NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has once again been named one of the worst states to live in, but this time dropped even lower in the rankings in the annual CNBC quality of life study.
The Volunteer State got an "F" for livability in the 2024 CNBC Quality of Life survey due to poor health care, lack of inclusiveness and high crime, falling in the rankings to become the sixth-worst in the nation. In 2023, the state got an "F+" for livability and was ranked as the ninth-worst state.
"The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports that violent crime in the Volunteer State is declining, including a nearly 9% drop in the murder rate in 2022. But it is still among the most violent states in the nation, according to FBI crime statistics," CNBC said. "The Human Rights Campaign alleges Tennessee lawmakers unleashed 'a tsunami of discriminatory legislation' in 2024, including a law signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in April that forbids the state social services department from seeking to place LGBTQ+ foster children in supportive homes. Another law clears the way for the state to abolish its independent human rights commission, folding it into the partisan Attorney General’s office."
When it comes to business, though, Tennessee once again made its way to the Top 10 of CNBC's "Top States For Business" rankings. Tennessee revived high marks for its infrastructure, workforce, economy, and the cost of doing business in the state.
Neighboring states Virginia and North Carolina took the top spots overall in CNBC's study as the best states for business, and both had relatively average quality to above-average quality of life rankings.
