and limited large job markets
Illinois
$299,000
Chicago-area careers, culture and transportation
Property taxes, winter, and large local differences
Indiana
$262,000
Affordable homebuyers, manufacturing and logistics workers
Car dependence and severe weather
Iowa
$241,000
Buyers seeking affordability and low unemployment
Small specialized job markets and storms
Kansas
$253,000
Aviation, agriculture, and budget-conscious households
Tornadoes, hail, and limited metropolitan choice
Kentucky
$235,000
Affordable housing and access to scenic rural areas
Healthcare gaps, flooding and severe storms
Louisiana
$218,000
Energy workers and people drawn to distinctive culture
Hurricanes, flooding, insurance and health outcomes
Maine
$424,000
Safety-focused movers, nature lovers and remote workers
Winter, aging population, rural access and limited housing supply
Maryland
$436,000
Federal, biotech, healthcare and professional employment
Housing costs, traffic and taxes
Massachusetts
$673,000
Education, healthcare, biotechnology and professional careers
Very high housing costs and winter
Michigan
$270,000
Affordable buyers, manufacturing workers and freshwater recreation
Winter and uneven local economic conditions
Minnesota
$357,000
Families, healthcare professionals and outdoor recreation
Severe winter and relatively high taxes
Mississippi
$198,000
Buyers whose top priority is inexpensive housing
Health, income and education challenges plus storm exposure
Missouri
$272,000
Buyers seeking affordability with access to two major metros
Tornadoes, heat, and highly localized crime
Montana
$476,000
Outdoor enthusiasts and people seeking space
Housing-to-income imbalance, wildfire and limited healthcare access
Nebraska
$284,000
Families seeking affordability and a stable labor market
Smaller metros, winter and severe storms
Nevada
$448,000
Hospitality, logistics and tax-sensitive workers
Heat, water supply and dependence on cyclical industries
New Hampshire
$523,000
Families, healthcare-focused movers and tax-sensitive earners
High home values, property taxes and winter
New Jersey
$585,000
New York or Philadelphia commuters, diverse families and professionals
Housing and property taxes
New Mexico
$321,000
Sun seekers, artists, scientists and outdoor enthusiasts
Drought, wildfire and uneven jobs or public safety
New York
$526,000
Finance, media, technology, healthcare and culture
High costs near New York City, taxes and winter
North Carolina
$340,000
Technology, finance, research and healthcare workers
Hurricanes, heat and increasingly expensive popular metros
North Dakota
$294,000
Energy workers and people seeking low unemployment
Severe winter, distance and economic cyclicality
Ohio
$252,000
First-time buyers, healthcare workers and manufacturers
Cloudy winters and uneven local growth
Oklahoma
$225,000
Energy workers and buyers seeking low costs
Tornadoes, heat and weaker health outcomes
Oregon
$504,000
Outdoor enthusiasts and movers seeking no sales tax
Housing costs, wildfire, smoke and slower recent employment
Pennsylvania
$294,000
Healthcare, education and East Coast access at moderate prices
Local property taxes, aging housing and winter
Rhode Island
$517,000
Coastal living and access to Boston or the Northeast corridor
Expensive housing, flooding and a small job market
South Carolina
$309,000
Warm-weather movers and buyers seeking coastal or growing inland cities
Hurricanes, heat, and rising insurance costs
South Dakota
$326,000
Tax-sensitive movers and workers seeking low unemployment
Winter, small metropolitan areas and rural healthcare access
Tennessee
$339,000
Healthcare, manufacturing, music and logistics workers
High sales tax, storms and rising housing costs
Texas
$303,000
Energy, technology, healthcare and business careers
Property taxes, extreme heat, storms and insurance
Utah
$542,000
Families, technology workers and outdoor enthusiasts
Expensive housing, air quality and water constraints
Vermont
$402,000
Healthcare-focused movers, nature lovers and progressive communities
Small job market, taxes, winter and limited housing
Virginia
$420,000
Government, defense, technology and professional services
Northern Virginia housing and traffic
Washington
$603,000
Technology careers and outdoor recreation
Housing, wildfire smoke and regional gray weather
West Virginia
$183,000
Buyers seeking the nation’s lowest typical home values and mountain scenery
Job variety, healthcare access and infrastructure
Wisconsin
$342,000
Manufacturing, healthcare, families and four-season recreation
Long winters and local property taxes
Wyoming
$373,000
Outdoor enthusiasts, energy workers and tax-sensitive households
Small job base, distance, wind and severe winter conditions
You may also like to read: Moving to Nashville, TN. In this guide, we discover why Nashville continues to be such a popular place to move to.
14. How to create your final shortlist
Step 1: Eliminate states that fail a non-negotiable
Remove any state that does not meet your requirements for:
Healthcare
State laws
Climate
Employment
Family access
Maximum housing payment
Step 2: Select six to eight states
Don’t try to compare all 50 in detail; it is impossible, so create a manageable shortlist using statewide information.
Step 3: Select two or three metropolitan areas in each state
Compare actual housing, jobs, hospitals, schools, and commute patterns.
Step 4: Calculate a realistic monthly budget
Use a real property listing and include:
Mortgage or rent
Property taxes
Home insurance
Vehicle insurance
Utilities
Transportation
Healthcare
Childcare
Step 5: Investigate future risks
Ask what might change over the next five to ten years:
Insurance premiums
Climate exposure
Water supply
State taxes
Major employers
Population growth
School enrollment
Infrastructure
Political control
Step 6: Visit before moving
Stay in a residential neighborhood rather than a tourist district and test the commute, grocery shopping, traffic, and evening vibe.
Step 7: Rent before buying
Renting for six to twelve months makes sense when:
You have never lived in the region
Neighborhoods vary significantly
Your job is new
The housing market is difficult to understand
Climate or politics may affect your comfort
Insurance costs are uncertain
You may also like to read: The Best City for You. In this guide, we look at how to find the best city to fit your lifestyle and needs.
Which State to Move to?
There is no one best state to live in that will tick every single box; the best state is the one that:
Meets your non-negotiable needs
Offers realistic employment or income
Leaves enough disposable income after housing, taxes, and insurance
Provides acceptable healthcare and safety
Matches your climate and political preferences
Gives you access to the community and lifestyle you want
Remains financially and environmentally sustainable over the long term
Start with finding the right state, then work your way down to the right neighborhood.
Good luck with your move, and be sure to visit our home moving blog, which is packed with guides to make every aspect of your move easier, cheaper, and safer.
*At MoveAdvisor we will connect you with a professional moving company. Please note that we may not be affiliated with
and you may be speaking with another licensed provider.
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