Best States To Live In 2026: Here's Where GA Ranks On National List

Georgia has ranked in the top 30 of best states in which to live on a new survey released Monday.

Same as last year, the Peach State came in 27th on the nationwide list that included all 50 states. Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey, Wyoming and Pennsylvania outperformed Georgia.

WalletHub analyzed the housing costs, job opportunities, quality of education and safety when ranking the states. Experts said Georgia has an overall score of 51.81, not too far off from its 2025 marking.

“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report. "Many states have strong economies, though, so you should also consider a wide variety of other factors, such as how where you live will impact your health and safety, and whether you will have adequate access to activities that you enjoy. If you have children, a robust education system is also key.”

A breakdown of Georgia's score is as follows:

• Affordability: 17
• Economy: 26
• Education and Health: 41
• Quality of Life: 20
• Safety: 17

New Mexico once again received the lowest score on the list, making it the worst state to live in, per WalletHub.

Georgia hosts a variety of well-known attractions for tourists, including the World of Coca-Cola and Six Flags Over Georgia.

Other attractions include the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, river cruises in Savannah, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the Carter Center.

Georgia is home to the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United, the Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks.

Most recently, the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to Georgia. In February 2028, football lovers will crowd the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch the NFL's Super Bowl 62 in Atlanta.

Foodies can indulge in Georgia, as it offers award-winning barbecue and eclectic dishes from James Beard nominees.

Here are the top 10 best states to live in, per WalletHub:

1. Idaho
2. New Jersey
3. Wisconsin
4. Massachusetts
5. New Hampshire
6. Wyoming
7. Utah
8. Minnesota
9. Pennsylvania
10. Florida

See WalletHub's full list of the "Best States to Live In 2026."

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