Wisconsin, Minnesota Both Rank In Top 5 Best States to Live In

MILWAUKE, WI — Wisconsin residents have reason to celebrate after landing near the top of a new ranking of the best states in America.

A 2025 WalletHub analysis ranked Wisconsin as the fourth-best state to live in based on 51 indicators of livability, including housing costs, income growth, education, health, quality of life, and safety.

The ranking put Wisconsin just ahead of Minnesota, which placed fifth.

Wisconsin’s rankings in the five major categories were:

• Affordability: 30th
• Economy: 12th
• Education and Health: 9th
• Quality of Life: 12th
• Safety: 8th

The state excelled in safety, with one of the lowest crime rates in the country, and ranked well for economic performance compared to most states.

Wisconsin’s strong scores in these two categories helped push it ahead of Minnesota, which ranked 19th for safety and 29th for economy.

Wisconsin also performed well in several individual metrics within WalletHub’s study. It ranked among the best states for low property crime and scored high in health and education measures. While affordability was not Wisconsin’s strongest category, its cost of living is still well below the most expensive states, including California, Hawaii, and Oregon.

Wisconsin had a total score of 59.66, slightly higher than Minnesota’s 58.69.

Top 10 Best States to Live In (2025)

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

Bottom 10 States to Live In (2025)
41. Alabama
42. West Virginia
43. Oklahoma
44. South Carolina
45. Nevada
46. Alaska
47. Mississippi
48. Arkansas
49. Louisiana
50. New Mexico

Check out the full study here.