What is the reality when affordability does not equate to quality living? There is a newly released study on WalletHub, revealing that although some states can provide citizens with affordable purchasing options when it comes to acquiring a home, these states continue to suffer from inefficient education structures, inefficient economic structures, and more crimes committed.
The survey carried out for the 2025 rank involved 51 different criteria. It also encompassed the grounds of affordability/economy, education/health, livability, as well as safety. Every aspect of data was collated to create a comprehensive view of what livability is all about. Even if some states rank well in two different aspects, their failure in other aspects creates a monumental negative impact.
But for those people looking to relocate, these findings have proved that more than just the cost of living must be taken into account when thinking about moving. A more in-depth look at the 10 states that are least preferred in which to reside in the new year will follow, in addition to why these states are ranked in this way.
1. The Problems New Mexico Faces Related to Safety and Education
New Mexico has been ranked last in the 2025 rankings and has experienced the highest rate of crime reported in the United States as well as the second lowest degree of safety and the second lowest performance in terms of educational and health measures.
As shown in the information derived from WalletHub, the state with the third-highest percentage of residents living in poverty is New Mexico. In addition to these issues, it also ties for the worst performance in public education at the K-12 levels with the overall worst performance in the world being attributed to the World Population Review.
2. Louisiana’s Economy and Crime Problem
It is ranked last on economy due to high levels of poverty and low levels of educational attainment. It is ranked second worst on education and health infrastructure.
It is also ranked as the third most hazardous location for crime rates in the entire state. It also topped the UK for work hours combined with cultural diversity.
3. Arkansas’ Low Quality of Life
Being the third least-ranked state when it comes to quality of living, this state faces challenges when it comes to accessibility of facilities as well as public services. Concerning safety, this state ranks as the sixth-most danger-prone state among all states within the United States, ranking among the bottom 10 states when it comes to education, health, and the economy.
Owing to these characteristics, it is not always an easy call for a person who is pursuing balanced living conditions despite the low cost of living.
4. Mississippi’s Poverty and Health Gaps
Mississippi has been identified as the poorest state in the US in terms of the percentage of poverty and lowest average credit score among Americans, according to a report issued by Experian. Mississippi is ranked second lowest in terms of quality of life among US states and ranks in the bottom 10 in its economy.
Despite having only the fifth-lowest percentage of insured people in the state, there is some good news: It now has the fastest-improving education system in the whole state due to its initiatives to pass its Literacy-Based Promotion Act, targeting literacy education. This has not yet affected the improvement of its economic issues.
5. Alaska’s Harsh Quality-of-Life Metrics
It is the lowest-ranked state in the country concerning the quality of life and income growth. It also has the lowest number of restaurants per capita and individuals work the longest hours on a weekly basis in the country.
Although it has a remarkable rank in terms of economy with number four rank, the isolation, unavailability of amenities, and expensive lifestyle affect livability. It was also ranked the worst place to do business in America by CNBC.
6. Nevada’s Housing Affordability Crisis
Nevada’s low ranking state rank is because it trails in homeownership rate and is third highest in expenditure. It is the seventh worst in economy and is among the top 10 most danger-prone states in America.
These kinds of pressure cast a shadow over the role as a tourist center, therefore not so enticing as a living locale.
7. South Carolina’s Safety Concerns
It is moderately priced for living standards with affordability ranking it in the top 10 most affordable states. It is the fifth most dangerous state as well as one of the top 10 worst states for matters of education and health.
A potential deal-breaker for both the family and the retiree could be the safety risks, together with the results on public health that may come with this product.
8. Oklahoma’s Low Insurance Coverage
The seventh worst state in relation to education and healthcare is Oklahoma, which has the second lowest percentage of insured residents, only after the state of Texas. It ranked 49 in terms of public school assets.
Though the cost of living is moderate, the place is not the best option because of its flawed system in terms of healthcare and education support.
9. West Virginia’s Poverty Problem
West Virginia boasts the greatest percentage of homeownership in the country. Its crime rate is the fifth lowest; therefore, it is ranked the second most affordable state. Its poverty rate is ranked as the fourth highest.
Low education and health performance, as well as a poor score for the quality of life, canceled out the benefit of being affordable.
10. Alabama’s Education and Economy Challenges
The highest ranked state with regard to affordability is Alabama. This follows the fact that Alabama has a high rate of home ownership and low property taxes. Still, Alabama is the fifteenth worst in education and health and the ninth worst in economy. At the beginning of this year, the World Population Review ranked Alabama at the end in terms of public education in public schools.
As a matter of truth, there are a number of factors that are more significant than having a low cost of living and a low rate of taxes when selecting a new location. This can be seen in the 2025 statistics collected by Wallet Hub, a company that clearly proves through their records that a state can have positive costs, but fail in plenty of significant aspects such as education, health care, crime rate, and so forth.
