The worst place to live in the U.S.? Tennessee ranks dead last, below Alabama, Arkansas. Here’s why

Tennessee is topping the charts, but not in a good way.

The Volunteer State was recently named the worst state for quality of life, according to a CNBC study. While Tennessee has previously been among the worst states, this is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the state has come in dead last.

In 2024, Tennessee ranked as the sixth-worst state for quality of life, accumulating just 96 out of 325 possible points. In 2023, Tennessee came in eighth place for the worst quality of life.

The quality of life ranking is a subsection of CNBC’s Best States for Business study. Points are awarded to states based on crime rates, environmental quality, health care and more, according to CNBC.

What makes life in Tennessee so bad?

According to the CNBC study, Tennessee’s weaknesses include the crime rate, inclusiveness and worker protections.

The crime rate in Tennessee has long dragged the state’s reputation down in the CNBC poll. In 2023, the most recent year of data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there were 43,613 offenses of violent crimes, including more than 700 murders.

For every 100,000 people, there were 628 crimes in 2023. That’s 67.8% higher than the national average, according to USA Facts, a nonprofit organization specializing in government data accessibility.

Inclusiveness was another one of Tennessee’s most grave weaknesses, according to CNBC. The study specifically cites legislation limiting the rights of the LGBTQ+ population, and the state’s 2023 law that codifies a person’s gender based on their anatomy.

CNBC did give Tennessee one thumbs-up for the state’s air quality.

Is Tennessee a safe state to live in?

Tennessee has the third-highest crime rate in the nation, according to the most recent data.

Of course, not all areas of Tennessee have an equal rate of crime. Nolensville, Signal Mountain, Kingston, Mount Juliet and Oakland are considered the safest areas of the state, according to Safewise.

What are the best states for quality of life in 2025?

In this poll, the number 1 spot belongs to the state with the best quality of life.

8 (tie): Virginia (167 out of 265)
8 (tie): Nebraska (167 out of 265)
8 (tie): Massachusetts (167 out of 265)
7: North Dakota (171 out of 265)
6: Hawaii (173 out of 265)
5: Connecticut (179 out of 265)
4: Minnesota (189 out of 265)
3: New Jersey (201 out of 265)
2: Maine (207 out of 265)
1: Vermont (228 out of 265)

What are the worst states for quality of life in 2025?

Tennessee has the lowest score in CNBC’s quality of life metric, dubbing it the worst state to live in. Here’s which other states are at the bottom of the list.

9: Oklahoma (97 out of 265)
8: Arkansas (95 out of 265 )
7: Alabama (92 out of 265)
6: Georgia (89 out of 265)
5: Louisiana (87 out of 265)
4: Utah (87 out of 265)
3: Indiana (73 out of 265)
2: Texas (72 out of 265)
1: Tennessee (61 out of 265)

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CNBC ranked the worst states for quality life and Tennessee was last