Tennessee ranked worst state to live in, CNBC study finds

After collecting data from all 50 states, CNBC named America’s 10 worst states to live in, listing Tennessee in the No. 1 spot.

CNBC's 'America’s 10 worst states to live in' list has Tennessee in the No. 1 spot.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Tennessee ranked last among all 50 states for “quality of life” in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business study for 2026.

The business news channel said this year’s study had an increased emphasis on “quality of life,” saying this year’s methodology has this category making up 11.6% of the state’s overall score. That’s up from about 10% last year.To get a state’s quality of life score, CNBC said it used data on factors such as crime rates, air quality and health care in addition to availability of childcare, inclusiveness of state laws and reproductive rights.

After collecting data on all 50 states, CNBC named America’s 10 worst states to live in based on their “quality of life” scores and listed Tennessee in the No. 1 spot.The study put Tennessee’s quality of life score at 64 out of 100, scoring a grade of F. It said the Volunteer State’s strength was air quality and weaknesses were crime, inclusiveness and worker protections.When discussing Tennessee’s inclusiveness, CNBC cited some of the Volunteer State’s laws that target the LGBTQ+ community, including the new “bathroom law,” which requires transgender people to use restrooms designated for their sex at birth, and the state’s restriction on localities from adopting their own antidiscrimination ordinances.

Additionally, the business news channel mentioned the resolution Gov. Bill Lee signed earlier this year designating June as “Nuclear Family Month.”

CNBC said inclusivity is not the only thing that Tennessee falls short in. Citing FBI statistics, CNBC said Tennessee also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.According to the United Health Foundation, the Volunteer State also has the third-highest rate of drug deaths.

Here is the full list of America’s 10 worst states to live in based on their quality of life scores:

  1. Tennessee
  2. Texas
  3. Indiana
  4. Louisiana
  5. Georgia
  6. Utah
  7. Missouri
  8. Alabama
  9. Oklahoma
  10. Arkansas

Despite the low quality of life score, Tennessee ranked No. 9 overall in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business study.



 

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