WalletHub's 2023 "Worst States to Live In" Ranking: Methodology & Top 10

Personal finance site WalletHub annually ranks U.S. states across 52 metrics in three weighted dimensions: Affordability (30%), Quality of Life (30%), Economic Health (40%). The 2023 "worst" list (lowest composite scores):

1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. West Virginia
4. Arkansas
5. New Mexico
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. South Carolina
9. Kentucky
10. North Carolina

Common Threads Among Bottom 10

• Low median income / high poverty.
• Poor health outcomes (obesity, heart disease, life expectancy).
• Weak education metrics (test scores, graduation rates).
• Limited economic diversification (reliance on declining sectors).
• Infrastructure deficits (broadband, roads, water).

Critical Caveats

• Subjective: Weights reflect WalletHub's model; other rankings (US News, CNBC, OECD) differ.
• Urban/Rural Split: State averages mask huge internal variation (e.g., Austin vs. rural TX; Atlanta vs. rural GA).
• Cost of Living: "Affordability" favors low-cost states, but low wages may negate.
• Data Lag: 2023 rankings use 2021–2022 data.

Bottom line: These states face systemic challenges, but "worst to live in" is a personal calculus—many residents cherish community, culture, and nature that metrics miss.