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

Renowned for its colonial history, founding fathers, top schools and fine dining, Virginia ranks high for the honors of best state to live in, a new survey says.

The "Best States to Live In" for 2025 list ranks each of the states based on five key areas: Affordability, Economy, Education & Health, Quality of Life and Safety. A total of 51 indicators of livability across these five categories each are given corresponding weights and graded on a 100-point scale. WalletHub then uses this data to arrive at a state's weighted average.

Virginia came in 14th on the nationwide list, with an overall score of 56.18.

According to WalletHub, Virginia ranked highest in the affordability standings, at 15th among the states, and was 16th overall for education and health standings.

The "Best States to Live In" for 2025 list ranks each of the states based on five key areas: Affordability, Economy, Education & Health, Quality of Life and Safety. A total of 51 indicators of livability across these five categories each are given corresponding weights and graded on a 100-point scale. WalletHub then uses this data to arrive at a state's weighted average.

WalletHub analyzed the cost of living, job opportunities, quality of education and safety when ranking all 50 states.

“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 Virginia's score is as follows:

• Affordability: 15
• Economy: 17
• Education and Health: 16
• Quality of Life: 21
• Safety: 18

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

Virginia is renowned as the home of top universities, including the University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Tech, and William and Lee University. One of the top high schools in the country is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.

Top tourist attractions include Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington; Monticello, the home of Jefferson; the colonial capital of Williamsburg, Jamestown, the oldest British settlement in North America; Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive; the World War II battleship Wisconsin berthed in Norfolk; and numerous Civil War sites, including Richmond National Battlefield Park and the White House of the Confederacy, restored to its wartime appearance and displaying hundreds of Civil War artifacts.

Foodies can indulge in Virginia, 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."