New York ranks among the better states in the country for overall quality of life, but high housing costs, low homeownership and weak income growth continue to drag down its standing, according to a new WalletHub analysis.
The personal-finance company ranked New York 12th overall in its 2026 Best States to Live In report, which compared all 50 states across 51 measures covering affordability, economic conditions, education, health, safety and quality of life.
New York performed especially well in several quality-of-life measures. The state ranked first in the nation for restaurants per capita, fifth for average weekly work hours and eighth for the percentage of residents with health insurance.
Those strengths were offset by some of the state’s most persistent economic challenges. New York ranked 42nd for housing costs, 50th for its homeownership rate and 42nd for income growth.
The state also ranked 41st for the share of its population living in poverty and 24th for the percentage of adults reporting fair or poor health.
WalletHub said the rankings are intended to measure more than whether residents can afford to live in a particular state. The analysis also weighs factors that can influence long-term quality of life, including access to health care, education, public safety, employment opportunities and recreational activities.
“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. He added that health, safety, education and access to activities can become just as important when comparing states with otherwise strong economies.
Idaho ranked as the best state to live in for 2026. WalletHub pointed to the state’s relatively low property taxes, high homeownership rate, low overall tax burden and strong household income growth. Idaho also performed well on public safety measures.
Experts consulted by WalletHub said people considering a move should look beyond headline rankings and evaluate whether a state or community matches their individual priorities.
Scott Thorne, an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, said housing, transportation, infrastructure, cost of living, access to health care and the quality of schools should all be part of the decision.
Martha Cruz Zuniga, a professor at McMurry University, said economic growth, job growth, wages and taxes remain important, but weather, natural amenities, health care and a sense of community also shape quality of life.
The results underscore a familiar tradeoff for New Yorkers: the state scores well on access, amenities and some quality-of-life measures, but affordability remains one of its biggest weaknesses.
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