Study That Will Make You Mad: Arizona Ranked One Of 10 Worst States To Live In

In the latest WalletHub study on the best states to live in, Arizona was ranked in the bottom ten. Again. Are you getting tired of seeing our state maligned by these so-called studies?

Some of the factors the study used to compare our state to others don't seem to align with our values. While people in larger cities might rely heavily on public transportation, for example, in Arizona, we might not find those factors to be as important.

READ: Arizona City Was Named the Worst Place to Live in Arizona

How WalletHub Ranked the States for Livability

WalletHub released a study of the best and worst states. It evaluated the states on 51 values, which it considers to be the critical components of a suitable place to live.

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Here are some of the factors WalletHub rated the states on:

• Cost of housing
• Income potential and growth
• Quality of education
• Public services
• Quality of healthcare
• Crime
• Taxes

WalletHub's Choices for BEST States to Live In

Here are the states WalletHub chose as the top five BEST places to live:

1. Massachusetts
2. Florida
3. New Jersey
4. Utah
5. New Hampshire

I'm not sure we can agree that this is an apples-to-apples study. Arizona is a distinctly different state, and I believe some of the crucial aspects here are different from what might be considered critical in other places.

Many factors in this study are centered on values in more urban areas, such as the arts, public transportation, the number of restaurants or museums, and the like.

READ: Are These the Worst Small Towns in Arizona?

These factors are beneficial, but they may not be the things we consider most valuable in our state. Arizona has some urban areas, but a large portion of the state lives a more rural lifestyle, which may be why we scored lower in some areas. Still, there are some factors I think we can agree that Arizona falls short on.

Five Categories Where Arizona Didn't Score Well

1. Education and Healthcare: This has been a sticking point in our state for a long time. Arizona once again underperformed in this category, ranking 44th of 50 states. Access to quality education and healthcare significantly impacted our ranking.
2. Safety: The state ranked 40th in safety, reflecting crime rates and overall security. With the active issues at the border, the state faces numerous problems in this area.
3. Quality of Life: Arizona landed at 23rd place. The study suggests that we have room for improvement in recreation, the environment, and community engagement. This item appears to lean somewhat toward more urban values. I'm not sure we would all agree on these things.
4. Affordability: Compared to California, Oregon, Washington, and other western states, Arizona is relatively affordable.
5. Economy: The state performed best in this area, grabbing the 21st spot.

What attractions do you value, and what weather can you tolerate? If you're considering a move, this list may be helpful, but remember to take your personal preferences into account.

In case you're wondering, Arizona was ranked in the bottom ten, coming in at 41 out of 50 states. Read the complete study on the WalletHub website.

Sources: WalletHub | Des Moines Register | Arizona Republic