CNBC survey mocked after top 10 'worst places to live' are all red states

Key Points:

• CNBC's annual quality-of-life rankings labeled the 10 worst states to live in, all conservative red states, sparking accusations of liberal bias amid these states' strong population growth according to U.S. Census data.
• The rankings, part of CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business” study, factor in crime rates, air quality, healthcare, childcare availability, inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights, explicitly penalizing restrictive abortion laws and lack of anti-discrimination protections.
• Conservative commentators criticized the list as politically motivated, pointing to population gains in states like Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama as evidence that Americans are moving away from progressive states despite CNBC’s assessments.
• Democratic leaders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, highlighted that all the worst-ranked states are Republican-led, while conservatives countered that CNBC’s criteria reflect far-left values rather than actual quality of life for residents.
• The demographic trends show a post-pandemic migration away from high-tax, high-cost progressive cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, which continue to lose population as Southern and Sun Belt states experience economic and population growth.