Worst Places to Live in America: 2025 Edition

• Although labor shortages have decreased due to slower hiring rates, U.S. businesses continue to face a significant shortage of qualified workers.
• To draw top talent, businesses seek areas known for exceptional living standards.
• Each year, "America's Top States for Business" research evaluates 10 aspects of economic strength, such as Quality of Life, which takes into account elements like safety, medical services, childcare options, environmental conditions, and diversity.

The U.S. business sector is facing a significant workforce deficit, despite reduced hiring rates and increased use of artificial intelligence to fill gaps.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce It states that out of every 100 job vacancies, just 92 workers are available to take those positions. This indicates the country is lacking approximately 1 million workers. In an effort to address this shortage, businesses are looking for places that appeal to potential employees. As a result, the standard of living has become crucial for companies.

Every year, its yearly ranking of state business environments — Top U.S. States for Business - considers the quality of life as one of the ten aspects of competitiveness. Under this year's methodology The category accounts for 10.6% of a state's total rating. We take into account elements such as crime rates, healthcare access, air pollution levels, and the cost and accessibility of childcare. Additionally, we evaluate how inclusive state legislation is, including legal safeguards against discrimination. And with data highlighting how younger employees take reproductive rights into account when deciding where to reside, we include these state regulations in our ranking criteria.

Some states are especially open to employees are very accepting of laborers welcome personnel with open arms embrace staff members enthusiastically show great hospitality toward workers extend a warm reception to those employed offer a friendly atmosphere for employees encourage and support working individuals provide an inclusive environment for workforce make efforts to accommodate employees . These are not the same states. They are the ones with the poorest living conditions in America in 2025.

Oklahoma

Similar to the national trend, Oklahoma has seen a gradual decline in violent crime over recent years. However, with approximately 418 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, the state's violent crime rate ranks as the 14th highest in the nation, according to FBI statistics . Particularly worrying is a significant increase in deaths caused by domestic violence, which State Attorney General Gentner Drummond recently described as an "epidemic."

"we need to keep enhancing our state-wide initiatives to ensure offenders face consequences and to offer safety and assistance to those affected," drummond stated in a statement in February.

Oklahoma provides minimal safeguards from discrimination, as stated by the National Conference of State Legislatures, and it ranks among the country's most rigorous laws abortion bans .

2025 Livability Index: 97 out of 265 points (Top States Grade: D-)

Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Reproductive Rights

Arkansas

Living in the Natural State can present challenges, as it ranks sixth with the highest proportion of adults experiencing regular mental strain, according to the United Health Foundation - Almost 19% of families in Arkansas do not have enough food to eat. This is the top percentage nationwide. One out of every five people from Arkansas, and one out of every six kids, experience hunger. - In Arkansas, almost 19% of homes lack consistent access to adequate food. This represents the nation’s highest level. Approximately one in five residents, along with one in six children, struggle with food shortages. - The state of Arkansas has nearly 19% of households experiencing food insecurity, which is the worst figure in America. About one in five individuals across the state, as well as one in six children, deal with hunger daily.

"It's evident that our state requires thorough solutions to tackle these alarming figures and guarantee every Arkansan has access to adequate and healthy food," stated Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who issued an executive order Last autumn, instructing state departments to tackle the issue.

She has additionally passed laws ensuring free breakfasts for public school children irrespective of their families' financial status.

The incidence of criminal violence in Arkansas it ranks as the fourth top in the nation, and the state possesses some of the strictest election regulations in the United States.

2025 Livability Index: 95 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: D-)

Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Health, Crime, Inclusiveness

Alabama

The Heart of Dixie might pride itself on Southern hospitality, but its state laws suggest that the hospitality does not extend to everyone.

Alabama is one of just five states with no law protecting non-disabled people against discrimination in public accommodations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

And in February, Governor Kay Ivey approved the " What is a Women's Rights Movement defining an individual's gender according to the sexual characteristics they have at birth.

If the Almighty created you as a boy, then you are a boy," stated Ivey. "And if He fashioned you as a girl, then you are a girl.

Critics argued that the legislation could serve as a basis for extensive prejudice toward transgender individuals.

The state eschews most worker protections, according to Oxfam America, which ranks Alabama 49th on its annual Best States to Work scorecard.

2025 Livability Index: 92 points out of 265 (Top States Grade: F)

Strengths: Air Quality, Child Care

Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Worker Protections

Georgia

Although the total level of violent crime in Georgia is approximately similar to the nationwide average, it ranks among the states with the highest murder rates.

