Idaho and New Jersey top rankings for best states to live in

A new study by WalletHub has ranked Idaho as the best state to live in, based on an analysis of 51 key indicators including livability, economic health, education, and safety. Idaho secured the top spot due to high homeownership rates, low median real estate tax rates, and significant median household income growth. The state also features short average commute times and low rates of both violent and property crime.

New Jersey ranked second overall, demonstrating strong performance in health, education, and safety. The state boasts the third-highest median household income in the country and the second-lowest median debt relative to annual income. New Jersey also recorded high marks for life expectancy and low obesity rates. However, the state ranked 49th out of 50 for affordability, largely due to high property taxes.

At the bottom of the rankings, New Mexico and Louisiana were identified as the least desirable states to live in according to the study's metrics.