Deciding on a place to call home is a difficult decision, especially in the United States. With 50 incredible states, all offering a unique sense of beauty and quality of living, deciding where to live can feel like an impossible task. Fortunately, U.S. News and World Report recently released the best states to live in for 2017, based on health care, education, crime and corrections, infrastructure, opportunity, economy, and government. So, prepare to be shocked because the top places to move to aren’t what you expect.
#1 Massachusetts
You may have to practice pronouncing this state before moving, but it’s well worth the effort. Massachusetts has landed the number one position for being the best state to live in for 2017. More specifically, it was ranked as No. 1 in education and No. 2 in health care. So, if these are two factors that your decision is strongly influenced by, you may have just found your new home state.
Editor and chief content officer at U.S. News, Brian Kelly, further explained what you can expect from Massachusetts top ranking factors saying, “[Massachusetts has] a collection of some of the best hospitals, medical researchers in the world that is dominant. The second thing they’re really good at is education, and people say that education matters.”
#2 New Hampshire
Following Massachusetts on the best states to move to in 2017 is New Hampshire. It ranked No. 1 in opportunity, making it an enticing state for young millennials and new families eager to start their careers. This metric measured poverty, housing affordability and equality for women, minorities and people with disabilities.
New Hampshire is one of the most beautiful states out there, with various rivers, lakes, mountains, Atlantic Ocean coastline, and valleys. It also has an Ivy League school and the University of New Hampshire, making it an excellent option for young millennials.
#3 Minnesota
Third on the list, you’ll find Minnesota. It’s ranking landed the No. 3 spot by having a No. 2 ranking for opportunity and No. 5 ranking for infrastructure. Despite its harsh winters, producing approximately 70 inches of snowfall each year, the summer is unlike anything else with 11,842 bodies of water for you to explore.
The household median is $63,488 which is above the national average and the state is full of Fortune 500 companies, presenting many means of opportunity.
#4 North Dakota
North Dakota has a thriving economy, government, infrastructure, plenty of opportunity, education and health care which has landed it in the No. 4 spot for the best states to move to in 2017. While it doesn’t have one metric that far outstands the other, North Dakota is a booming oil drilling state, which accounts for 2% of the United States’ economy. Median household incomes are slightly above the national average of 60,557 and unemployment rate is a mere 3%.
Despite it becoming a popular choice for relocation, North Dakota still remains the third-smallest in population. It has a small-town vibe that’s worth considering.
#5 Washington
If you’re looking for a place to call home that is certain to provide, Washington is it. This state is home to more than 7 million people, and is often called The Evergreen State – and not because it legalized recreational marijuana.
Instead, Washington is The Evergreen State because of its stunning geological diversity. From mountains to forest, coastline, and desert, Washington is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
The state’s median household income is above national average at $64,129, the unemployment rate is slightly below the national average, and its home to some of the top colleges in the United States.
Kelly concludes, “[The report] creates a competition among states. I’m assuming, I’m hoping, that a bunch of governors look really hard at this, raise some questions, some state legislators get engaged… Highlighting the really high performers gives you role models, it gives you a chance to look at how they got where they got. We think, across the board, transparency and some light on these issues is very valuable. ”
