Time and time again, reports show Texas as one of – if not the most – moved to state in the nation. For the past 5 – 10 years or so, the Lonestar State has attracted masses of workers seeking jobs, lower taxes, and lower housing costs. According to CNBC, however, it seems like transplants are in for a rude awakening.
Over the weekend, CNBC published its latest state rankings evaluating quality of life. According to the network’s metrics, Tennessee is the worst state to live in the country, with Texas following closely as the second-worst.
In its 2026 state rankings, CNBC rated states’ “quality of life” by assessing a broad spectrum of livability factors. The rankings assessed crime rates, environmental health, medical care, childcare access, worker rights, legal inclusivity, voting security, and reproductive freedom.
Texas earned an “F” grade, scoring just 78 out of 290 points on CNBC’s scale. Although recognized as a top destination for workers, the state was heavily penalized for poor healthcare access; according to the United Health Foundation, Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation at 16.7%—double the national average.
“More than 17% of Texas adults said that they had to forgo a doctor visit that they needed in the past year because of the cost,” the report reads. “Even those who do have health insurance can have trouble finding a doctor. The state finished dead last in primary care physicians per capita”.
In addition to healthcare, the state performed poorly across several other key metrics, registering low scores for crime rates, legal inclusiveness, reproductive rights, and worker protections.
Conversely, CNBC ranked the country’s best states to live in. Ranked at No. 1 is Vermont.
