With the 2024 election deciding who represents us in our state capitals, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best State Capitals to Live In, as well as expert commentary.
To identify the most livable seats of state government, WalletHub compared all 50 state capitals across 48 key metrics, ranging from the cost of living to K–12 school-system quality to the number of attractions.
| Top 20 State Capitals | |
| 1. Austin, TX | 11. Nashville, TN |
| 2. Madison, WI | 12. Oklahoma City, OK |
| 3. Raleigh, NC | 13. Pierre, SD |
| 4. Boise, ID | 14. Bismarck, ND |
| 5. Atlanta, GA | 15. Des Moines, IA |
| 6. Lincoln, NE | 16. St. Paul, MN |
| 7. Salt Lake City, UT | 17. Montpelier, VT |
| 8. Columbus, OH | 18. Annapolis, MD |
| 9. Denver, CO | 19. Olympia, WA |
| 10. Concord, NH | 20. Boston, MA |
Best vs. Worst
- Concord, New Hampshire, has the lowest violent-crime rate per 1,000 residents, which is 13.3 times lower than in Little Rock, Arkansas, the city with the highest.
- Austin, Texas, has the highest median household income (adjusted for cost of living), which is 2.2 times higher than in Hartford, Connecticut, the city with the lowest.
- Montpelier, Vermont, has the highest share of adults age 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree, which is 4.3 times higher than in Trenton, New Jersey, the city with the lowest.
