Florida has been named the sixth-best state to live in across the United States, according to a study from WalletHub. Fittingly, the Sunshine State was helped out by its quality of life in the rankings.
For its findings, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states based on five key categories - affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life and safety, using 51 relevant metrics. The metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with the top score (100) representing the most beneficial living conditions.
Florida earned an overall score of 58.51. Specifically, the state ranked 4th in quality of life, 11th in economy, 12th in safety, 26th in education and health, and 32nd in affordability.
Moreover, Florida's high placement was helped by a third-place ranking in income growth. The state finished just behind Arizona and Idaho in that metric.
Florida also finished tied for first in restaurants per capita, joining California, New York, and Texas.
On the flipside, the state was dragged down by a 47th ranking in housing costs. Florida was only behind Nevada, Hawaii, and California in that metric.
“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. "Many states have strong economies, though, so you should also consider a wide variety of other factors, such as how where you live will impact your health and safety, and whether you will have adequate access to activities that you enjoy."
Massachusetts secured the No.1 spot in the rankings with a score of 60.23. The state specifically earned high marks in education and health (1st), quality of life (6th), and safety (6th).
Second place went to Idaho, followed by New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
New Mexico bottomed out on the list with a score of 39.68. The state specifically received low marks in education and health (48th) and safety (49th).
Second to last place went to Louisiana, followed by Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alaska.
