Best States To Live In 2025: GA Ranked On New Survey

Similar to last year, the Peach State finds itself lingering in the middle among the best states to live in, according to a new survey.

Georgia came in 27th on the nationwide list released Monday, dropping two spots from its 2024 marking. Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey, Wyoming and Pennsylvania outperformed Georgia.

WalletHub analyzed the cost of living, job opportunities, quality of education and safety when ranking all 50 states. Experts said Georgia has an overall score of 51.59.

“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a news release. "Many states have strong economies, though, so you should also consider a wide variety of other factors, such as how where you live will impact your health and safety, and whether you will have adequate access to activities that you enjoy. If you have children, a robust education system is also key.”

A breakdown of Georgia's score is as follows:

• Affordability: 18
• Economy: 24
• Education and Health: 41
• Quality of Life: 19
• Safety: 21

New Mexico received the lowest ranking on the list, making it the worst state to live in, per WalletHub.

Georgia hosts a variety of well-known attractions for tourists, including the World of Coca-Cola and Six Flags Over Georgia.

Other attractions include the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, river cruises in Savannah, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the Carter Center.

Georgia is home to the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United and the Atlanta Hawks.

Most recently, the 2025 MLB All-Star Game came to Georgia. Next year, the Peach State will be host to eight matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and football lovers will crowd the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in February 2028 to watch the NFL's Super Bowl 62 in Atlanta.

Foodies can indulge in Georgia, as it offers award-winning barbecue and eclectic dishes from James Beard nominees.

Here are the top 10 best states to live in, per WalletHub:

1. Massachusetts
2. Idaho
3. New Jersey
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota
6. Florida
7. New Hampshire
8. Utah
9. New York
10. Pennsylvania

See WalletHub's full list of the "Best States to Live In."

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