Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about where they live until something makes them reconsider. A rent hike, a job offer somewhere new, a conversation with a friend who just relocated. Then the question crystallizes: is where I am actually working for me, or am I just staying because leaving feels like too much effort?
That question is more common than most people admit. Americans move for all sorts of reasons, but the states that consistently keep their residents, and attract new ones at impressive rates, tend to share something meaningful: they make daily life genuinely easier. Not perfectly easy, but easier in the ways that matter most. Healthcare is accessible. The cost of owning a home doesn’t consume every paycheck. The environment, both physical and civic, supports health and connection.
These states aren’t perfect, and none of them work equally well for everyone. But when you stack up quality of life data, migration research, and health system rankings, the same names keep appearing at the top. If you’re wondering which US states have the lowest moving away rates, or if you’re simply curious about where Americans are choosing to put down roots in 2026, here are the five best states to live in based on current quality of life rankings, health outcomes, and real-world migration trends.
1. Vermont: Five Years at the Top for Best States with Highest Quality of Life
If any state has earned its reputation among happiest states in America on merit, it’s Vermont. The Green Mountain State marks its fifth consecutive year at the top of the quality of life category in CNBC’s Top States for Business study. That’s not a fluke, and it’s not marketing.
The crime rate is among the lowest in the nation, the air is pristine, and Vermonters are healthy, though the state has seen an uptick in drug deaths, as in neighboring Maine. Beyond safety and air quality, CNBC’s 2025 rankings evaluate factors like childcare availability, worker protections, and inclusiveness. Vermont outscored all other states, receiving an A+ rating with a score of 228 out of 265 points, with researchers finding strong pull factors including inclusiveness, health, air quality, and low crime rate.
The health picture reinforces this. Vermont has the fifth-best public schools in the nation, with the lowest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the country at 10.5-to-1. Vermont also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at around 2.6-2.7%. For remote workers, retirees, and families who prioritize community safety and clean air over urban density, the data consistently points to Vermont as the most complete package among the states with best living conditions.
One fair caveat: Vermont runs expensive. Housing costs sit above the national average, particularly near Burlington and the ski towns. It also has higher income tax rates than many competitors on this list. But as multiple resident surveys show, many residents find the quality of life, safety, and natural beauty justify the higher costs.
What this means for you: If healthcare access, safety, and a strong civic environment are your top priorities, Vermont is the strongest performer in the country by current data. Budget accordingly for housing and taxes.
2. South Carolina: The Long-Running Magnet for Best States for Residents
South Carolina has dominated domestic migration rankings for years, and 2026 is no different. For a third year in a row, South Carolina is the number one destination for in-moves compared to exits, with just shy of two newcomers for every person who leaves. That kind of sustained appeal isn’t accidental.
The financial case for South Carolina is one of the clearest of any state. New Jersey has an average effective property tax rate of 2.23%, while South Carolina’s sits at just 0.51%, meaning that on a $400,000 home, you’d pay $8,920 in property taxes in New Jersey but only $2,040 in South Carolina. That gap doesn’t close when you factor in other costs. South Carolina has a 0.47% effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing and no estate or inheritance tax. For anyone approaching retirement age or managing a fixed budget, those numbers aren’t trivial.
The Tax Foundation has tracked IRS migration data showing that between 2022 and 2023, South Carolina gained a net 29,214 income tax filers from interstate migration, ranking among the top states for this measure. And retirement-specific benefits add to the draw: Social Security is fully exempt from state income taxes, and military retirement income is fully exempt as well.
South Carolina also ranks among states with lowest outmigration rates. As of the most recent Census data, South Carolina had the highest population growth rate in the U.S. at 1.5%, outpacing even fast-growing neighbors like North Carolina and Idaho.
What this means for you: If cost of living and financial flexibility drive your decision, South Carolina offers one of the most favorable combinations of property tax, retirement income protections, and growth in the Southeast. Factor in the high sales tax rate (around 7% statewide) when planning your full budget.
3. North Carolina: The Southeast’s Most-Moved-To State by Quality of Life Indicators
For anyone searching for the best states to live in ranked by quality of life, North Carolina comes up in almost every methodology. The state’s appeal sits at the intersection of affordability, climate, economic opportunity, and geography, and the migration numbers confirm people are acting on it.
North Carolina continues to be one of the nation’s leading destinations for people relocating from other states, with a net gain of 84,000 domestic migrants between July 2024 and July 2025, the largest gain of any state. That headline figure represents the clearest answer to what state do people least likely move away from, at least in the Southeast. Despite a nationwide slowdown in population growth, North Carolina grew by nearly 150,000 people, making it the state with the third-largest total population increase after Texas and Florida.
Since the 2020 Census, North Carolina has added 477,000 residents through state-to-state migration, a total exceeded only by Texas and Florida. That momentum comes from a combination of factors. The Research Triangle draws high-skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and life sciences. Charlotte provides a large metro economy. And the cost differential with the Northeast remains significant, with North Carolina offering affordable housing options compared to metropolitan areas in the Northeast and West Coast.
