New Study Reveals Best And Worst States To Live In America

A new Gallup study reviewed each state in America to determine the best and worst places to live in the next five years. Unfortunately for West Virginia residents, the state singer John Denver sang about so lovingly about, wound up at the bottom of the 50 state list. Utah could become a bit more crowded due to winning the top spot on the best state to live in America list by Gallup, the Daily Mail reports.

The state survey was based upon 13 distinct factors including clean water, work environment, economy, obesity rates, job prospects, number of trips to the doctor/dentist, and safe places to exercise. The number of smokers in each state was also included in the Gallup poll factors used to determine the best place to live in America.

The top 10 states to live as noted by the Gallup poll include Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Virginia, Maryland, and Hawaii. The 10 worst states to live according to the recent study include West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas. The South ranked poorly on quality of life issues because more smokers and obese people reportedly reside in the region, according to the Gallup poll.

Salt Lake City is noted as the best place to live in the United States. The Gallup best and worst states in America poll was conducted from January 2011 through June 2012. Gallup pollsters interviewed approximately half a million Americans to determine the best and worst places to live in the United States. The clean living reputation of Utah is noted as one of the primary reasons the state made it to the top of the best places to live list; the vast Mormon population is credited with aiding in the state’s health rate and reputation, according to the Daily Mail.