Texas has been ranked the worst state in the U.S. to live in for the second year in a row, according to a CNBC study.
In its annual study, CNBC ranked Texas as the worst state for quality of life in 2024, the second year in a row that the Lone Star State has been at the bottom of the list. The study takes into account factors such as crime rates, child care, health care, environmental quality and inclusiveness.
The study shows that Texas is one of the worst states in primary care provider per 100,000 residents, and is the state with the most residents without health insurance.
Texas residents are also one of the less free in the country, as it has no protections for fired employees, the strictest abortion ban in the U.S., and numerous laws targeting LGBTQ+ people.
The ranking may feel different from reality as thousands of people move to Texas. However, these newcomers more often than not regret coming to the Lone Star State.
Heather Nickens, a conservative Christian, moved to Texas from California in 2022 hoping to find a cheaper place to live, but she was disappointed.
“When people say Texas is so much cheaper, I think, well, it is to some degree,” she told Business Insider. “My rent was cheaper, but my car insurance went up. There are no state taxes, but the property taxes are way higher. I just didn’t see a big enough change in the cost of living.”
In addition, one of the biggest challenges in Texas is the extreme weather.
“I did nothing in Texas because the weather was so brutal, Nickens said. “You couldn’t even go outside. I didn’t realize how much I really loved being outside until I moved to Texas.”
Hurricane Beryl left more than 2 million people without power, and climate change is expected to make things worse. Insurance companies are also expected to see their costs rise, thanks to increasing weather disasters.
All in all, it seems that Texas is not a good place to live for newcomers or Texans. Do you think the Lone Star State deserves a better ranking?
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