North Carolina ranks fifth among most-searched destinations for inbound movers in 2026 with a 1.63 in-to-out ratio, according to MoveBuddha search data. This state also benefits from what the U.S. Census Bureau (2026) confirms: states with positive domestic in-migration, including North Carolina, continued to attract new residents even as California experienced domestic out-migration of nearly 230,000 residents in 2025.
What this means for you: North Carolina offers one of the best combinations of economic opportunity, lifestyle, and geographic variety of any state in the country. Note that rapid growth has created housing pressure in the Triangle and Charlotte metro areas, so research specific counties carefully.
4. Minnesota: The Midwest’s Strongest Case for States with Best Living Conditions
Minnesota rarely makes the top of sun-seeking relocation lists, but among the best states for residents who prioritize healthcare quality, education, and economic stability, it consistently ranks near the top.
Minnesota ranks as the second-best state for quality of life in the U.S., with residents enjoying the fourth-longest life expectancy in the nation at an average of 80.9 years, and one of the lowest levels of poverty, with 91% of residents living above the poverty level. WalletHub’s 2025 assessment, measuring 51 indicators across affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety, ranked Minnesota the fifth-best state in the U.S. to live in.
On healthcare specifically, CNBC’s 2025 Top States for Business study found that Minnesota ranked 7th nationally for primary care physicians per capita, with among the lowest percentages of uninsured residents in the country. That’s meaningful: access to a primary care doctor is one of the most practical predictors of long-term health outcomes, and Minnesota’s density of providers is a genuine structural advantage.
The state’s health system performance is further confirmed by The Commonwealth Fund’s 2025 health scorecard, which evaluated 50 measures including access, affordability, prevention, outcomes, and equity. The same scorecard found that uninsured rates fell to record lows in all states by 2023, narrowing differences in health coverage between states thanks to Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansions, but Minnesota’s starting position on these measures was already strong.
The honest tradeoff is the weather. Minnesota winters are real, and for some people that’s a dealbreaker. The state also scores only average on affordability relative to coastal peers, not because it’s expensive by national standards, but because housing in the Twin Cities metro has risen steadily alongside demand. Understanding what separates high-performing states from low-performing ones is easier when you look at both ends of the spectrum , our breakdown of the worst US states for quality of life shows how sharply conditions can differ across the country.
What this means for you: If healthcare access and educational quality are central to your family’s decision, Minnesota is one of the most data-backed choices in the country. If you’re sensitive to cold winters or are prioritizing retirement on a fixed income, weigh those factors carefully before committing.
5. Tennessee: Low Outmigration Rates Backed by Real Financial Advantages
Tennessee’s rise as one of the most moved-to states in America is built on a simple but powerful foundation: your paycheck goes further there than almost anywhere else, and the state has deliberately structured its tax system to keep it that way.
Tennessee has a 0% income tax rate on all wages, salaries, and earned personal income. That applies to Social Security income, pension distributions, and retirement savings withdrawals as well. Tennessee does not tax Social Security benefits, pensions, or any other form of retirement income. For a household earning $80,000 a year, the absence of state income tax represents real money that stays in your pocket each year compared to states like California or New York.
The migration data reflects this appeal. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Tennessee gained a net 42,389 domestic migrants in 2025, ranking fourth in the nation. Tennessee consistently ranks among the top destinations in MoveBuddha’s 2026 tracking, holding a 1.46 in-to-out ratio, meaning nearly 1.5 people are searching for moves into the state for every one looking to leave.
Cities like Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga have become anchors for this growth. Families and retirees are drawn by lower overall costs, strong job markets in Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, beautiful mountains and lakes, and Southern hospitality.
One number worth knowing before you move: Tennessee’s combined state and average local sales tax rate sits at 9.61%, one of the highest in the country. That’s the mechanism the state uses to fund services in the absence of income tax. It won’t affect most people dramatically on day-to-day purchases, but it’s worth factoring into your full picture, especially if you’re a high spender. The net math still favors Tennessee for most households moving from high-income-tax states.
What this means for you: Tennessee offers the clearest income tax advantage of any state on this list. Run the full numbers including sales tax and property tax before deciding, but for retirees and working families coming from high-tax states, the financial case is hard to argue with.
What This Means for You
The five states covered here, Vermont, South Carolina, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Tennessee, each earn their place for different reasons. Vermont leads on quality of life metrics and healthcare inclusiveness. South Carolina wins on property tax and retirement financial planning. North Carolina draws the most domestic migrants of any state. Minnesota offers the strongest healthcare infrastructure and longevity outcomes in the Midwest. And Tennessee provides the most straightforward income tax advantage of the group.
No single state is the right answer for everyone. What the data does tell you is which questions to ask. Don’t just compare home prices. Property tax rates vary widely across states and communities, and states with higher rates can lead to much larger monthly payments compared to lower-tax states, even for homes priced the same. Stack up property taxes, state income taxes, insurance costs, healthcare access, and your own healthcare needs before deciding. The right state isn’t just affordable on paper. It’s one where the full combination of financial, physical, and community conditions lines up with how you actually live.
A.I. Disclaimer: This article was created with AI assistance and edited by a human for accuracy and clarity.