What does Texas rank poorly in?

Texas ranks dead last nationally in primary care physicians per capita and holds the highest uninsured rate in the United States.

Quality of Life and Health Rankings

According to CNBC's quality-of-life and health studies, Texas scores poorly in several core categories:

• Uninsured Rate: Ranks highest in the nation with 16.7% of residents lacking health insurance.
• Primary Care Access: Ranks 50th (last) in the country for primary care physicians per capita.
• Healthcare Coverage: WalletHub's healthcare studies also rank Texas last (51st) for the percentage of both insured adults and insured children.

Other Low Rankings

In broad quality-of-life and social policy indices (such as CNBC's state rankings), Texas receives low marks and failing grades in:

• Worker protections
• Reproductive rights and abortion access
• Inclusiveness and anti-LGBTQ+ laws
• High violent crime rates relative to other states

Opinions on these rankings are mixed on platforms like Reddit, where some users note that these metrics reflect systemic policy choices and a difficult environment for non-affluent residents, while others argue that the state's economic opportunities and lower overall cost of living compared to coastal states outweigh these index scores.

Texas is an economically rich state overall, but it also experiences significant internal poverty and income inequality.

Economic Wealth

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Texas has the second-largest economy in the United States, valued at over $2.7 trillion.
• Business Growth: According to the Economy of Texas - Wikipedia, the state is home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies and leads the nation in job and GDP growth.
• No State Income Tax: Texas does not levy a personal income tax, making it a favorable environment for high earners and major corporations.

Poverty and Financial Hardship

• Poverty Rates: Despite its overall wealth, the poverty rate in Texas sits at approximately 13.4%, which remains higher than the national average.
• Regressive Taxes: Because there is no income tax, Texas relies heavily on sales and property taxes. Research shows that low-income residents pay a much higher percentage of their earnings toward state and local taxes than wealthy residents do.
• Healthcare Gaps: According to reports from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas consistently records the highest uninsured rate in the nation, impacting working-age adults and children.

Based on CNBC's 2026 Quality of Life rankings, the 10 lowest-ranked U.S. states to live in, ordered from worst to tenth-worst, are:

1. Tennessee (High violent crime, high drug death rates, and restrictive social/civil rights laws)
2. Texas (Highest uninsured rate in the nation and lowest primary care physicians per capita)
3. Indiana (Severe childcare shortages and high care costs)
4. Louisiana (High violent crime rates and strict abortion bans)
5. Georgia (Weak worker protections and low inclusivity scores)
6. Utah (Shortages in primary care providers, low childcare access, and poor air quality)
7. Missouri (High violent crime and high firearm-related death rates)
8. Alabama (Severe mental health provider shortages and weak worker protections)
9. Oklahoma (Low minimum wage, limited worker protections, and healthcare access gaps)
10. Arkansas (High rates of food insecurity and elevated crime levels)

(Note: State rankings vary depending on the metrics used. For example, studies focused strictly on broad economic and health factors like WalletHub's livability index place New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi at the bottom of the list.)

There is no single #1 best state to live in, because major publications rank them differently based on their own rules and goals.

Top Ranked States by Major Studies

• U.S. News & World Report Best States: Ranks Utah as #1 overall, praising its strong economy, fiscal stability, and infrastructure.
• WalletHub Best States to Live In: Frequently places Massachusetts or Idaho at the top, scoring them on livability, safety, economy, and education.
• CNBC Quality of Life Study: Ranks Vermont as #1 for well-being, health, crime rates, and personal rights.

How to Find Your Best State

Because each report measures different values, your ideal state depends on what matters most to you:

• For Jobs and Economy: Look at states like Utah or Texas.
• For Health and Education: Look at Massachusetts or Vermont.
• For Affordability and Safety: Look at Idaho or New Hampshire.

Alaska is frequently ranked as the "roughest" or most dangerous state in the U.S. based on per capita violent crime statistics.

Crime and Safety Rankings

• Alaska: Ranks #1 among the 50 states for highest violent crime rate, driven heavily by high rates of aggravated assault and sexual assault.
• New Mexico: Closely follows with extremely high rates of both violent crime (highest in the contiguous U.S.) and property crime.
• Other High-Risk States: US News Best States Rankings consistently place states like Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana near the top for dangerous or high-crime conditions.

Contributing Factors

• Geography and Isolation: Alaska's vast, remote communities and extreme geographic isolation limit local law enforcement reach and emergency response times.
• Urban Concentrations: In states like New Mexico and Louisiana, overall state numbers are heavily impacted by high-crime rates in specific metropolitan centers like Albuquerque or New Orleans.