Texas tops list of worst places to live and work in America, study says

Amethyst Martinez, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read
4.6k
As Austin struggles with affordable housing problems, the city is continuing efforts to change its land development code.

Texas has received the number one spot on a not-so-pleasant list: The top ten worst places in America to live and work in 2023.

While Texas landed at number six on CNBC's yearly America's Top States for Business study, the state scored significantly low in one category: Life, Health & Inclusion. Factors in this category include:

  • crime rates

  • environmental quality

  • health care

  • quality and availability of childcare

  • inclusiveness in state laws such as reproductive rights, protections against discrimination and voting rights

Texas received 53 out of 350 points for its 2023 Life, Health & Inclusion score, giving it an F in its Top States grade and the lowest nationwide, securing its number one spot on the list.

More: Austin drops in 'best places to live' report — again. Here's why.

Texas' low ranking in its Life, Health & Inclusion score is attributed to a lack of inclusiveness, according to CNBC, considering factors such as laws targeting the LGBTQ+ population, voting rights, and the strict abortion ban implemented statewide. Another weakness identified in the study was worker protections.

Another reason behind the ranking is the state's current health care infrastructure, with the nation's highest percentage of people without health insurance and the second lowest number of primary care physicians per capita, according to CNBC. Texas also ranks thirteen in the nation for having high violent crime rates.

Top 10 worst states to live and work

The rest of the states that landed on the top ten worst states to live and work for 2023 were:

  1. Texas

  2. Oklahoma

  3. Louisiana

  4. South Carolina and Alabama (tie)

  5. —

  6. Missouri

  7. Indiana

  8. Tennessee

  9. Arkansas

  10. Florida

CNBC did mention the boom in economic opportunity across the state. In the overall Top States for Business study, Texas received sixth place, with North Carolina taking the number one spot.

According to CNBC, the best state in the country to live and work is Vermont, with Maine in second and New Jersey in third.

More: Central Texas city is the fastest-growing city in America. And it isn't Austin.

Austin metro ranked best place to start a career

This comes after the Austin metropolitan, including Round Rock and Georgetown, were named the best place in the country to start a career, with factors considered including rent price affordability, employment opportunities and overall quality of life.

Although Austin placed first on the best place to live from 2017-2019, the city continues to fall down the ranks, now sitting in 40th place on U.S. News and World Report's Best Places to Live in 2023-2024 list. This study considered factors such as desirability, value, job market, quality of life and net migration. Despite the fall, Austin is still ranked the highest in the state.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas tops CNBC's list of worst states to live and work in America