Best state to live in the east coast

Last year, only around 8.4 percent of Americans moved, which represents a historic low for our restlessness, perhaps because of income blows due to Covid (as well as the plethora of home improvement projects that made us appreciate home more!). But now as 2022 is more than halfway gone, some are perhaps thinking of moving before winter settles in. And choosing which state to live in is an important decision.

Do you crave access to the ocean? Are you more interested in mountains, prairies or deserts? Are you a city person or someone who doesn’t want a neighbor within 10 miles? WalletHub has studied the data to compare all 50 states across 52 comparison points of ‘livability,’ from housing costs and income growth to education standards, safety, quality of life and the quality of hospital care. The personal finance website has come up with a ranked list of the top 20 best states to live in for 2022. Here are the results!

The top state is Massachusetts, which ranked first in the nation for education and health, fourth for safety, sixth for quality of life, and 10th for its economy. It did rank a low 44th out of 50 states for affordability, but its overall score was enough to eke out a win over the closely-second next state. Besides a smarty-pants populace, Massachusetts has a strong four seasons, good high-tech industry and plenty of agriculture, fishing and other trade. Plus Boston and baked beans!? Time to move to Mass!

New Jersey was scant points behind Massachusetts and first in the nation for safety. It was ranked fifth for education and health, seventh for quality of life, 39th for economy and a not-quite-the-worst-but-close ranking of 48th for affordability. New Jersey’s got a grip on wonderful beaches, diverse culture, scenic highways and lots of great food. Time to join Bruce Springsteen?

The third best state to live in according to the study is New York. This state won overall for quality of life and was in second place for safety, 16th for education and health, 37th for economy and 46th for affordability. Besides the world-class destination of New York City, this state has tons of state parks and natural beauty, great museums and one of the world’s most famous waterfalls.

Idaho pulled off fourth place without any top scores: sixth for safety, ninth for economy, 22nd for quality of life, 29th for education and health… but 13th for affordability: the first state in the top four to break out of the 40s.

Idaho tied with Virginia for fourth but is listed as fifth; they both have the total score of 58.73. Virginia, like Idaho, was unable to pull off a top score in any of the categories, but came in 11th for safety, 15th for education and health, 16th for affordability, 20th for quality of life, and 23rd for economy.

Here are the top 20: 

1. Massachusetts

2. New Jersey

3. New York

4. Idaho

5. Virginia

6. New Hampshire

7. Florida

8. Wyoming

9. Minnesota

10. Wisconsin

11. Maine

12. Vermont

13. Utah

14. Pennsylvania

15. Illinois

16. Iowa

17. Maryland

18. North Dakota

19. Montana

20. Colorado

Interesting takeaways from this study: Maine has the fewest violent crimes per capita, while Alaska has the most. New Hampshire has the lowest percentage of people living in poverty, while Mississippi has the highest. Workers in South Dakota love their commute, which is only an average of 17 minutes, as compared to New York, where drivers spend 34 minutes getting to work. Alabama is the most affordable state, and North Dakota wins for its economy.

In 50th place is New Mexico for safety, Alaska for quality of life, Illinois for its economy, Mississippi for education and health, and California for affordability.

The east coast has something for everyone when it comes to working professionals choosing where they’ll live. Huge metropolises? Check. Beach cities? Check. History? Check. Social scenes? You know it.

The best part of all is that the entirety of the east coast is connected along the I-95 corridor; by car or by train, working professionals can easily travel to other cities for weekends away, business trips, or a quick day of travel to see the sights.

Whatever you’re looking for in your home city, there’s a place for you on the east coast. Here are the 12 best east coast cities for working professionals.

Quick Takeaways

• East coast cities offer a wide range of living experiences for working professionals, including big metropolitan cities, beach cities, and diverse populations and cultures.
• The east coast is connected by the I-95 corridor, making it easy to travel from city to city on business trips or for weekends away.
• Most east coast cities are affordable, with median rent costs landing between $1000-$2000 per month.

Portland, Maine

Population: 66,215

Median Income: $60,467

Median Monthly Rent: $1,124

Portland is both a coastal town and the largest metro area in Maine.  Outdoorsy working professionals will find Portland exceptionally attractive. Winter snowshoe and cross-country skiing are popular in the winter, and in the summer, fishing and sailing in Casco Bay are the activities of choice.

