CNBC is facing criticism following the release of its "10 Worst States to Live In" ranking, which exclusively featured Republican-led states and notably excluded any states with Democratic leadership. The list, a subset of the network's annual "America’s Top States for Business" analysis, has drawn accusations of liberal bias from conservatives and politicians.
The ranking, ordered from tenth-worst to first, included Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. Each state was assigned a 'Quality of Life score' based on factors such as the cost and availability of childcare, the inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights.
Specific Criticisms of State Rankings
Tennessee, listed as the worst state, received low marks due to laws perceived as discriminatory toward transgender people, alongside high rates of violent crime and fatal drug use. CNBC cited a law requiring transgender individuals to use bathroom facilities designated for their sex at birth and a resolution by Gov. Bill Lee designating June as 'Nuclear Family Month,' stating the state 'deliberately' slighted Pride celebrators. Critics countered that Tennessee is experiencing significant population growth, suggesting the state's livability is not as poor as depicted.
Texas, which ranked second-worst, was noted for poor performance in healthcare, inclusiveness, and reproductive rights, despite being the only state on the list with no state income tax. Texas Congressman Lance Gooden highlighted the state's low cost of living and lack of income tax in response to the ranking.
Indiana was ranked third-worst, primarily due to its lowest score for childcare availability. Georgia, fifth-worst, was criticized for its limited protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, contributing to its designation as one of America's least inclusive states.
Political Reactions to the Ranking
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dismissed the ranking as "nonsense," questioning CNBC's methodology and pointing to population migration trends. "If Tennessee was really the worst state to live in, people wouldn’t be moving there in large numbers, which they are," he stated.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt echoed similar sentiments, asking, "Why would 'the worst states to live in' also be the states that the most people are moving to?"
Podcaster Patrick Bet-David noted that Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama were among the top-performing states for net migration in 2025, according to CNBC's own statistics. He questioned the basis of the "10 worst states" designation.
States that have experienced significant outmigration, such as California, New York, and Illinois, were absent from CNBC's 'quality of life' list. The factors weighed by CNBC included childcare, air quality, and healthcare.
CNBC, which was spun off by Comcast to Versant Media Group in January, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.