Is California a good state to move in 2026? Here’s what new study says
California is known for its warm weather, stunning coastline and scenic national parks.
However, a new report says the Golden State might not be the best place to relocate.
ConsumerAffairs recently ranked the best and worst states to move to in 2026 — and California landed in the bottom 10.
About 7.1 million people moved to a different state in 2024, the consumer news platform said, but choosing where to live involves much more than finding a new address.
“Safety, comfort, stability and affordability are key, which is why it’s important to do your research,” ConsumerAffairs said in its July 1 report.
Here’s why California ranked among the nation’s worst states to move to in 2026:
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Why is California one of the worst states to move to?
California ranked No. 3 on ConsumerAffairs’ list of the 10 worst states to move to in 2026.
The Golden State received an overall score of 38.06 out of 100, weighed down by poor marks for affordability, safety and economic strength.
Among all 50 states, California ranked dead last for affordability and second to last for safety.
The Golden State ranked at No. 41 for economic strength, No. 23 for healthcare and education and No. 14 for quality of life
While California scored relatively well for its quality of life and access to healthcare and education, those strengths were overshadowed by its high cost of living, according to ConsumerAffairs.
“Although California and Oregon rank higher in education and healthcare, their ongoing cost-of-living crises were evident in their affordability rankings, where they place 50th and 44th, respectively,” the company said.
What are the worst US states to move in 2026?
ConsumerAffairs’ 2026 list of the best and worst states to move showed few changes from its 2025 ranking, with the three lowest-ranked states remaining the same.
“The 10 worst states tend to perform poorly in safety, with each placing 34th or lower, except for Mississippi, which is 12th best,” the company said. “Additionally, the bottom states have seven of the 10 lowest scores for the quality of life, and eight of the 10 lowest for education and healthcare.”
All 10 of the worst states to move are located in the South or West.
According to ConsumerAffairs, these were the 10 worst states to move to in 2026:
- New Mexico
- Louisiana
- California
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Nevada
- Alaska
- Mississippi
- Oregon
- Arizona
Where are the best places to relocate in 2026?
ConsumerAffairs said these are the top 10 best states to move to in 2026:
- New Hampshire
- Utah
- Idaho
- Virginia
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Vermont
- Wyoming
“Each top state to move to in 2026 was also high up in last year’s rankings,” ConsumerAffairs said. “These states consistently perform well across the metrics we study, especially in safety and economic strength.”
How did ConsumerAffairs come up with its findings?
To determine the best and worst states to move to, ConsumerAffairs evaluated all 50 states using factors including affordability, public safety, economic strength, healthcare, education and overall quality of life.
The rankings were based on factors such as housing costs, income, crime rates and healthcare access.
The company used data from federal agencies and other national organizations, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Is California a good state to move in 2026? Here’s what new study says."
