SALEM, Ore. (Aug. 11, 2026) — Oregon ranks among the worst states in the country to live in, according to a new analysis released Monday by personal finance company WalletHub.
The Beaver State ranked 42nd overall among the 50 states, putting it ninth from the bottom. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina all received slightly higher overall scores.
WalletHub’s analysis evaluated states across several categories, including affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life and safety.
Oregon received some of its lowest rankings for affordability, safety and the strength of its economy. The state ranked 46th for housing costs and 43rd for homeownership rates.
Oregon also ranked 36th for the percentage of adults reporting fair or poor health and 27th for the percentage of residents living in poverty.
The state performed considerably better in quality of life, ranking 11th overall in that category. Oregon ranked fourth nationally for having the lowest number of hours worked and 16th for its number of restaurants per capita.
Despite Oregon’s relatively low overall ranking, another Pacific Northwest state topped WalletHub’s list.
Idaho ranked No. 1 overall, receiving particularly strong marks for safety, its economy and affordability. The state ranked third for safety, seventh for its economy and 10th for affordability. Idaho also ranked first nationally for income growth.
New Jersey ranked second overall and received the highest score in the nation for safety. It also ranked seventh for education and health and ninth for quality of life.
“When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices and job availability,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “Many states have strong economies, though, so you should also consider a wide variety of other factors, such as how where you live will impact your health and safety, and whether you will have adequate access to activities that you enjoy. If you have children, a robust education system is also key.”
The rankings come as states across the country continue to face differing costs of housing, health care and other necessities, while residents weigh employment opportunities, safety and quality of life when deciding where to live.
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