Study: Kentucky One of Worst States in Which to Live
Cue the gentle strains of “My Old Kentucky Home,” and then stand back — a recent study named the Bluegrass one of the worst states in the U.S. in which to live.
The study by Wallethub looked at the best states to live in, and Kentucky landed at a disappointing 42nd. To get the results, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 52 key indicators of livability, ranging from housing costs and income growth to education rate and quality of hospitals.
Each state was then ranked in five categories: Affordability, Economy, Education & Health, Quality of Life, and Safety. Kentucky fared well in the first category, Affordability, ranking 10th. But it all went south from there.
The state ranked 30th in safety, but scored no higher than 41st in the other three categories. The only states with lower composite scores were Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alaska and Mississippi. That’s right, Kentucky didn’t even outrank West Virginia.
Neighboring Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee ranked 32nd, 33rd and 36th, respectively. Illinois ranked 15th.
“If you do the math,” Wallethub said, “some states clearly outshine others in various categories.”
Clearly. But at least we have bourbon.
