Last week, CNBC released its comprehensive rankings of the top ten “best states” and “worst states” to live and work. The rankings, primarily focused on inclusiveness and reproductive rights, have drawn attention to the clear divide between blue states and red states.
CNBC published lists of the best and worst states to live in.
The top ten states were exclusively blue, while the bottom ten were exclusively red. https://t.co/flYhiLKy2T
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) July 19, 2023
According to CNBC’s political analysts, the top ten states to live and work are dominated by blue states. These states, ranked from last to first, include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maine, and Vermont.
Interestingly, none of these states have voted red in a presidential election since Colorado in 2004, remaining solidly blue since 1988.
On the contrary, the states CNBC deemed the “worst” are predominantly located in the south and rural Midwest. CNBC vilified Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas as the least favorable places to work and live.
Critics argue that CNBC’s rankings are influenced by political biases, as the metrics mostly focused on “inclusive policies on discrimination and reproductive rights.” This has understandably raised questions about the objectivity of their findings.
Reproductive rights rank as a metric in this year’s Top States for Business
Surprisingly, recent migration trends contradict the strong dislike of conservative leadership depicted by CNBC. The states ranked as the top 10 by CNBC, including Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington, turned out to be the least popular destinations for American movers in 2022, as reported by Forbes based on Postal Service change-of-address data.
Texas, Florida, and South Carolina secured the top three spots as the most preferred states to relocate. Additional sources also reveal that the top ten states attracting American movers are all southern states. This migration pattern seems to indicate a shift in the culture wars and suggests that CNBC’s bottom 10 states are more aligned with the concerns of the American people.
CNBC’s rankings may reflect the wants of states with inclusive policies, particularly regarding minors’ rights and transgender activism, which has sparked controversies among parents. However, the migration trend data directly contradicts these rankings. States at the bottom are attracting more people, while those at the top are repelling them
