America’s 10 Worst States: Crime Rates, Air Quality, Healthcare Access, Worker Protections and Civil Rights Laws Drag Southern States to D– and F Grades as Ohio Takes the Crown as America’s Best State for Business
Crime rates, air quality, healthcare access, worker protections, and civil rights laws are among factors that can hurt a state in quality of life rankings. With more companies insisting their employees return to the office, CNBC is giving quality of life more weight in its 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings. CNBC
Oklahoma imposes one of America’s strictest bans on abortion; studies found abortion bans increase net migration outflows, particularly among single adults. The Sooner State ranked 40th for worker protections, with a $7.25 minimum wage covering only about 19% of the cost of living for a family of four. Its 2026 Quality of Life score was 103 out of 290 points, earning a grade of D–.
Missouri is among America’s most violent states, with 462 violent offences per 100,000 residents. Its 2026 Quality of Life score was 98 out of 290 points; a D–.
Utah ranked No. 47 for primary care providers. Its minimum wage of $7.25 per hour covers just 16.5% of the cost of living for a family of four, according to Oxfam America, and the state has just 513 licensed childcare centres for a population of 3.5 million. It scored 95 out of 290; an F.
Ohio topped CNBC’s competitiveness rankings for the first time in 2026, driven by the nation’s best infrastructure and low business costs, offering companies broad market access with more than 143 million people within a day’s drive.
The data reveals a structural divide: states with restrictive social policies, weak worker protections and underfunded healthcare are paying a measurable economic price; not just in quality of life rankings, but in talent and migration patterns that companies increasingly factor into location decisions.
Check out our previous coverage of US economy and business rankings on The Trusted Times.
