New Study Reveals The Worst State To Live In - And It's Not One You'd Expect
With all the current political turmoil going on right now in the U.S., there are numerous states being judged as the worst or the best. Recently, CNBC released their annual "America's Top States for Business" with a category regarding life, health, and inclusion, according to CNBC. On the list, there are 10 states with grade F ratings when it comes to the quality of life for residents. This comes as no surprise as a consistent 16% of Americans between 2017 and 2018 stated they would permanently leave the country all together, per Gallup.
This list includes states such as South Carolina, Texas, Indiana, and more — but there's one state that tops the rest when it comes to terrible living conditions: Arizona. This state has a population of over 7 million people, and 1 in 7 women between the ages of 15 and 44 was found living in families with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level, per March of Dimes. However, there are several other issues to be aware of, especially if you plan to move out of state soon.
Poor air and poor funding
The dry heat has resulted in terrible air quality — more awful than a majority of other states. Maricopa County in Phoenix has been exposed to 39 high ozone days per year. As ozone concentrates mix with pollutants, it creates smog — something the U.S. doesn't control very well. This can cause wheezing and coughing, asthma attacks, premature death, and put a strain on those who already have lung diseases, per the American Lung Association.
As residents suffer from these issues, they then have to also deal with poor healthcare infrastructures, such as limited hospital beds and staff. Arizona unfortunately only spends $79 per person on public health, which is the lowest amount compared to any other state. According to the United Health Foundation, other states such as Washington are paying at least $120 per person, and Alaska — the top state in this category — is paying $450 per person.
Crime rates
According to Cronkite News, Arizona has seen rising crime rates higher than the national average. Between 2019 and 2020, crimes such as rape, robbery, and aggravated assault rose 8.6% in the state, while the national average was only 4.6%. SafeWise says that 51% of Arizona residents claim that their daily fear is someone committing a violent crime against them, which is 10% higher than other U.S. citizens. Almost 60% also fear the threat of gun violence on a daily basis, and mass shootings have been increasing by 50% every year.
This is problematic when compared to other states such as Maine. SafeWise also says the violent crime rate in Maine was calculated at 1.1%, the lowest in the country — as well as their property crime rate. These are terrifying comparisons that can make anyone think twice about where to live, as the living conditions of residents can vary tremendously from state to state and coast to coast.