Best Places to Live Rankings
Best-of pages capture discovery traffic and help users shortlist states before deeper comparison. Use the rankings below to jump into the right relocation angle.
- States With No Income Tax for low-tax relocation planning.
- Cheapest States to Live for budget-first research.
- Sunniest States in the US for weather-led decisions.
Featured States Across Current Rankings
| State | Income Tax | Median Rent | Sunny Days | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 0% | $1,350 | 149 | View state guide |
| Arizona | 2.50% (Flat) | $1,450 | 299 | View state guide |
| Arkansas | 0%-3.9% | $950 | 217 | View state guide |
| California | 1.00% - 13.30% | $2,200 | 284 | View state guide |
| Colorado | 4.55% | $1,800 | 300 | View state guide |
| Florida | 0% | $1,480 | 237 | View state guide |
| Hawaii | 1.4%-11% | $2,500 | 271 | View state guide |
| Indiana | 3.23%-3.99% | $1,000 | 185 | View state guide |
| Kentucky | 5%-6% | $950 | 190 | View state guide |
| Mississippi | 0%-5% | $1,000 | 217 | View state guide |
| Nevada | 0% | $1,450 | 252 | View state guide |
| New Mexico | 1.7%-5.9% | $1,150 | 278 | View state guide |
| Oklahoma | 0.25%-4.75% | $950 | 234 | View state guide |
| West Virginia | 3%-6.5% | $950 | 178 | View state guide |
Sources & Methodology
How to read the best-places hub responsibly
Page provenance
- Published: 2026-04-05
- Last reviewed: 2026-04-05
- Data last refreshed: 2026-04-05
- Author: Living in USA Today Editorial Team
- Reviewer: Living in USA Today Editorial Team
Methodology
This directory is a routing layer for the best-places hub. It summarizes the fields shown in the table and is intended to help a mover open the next guide, not replace the guide itself.
Coverage and limits
Best-of pages are discovery layers, not final verdicts. Open the underlying state guide before treating a ranking as decisive.
Source status
Source coverage is maintained at the page level when a direct dataset or public reference is available.
Verify before acting
- Use the best-places hub as a research layer, then open the deeper guide that matches the real decision.
- Verify volatile claims again before acting on taxes, housing costs, legal rules, or deadlines.
- Prefer direct agency and dataset sources when a move depends on one number being correct.