There is no shortage of food or nightlife, either. Portland is known for its fantastic seafood (find an oyster bar ASAP) and active bar scene on Old Port and Congress Street.

Portland is a smaller city, so it’s a good idea to know the job market in your industry before you relocate. But the Portland area has an active startup scene and entrepreneurial spirit, and over the past year, it has also seen an influx of working professional transplants from bigger cities as people increasingly work remotely and seek more living space.

Burlington, Vermont

Population: 42,819

Median Income: $51,394

Median Monthly Rent: $1,213

If you’re looking for city living with a small-town feel, Burlington could be the place for you. Located in the mountains on the beautiful coast of Lake Champlain, Burlington offers stunning views minutes away from its city center.

The music and food scenes are rich in Burlington; restaurants, breweries, bars, and coffee shops are abundant in the city’s walkable downtown. The scenic waterfront offers walking and biking paths, and the Church Street Marketplace features unique shops and handmade products.

Despite its smaller size, Burlington’s close proximity to the University of Vermont and active manufacturing, retail, and tech scenes offer a healthy job market for working professionals.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Population: 118,927

Median Income: $103,154

Median Monthly Rent: $2,221

Cambridge has recently ranked the #1 place to live for young professionals by Niche, and for good reason. It’s home to Harvard and MIT, thus boasting exceptional academic and tech job opportunities.

Cambridge also offers some of the richest educational and cultural experiences in the world. Museums focused on art, history, and science abound throughout the city. Outdoor parks and greenery inject a dose of nature, and the nightlife is diverse — downtown you’ll find plenty of bars, restaurants, jazz clubs, comedy clubs, live music venues, and more.

Boston, Massachusetts

Population: 692, 600

Median Income: $71,115

Median Monthly Rent: $1,620

The largest city in New England, Boston — often referred to as the Cradle of Liberty — is one of the most history-rich cities in the United States. It’s also home to some of the top academic, tech, and healthcare job markets in the world.

Working professionals in Boston will have no shortage of things to do; with a wide variety of neighborhoods to choose from, residents can find the pocket of Boston that best suits their interests while enjoying the perks of the entire city.

Boston is also known for being a sports town with avid fanbases, sports bars, and professional sporting events (Boston’s home to the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins).

New York City, New York

Population: 8,336,817

Median Income: $63,998

Median Monthly Rent: $1,443

The Big Apple — it’s the largest city in the United States and perhaps the most dreamed-about city by aspiring professionals who want the big-city job and the living experience that comes along with it.

New York City offers everything you think it would: diverse neighborhoods, theater, art, food, nightlife, history. It’s all there, as are jobs in just about every industry.

The thing about New York City? It’s definitely for working professionals who don’t mind being a small fish in a big pond — while NYC’s neighborhoods offer a sense of community to their residents, New York City as a whole is big, busy, and exceptionally fast-paced at all times.

For many professionals, that’s the whole point, and for those people, there’s no better place than New York City.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Population: 1,584,064

Median Income: $45,927

Median Monthly Rent: $1,042

Philadelphia is New York City’s smaller southern neighbor, but it boasts much of the same big-city feel. At the same time, it has more of a hometown environment, with residents passionate about just about everything — food, sports teams, neighborhoods, you name it. This means the best of both worlds for many working professionals looking for a city to call home.

Philadelphia is home to some of the country’s oldest historic events and landmarks like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It also offers restaurants, bars, and nightlife galore.

Its location at the middle point between New York City and Washington D.C. (a quick train ride from both) also makes it one of the most convenient places to live for working professionals who travel between them or are interested in exploring all three.

Washington D.C.

Population: 705,749

Median Income: $86,420

Median Monthly Rent: $1,541

The political nucleus of the nation, Washington D.C. is a great option for people entering careers in politics or law. But D.C. also offers robust job markets in other industries like tech, healthcare, finance, and architecture (to name a few).