That is but one factor in an overall unhealthy environment in The Peach State. More than 11% of the population lacks health insurance, the third-highest rate in the country. The state ranks 40th for primary care doctors per capita, and 48th for mental health providers, according to the United Health Foundation.

The Commonwealth Fund ranks Georgia 45th in its latest Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which grades the states on health care access, prevention and treatment, efficiency, healthy lives, and health disparities.

Georgia is another one of the five states with no anti-discrimination protections for non-disabled people, and it offers few protections for workers beyond a guarantee of equal pay based on race and gender.

2025 Livability Index: 89 points out of 265 (Top States Grade: F)

Strength: Child Care

Weaknesses: Worker Protections, Health, Inclusiveness

Louisiana

With approximately 521 violent crimes reported for every 100,000 residents in 2023, the Pelican State holds the fifth-most elevated crime rate in America. These figures were recorded before this year's developments. New Year's Day attack along Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where an individual crashed a pickup truck into a group of partygoers, resulting in 14 fatalities.

Louisiana is also home to some of the country's most restrictive abortion laws, as reported by the Guttmacher Institute, which prohibit the procedure except under extremely narrow conditions.

The state enacted eight new voting regulations last year that the Brennan Center for Justice classifies as "limiting," including several measures aimed at tightening election rules. absentee voting .

2025 Livability Index: 87 points out of 265 (Top States Grade: F)

Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights

Utah

The state known as the Beehive gets its title due to the diligence of its employees. However, these workers receive limited safeguards in return for their effort.

Even as the cost of living rises in fast-growing parts of the state like Silicon Slopes outside Salt Lake City, the state has kept the minimum wage at the federal rate of $7.25 an hour. And unlike in many states, Utah prohibits local governments setting their minimum wages any higher.

With an average household size roughly 17% higher than the national average, according to Census data, Utah families have a lot of children to care for. And the state is doing poorly in meeting their needs. Utah ranks 48th in licensed child care centers per capita, according to Child Care Awareness of America which also indicates that a married couple from Utah with an average income may anticipate spending roughly 12% of their earnings on childcare.

2025 Livability Index: 87 points out of 265 (Top States Grade: F)

Strength: Crime Rate

Weaknesses: Childcare, Employee Safeguards, Atmospheric Conditions

Indiana

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines low-cost childcare that does not exceed 7% of a family's earnings. In Indiana, this expense doubles for families with two parents. For those living alone, the cost can reach an alarming 46%.

Business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce They have recognized childcare as a key factor in helping individuals return to work. It is also an important aspect of family well-being for new parents, and it is one area where Indiana is lacking. However, this is not the only such issue.

The air quality is bad, as reported by the American Lung Association and First Street Foundation, showing elevated amounts of ozone and particle pollution. Indiana also has a strict abortion ban and limited anti-discrimination protections.

2025 Quality of Life Score: 73 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F)

Strength: Crime Rate

Weaknesses: Childcare, Women's Rights, Diversity, Atmospheric Pollution

Texas

Texas, known as the Lone Star State, remains among the leading choices for professionals – many move there due to its strong economic environment and one of the country's most dynamic employment opportunities. However, this doesn’t imply that the standard of living falls short.

Even with top-tier facilities such as the Texas Medical Center and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the typical Texan still faces limited access to healthcare. As reported by the United Health Foundation, Texas it has the fewest primary care physicians available per person, ranks second with the smallest number of mental health professionals, and regularly experiences the greatest percentage of individuals lacking health coverage.

The state has among America's strictest abortion bans , and crime is on the high side.

2025 Livability Index: 72 points from a total of 265 (Top States Grade: F)

Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Health Services, Choice in Reproduction, Employee Safeguards, Criminal Activity

The state with the poorest quality of life in 2025: Tennessee

Governor Bill Lee's 2025-26 budget , enacted earlier this year, provides $175 million in funding to local areas to assist with combating criminal activity. Statistically speaking, this financial support is urgently required in the Volunteer State. Tennessee ranks among the top three states in terms of violent crime rates nationwide, as reported by the FBI, which makes it one of the more hazardous places to reside, and also holds the lowest position for Quality of Life in 2025.

Tennessee has also led the way in enacting laws that restrict the rights of its LGBTQ+ community, starting as early as 2015. The state was one of the first to establish that a person's gender is determined by their physical characteristics, implementing this policy through legislation in 2023.

State laws guarantee equal pay and bar sexual harassment. But beyond that, there are few protections for workers in Tennessee.

2025 Livability Index: 61 out of 265 Points (Highest State Rating: F)

Strength: Air Quality

Weaknesses: Criminal Activity Levels, Diversity and Acceptance, Employee Safeguards

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