Normally, it would be great for a state to know it is at the highest spots of a ranking, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for Texas. According to a new report, it is considered one of the worst states to live in. Still, some citizens are shocked to hear this, as it seems that despite the alleged problems in the state, many Americans continue to move there, making everyone wonder whether it is as bad as it sounds.
The media outlet Chron recently reported that Texas is among some of the worst states to live in 2026, at least according to a recent ranking by CNBC. The ranking published a list of the 10 alleged worst states for Americans this year, and, unfortunately for some, it included Texas.
According to the ranking, its Quality of Life score is at 78 out of 290 points, and its weaknesses include health, crime, inclusiveness, and worker protections, among others. It did mention childcare and air quality as pros, but it seems the cons outweigh the positives.
Despite these complaints, according to data gathered by Chron (which we’ve linked above), Texas remains one of the most populous states in the country, with more people moving in. Many believe that this is how “cheap” some things are for people, especially when compared to other states. And while true in a way, some residents believe that just because some things are cheaper, a state won’t be better.
Texas Citizens Believe that The State’s ‘Cheaper’ Things Come at a High Price
Since many focused on the fact that Texas has, according to some, great economic opportunities, some residents have quickly said otherwise, claiming that while some things might be cheap, others definitely aren’t.
“I recently spoke with a guy from Colorado who moved here to save money and is basically spending the same amount with a worse quality of life. So now he is saving to move back.“
“I moved away from Texas after 25 years there in 2025. My utility bills are less than half what I was paying in Texas, the property taxes are about 1/3, and the homeowners insurance rates are also about half what I was paying…. And I moved to Colorado, where it’s supposed to be so much more expensive. Nope.“
Others even tried to tell people that lower prices don’t equal a better quality of life for people.
“Cheaper doesn’t mean better.“
Ultimately, many citizens are saddened by how low Texas ranked, but some think it is accurate, as certain things are still extremely expensive, especially for those who have been in this state for a long time.
