The debate over California’s livability is alive and well. With rising costs, political battles, and stalled population growth, more Golden Staters are asking the big question: if I leave, where should I go?
Business columnist Jonathan Lansner recently refreshed his “Leaving California” scorecard, analyzing everything from cost of living and safety to politics and quality of life. The results might surprise you.
Best Overall States for Relocation
According to Lansner’s math, the best state to move to in 2025 is Minnesota. Rounding out the top five were:
- Minnesota
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Utah
At the other end of the spectrum, the least attractive states were:
- Louisiana
- Alaska
- New Mexico
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
For perspective, California itself would have ranked 32nd if included.
Breaking Down the Scorecard
Costs
No surprise here—California’s high cost of living is one of the top reasons people leave. By comparison:
- Most affordable states: West Virginia, Mississippi, Iowa, South Dakota, Alabama.
- Most expensive: Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon.
Economy
Moving somewhere cheap only works if there’s opportunity. The strongest economies in 2025 were:
- Utah (No. 1)
- Florida
- Colorado
- Texas
- Washington
California, despite its costs, would have placed No. 8 for economy.
Quality of Life
Weather, environment, recreation, and culture all matter. Top five:
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Colorado
- Washington
California would have landed No. 6 here—proof that sunshine and coastline still count for something.
Education & Healthcare
For families and long-term planning, schooling and medical care play a big role. The leaders were:
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Connecticut
California? A modest No. 31.
Safety
Public safety and disaster risk were also factored in.
- Safest: New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey.
- Least safe: Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri.
California would have ranked No. 40 here.
Where Californians Actually Move
The data tells another story: regardless of rankings, most Californians moved to:
- Texas (303,958)
- Arizona (197,811)
- Nevada (153,270)
- Washington (148,402)
- Florida (127,217)
On the flip side, very few Californians relocated to states like Delaware, West Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming, or Rhode Island.
Bottom Line
Choosing a “best” state depends on what matters most: affordability, opportunity, lifestyle, or politics. By the numbers, Minnesota tops the list for 2025, but if politics weigh heavily, Utah takes the crown.
Explore the full rankings here: bit.ly/states2move2
