You know that for the last six years, Your Survival Guy has ranked the states in my Super States rankings. For five of those six years, New Hampshire has topped the rankings. But it’s not just me. Consumer Affairs has released its list of “The best states to move to in 2026,” and right at the top is the “Live Free or Die” state of New Hampshire. Consumer Affairs wrote:
New Hampshire finally rose to the top in 2026 after sitting as the second-best state on the list for the past two years. The Granite State ranks among the top states in several categories: It is second overall for safety and quality of life, and third in the healthcare and education category. Plus, New Hampshire does not collect state sales tax or individual income tax from its residents. Such well-rounded metrics — and a 2.8% unemployment rate, the fourth lowest in the country — make the state attractive to movers.
Along with New Hampshire in the top five were (in order), Utah, Idaho, Virginia, and Maine.
At the bottom of Consumer Affairs’s rankings are:
New Mexico
Louisiana
California
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Nevada
Alaska
Mississippi
Oregon
Arizona
Action Line: The bottom states in Your Survival Guy’s Super States rankings are called the “Escape States.” They aren’t quite the same as Consumer Affairs’s list. See my 2026 rankings here. And click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