Washington D.C. is not a driver’s town, but it is walkable and also offers one of the best public transportation systems in the country. D.C. has an active social scene and tons of museums, monuments, and historic sites for residents to explore.

And while you don’t need to be working in politics to find a job in D.C., residents are still right in the center of the nation’s legislative action — pretty cool for any aspiring working professional.

Alexandria, Virginia

Population: 159,428

Median Income: $100,939

Median Monthly Rent: $1,747

Alexandria has a reputation — rated the #5 Best Small City in the U.S. and one of the South’s Best Cities in 2020, Alexandria is the perfect choice for working professionals who want proximity to Washington D.C. and big-city career opportunities with a small-town living experience.

Alexandria residents have the luxury of enjoying the amenities right in their hometown — charming King Street, restaurants, art, and the Potomac waterfront — while being able to cross the river into D.C. whenever they want.

Working professionals in D.C. who are willing to have a commute will love the balance offered by Alexandria.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Population: 474,069

Median Income: $67,266

Median Monthly Rent: $1,121

Raleigh offers an up-and-coming city environment rich in beautiful outdoor spaces, restaurants and bars, museums, music and education. Raleigh is known for its southern hospitality, where residents are friendly and neighbors welcoming.

For working professionals looking for job opportunities, Raleigh is somewhat of a gold mine. It’s located at what locals call the “Triangle” (along with nearby Durham and Chapel Hill) with a business complex housing 140 companies (including the likes of Cisco and GlaxoSmithKline) and employing nearly 40,000 people.

Beyond that, nearby universities like Duke, University of North Carolina, and North Carolina state enhance the already healthy job market.

Charleston, South Carolina

Population: 137,566

Median Income: $68,438

Median Monthly Rent: $1,257

If you’re looking for palm trees and southern charm, Charleston’s got it. In fact, it’s been consistently ranked by Travel & Leisure as the #1 city in the United States.

Even better? The job market in Charleston is growing. It’s the top mid-sized metro region for IT job growth. Other top industries include education, healthcare, government, and hospitality.

Charleston has a buzzing nightlife scene and rich art culture (there are more than 40 art galleries in the greater Charleston area) and beautiful weather year-round, with mild temperatures making it possible for outdoor festivals, a bustling downtown King Street, and time spent in the city’s outdoor green areas enjoyable at any time of year.

Savannah, Georgia

Population: 144,464

Median Income: $43,307

Median Monthly Rent: $1,019

Savannah is about as picturesque as it gets, meaning working professionals who move here will likely walk around feeling like tourists much of the time.

Savannah has beautiful parks and beaches and great weather all year. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy its walkable, bike- and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, green outdoor spaces, and water sports at the beach or the marsh. The city boasts a growing food and beverage scene with equal parts southern comfort food and coastal cuisine.

Savannah’s tech and creative job markets are thriving. In 2019, it was named the #1 U.S. City for Creatives, and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) is currently reimbursing moving expenses for qualified creative technology workers moving to the city.

Tampa, Florida

Population: 399,700

Median Salary: $53,833

Median Rent: $1,131

Living in Tampa, Florida is like living life on vacation. For working professionals, they can do it without sacrificing career opportunities, too. Tampa has a growing job market; top industries in the city include healthcare, finance, supply chain, and hospitality, and technology.

The cost of living in Tampa is lower than the national average despite its location in sunny Florida and proximity to beautiful beaches in St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach. Tampa enjoys more seasonal weather than some of its counterparts in more southern parts of the state, too; while the summers are hot and the weather is generally warm all year round, the temperatures do drop in the summer and fall.

Tampa is surrounded by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and offers beautiful waterfront spaces and water activities. Tampa bay has plenty to do and see, with a great mix of downtown city life in Tampa and nearby beach town nightlife in St. Pete and Clearwater. Depending on their mood, residents can take their pick.

Choosing a City

With so many options (this list doesn’t even include them all!), it can be hard to choose the best city for you and your career. As you decide, here are some of the most important factors to consider:

• Your job industry and its market
• Cost of living
• Modes of transportation
• Weather
• Social scene and popular activities

If you can, visit the city you’re considering to see what it’s like. Most of all, remember to prioritize what is most important to you and choose a city that checks those boxes.

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