Jordan GreenMemphis Commercial Appeal
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Tennessee is among the worst states for quality of life, according to a new analysis.
CNBC recently released a ranking of the "Worst States for Quality of Life" in 2024. Of the ten worst states for quality of life, seven of them are from the South. Data for this list is based on the quality of life measurement from the best states for business list.
Each state is scored on living factors such as crime rates, healthcare, air quality, child care, worker protections, legal safeguards against discrimination and reproductive rights.
Here's how Tennessee ranked:
Is Tennessee a good state to live in?
While every person has different experiences in each place, based on the information on the list, Tennessee may not be everyone's first choice to live in.
Tennessee ranked as the sixth worst state to live in behind Arkansas and ahead of Missouri. It scored a 96 out of 325 in CNBC's Quality of Life Score. The list says Tennessee's strengths are the air quality and child care. Its weaknesses are crime, inclusiveness and healthcare.
Best for business? Tennessee ranked among 'America's Top States for Business' in 2024. What made the Volunteer State stand out?
The study cites violent crime as one of the reasons Tennessee was in the bottom 10. Another reason is legislation passed against LGBTQ+ people in the past year.
CNBC wrote: "TheHuman Rights CampaignallegesTennesseelawmakers unleashed 'a tsunami of discriminatory legislation' in 2024, including alawsigned by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in April that forbids the state social services department from seeking to place LGBTQ+ foster children in supportive homes."
In 2023, Tennessee was ranked at No. 43 for quality of life by CNBC. The state dropped down to No. 45 this year.
Best states for quality of life
Vermont ranked as the top state for quality of life with a 281 score out of 325. It also scored the top spot in last year's list from CNBC.
- Vermont: 281
- Maine: 265
- New Jersey: 248
- Minnesota: 240
- Washington: 230
- Oregon: 226
- Hawaii: 222
- California: 213
- New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts: 211
Worst states for quality of life
Texas was the worst state for quality of life in the country. Its only strength is air quality while its weaknesses are reproductive rights, health care, voting rights, inclusiveness and worker protections. Texas also scored in last place for quality of life in 2023.
- Texas: Ranking 50 with a score of 75
- Indiana: Ranking 49 with a score of 78
- Alabama: Ranking 48 with a score of 83
- Oklahoma: Ranking 47 with a score of 85
- Arkansas: Ranking 46 with a score of 93
- Tennessee: Ranking 45 with a score of 96
- Missouri: Ranking 44 with a score of 98
- Louisiana: Ranking 43 with a score of 100
- Kansas: Ranking 42 with a score of 113
- Arizona: Ranking 41 with a score 119
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