California has been identified as one of the least desirable states for relocation, according to a new report by ConsumerAffairs. The state ranked third to last out of 50 states, maintaining its position from the previous year, with only Louisiana and New Mexico ranking lower.
The ConsumerAffairs Research Team compiled its annual rankings by evaluating data across several key metrics: affordability, safety, economic strength, healthcare and education, and quality of life. California received particularly low scores in affordability, ranking 50th, and safety, placing 49th.
Data indicates that typical housing costs in California represent 21.1% of the median income for residents, exceeding the national average of 17.6%. The report also noted that the overall cost of living in California is approximately 10.7% higher than the national average, impacting the price of everyday goods and services.
In terms of safety, California reported 4.9 violent crimes and 20.78 property crimes per 1,000 residents, which are higher than the national averages of 3.6 violent crimes and 17.6 property crimes per 1,000 residents, respectively. The report labels California as the most dangerous state in the union based on these figures.
Despite its low scores in affordability and safety, California performed better in other areas. It ranked 23rd in healthcare and education and 14th in quality of life. These higher rankings likely contributed to the state avoiding the bottom positions in overall assessment.
Conversely, New Hampshire was named the best state to move to, climbing from second place last year. Utah, the previous year's top state, dropped to second place. Idaho, Virginia, and Maine completed the top five states for relocation.
This report on state desirability follows a separate analysis by WalletHub, which found that California is home to six of the nation's least-educated cities.