Tennessee ranks last for quality of life in CNBC’s 2026 state rankings, with Texas, Indiana and Louisiana also among the lowest-scoring states.
Where people live can shape their access to health care, affordable childcare, safe neighborhoods and workplace protections. In 2026, a new ranking from CNBC has highlighted significant differences in these conditions across the United States, placing Tennessee at the bottom of its quality-of-life assessment.
The ranking comes from CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business study, which evaluates states using data on factors that influence livability and economic competitiveness. The quality-of-life category considers crime rates, health care access, environmental conditions, childcare availability and affordability, worker protections, inclusiveness and reproductive rights.
According to CNBC’s 2026 state rankings and methodology, quality of life accounts for 290 possible points, or 11.6% of a state’s overall business competitiveness score. The assessment is intended to help explain how livability factors influence a state’s ability to attract and retain workers.
The 10 lowest-scoring states in the quality-of-life category face different challenges, ranging from limited access to medical care and childcare to crime rates and gaps in worker protections.
10. Arkansas
Score: 103 out of 290 | Grade: D-minus
Arkansas remains among the lowest-ranked states for quality of life despite improving its overall position in CNBC’s broader assessment.
Food insecurity is a major concern. The study highlights the difficulties some households face in consistently obtaining enough food, alongside concerns about violent crime and limited protections against discrimination.
These issues illustrate how financial hardship, public safety and access to legal protections can affect residents’ everyday lives. Even when a state improves in some economic measures, persistent challenges in these areas can weigh on its quality-of-life score.
9. Oklahoma
Score: 103 out of 290 | Grade: D-minus
Oklahoma received the same quality-of-life score as Arkansas, reflecting concerns that extend beyond household finances.
The state’s abortion restrictions are among the factors considered in the ranking, as reproductive rights can influence where workers choose to live. Minimum-wage policy is another concern. Oklahoma’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and state law restricts local governments from establishing their own minimum wages.
For workers earning at the lowest end of the pay scale, the relationship between wages and household expenses can make it difficult to cover essential costs. Those pressures contribute to broader questions about affordability and economic security.
8. Alabama
Score: 99 out of 290 | Grade: D-minus
Alabama faces significant challenges in access to mental health care and workplace protections.
A shortage of mental health providers can make it harder for residents to find timely treatment, particularly in communities where medical services are already limited. The source data cited in the ranking also point to a substantial share of Alabama residents reporting a history of depressive disorders.
Worker protections are another weakness. The state performs poorly on benchmarks tracked by Oxfam America, which evaluates policies affecting workers, including wages and employment protections.
Together, these factors raise concerns about access to care and the protections available to people in the workforce……..Read full article
