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What do you think of NY's ranking of #34 (with #1 being happiest and #50 being most miserable)? I'm frankly a little surprised with the ranking behind some pretty dismal states like NJ, PA, KS, NM. I don't take these lists as being gospel and I know NY is heavily skewed by NYC but many people like NYC too. Other states like PA are also skewed like CA and PA, both of which ranked higher.
Is weather the factor? (Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington rank higher)
Poverty in NY's major cities? (CA has some broke cities too, but ranks much higher)
Taxes? (clearly NJ is much more taxed and MA and VT are not far behind, yet rank much higher)
Personally, I'd rank NY much higher than PA and NJ, knowing all three states inside and out. I'd be interested in hearing some opinions.
That is a roller coaster list. Cost of living is one factor. PA cost of living is less than NY. However I would think that NJ has a higher COl. Ca. is sunny year round, a lot of jobs. VT. People love living up there, it's a lifestyle thing. From what I understand it's taxed heavy but that is based on how much you make so the little people there don't pay as much in taxes? (Socialistic state?) those lists are made up from many factors. If you asked me if I was happy living in ny, I would say on one hand "yes" because it is a beautiful state that has a lot to offer. BUT it is very very expensive, and restrictive.
I don't think that answers completely but many ny'ers I know want to get out of here ASAP due to col.
A few states, including Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, and Minnesota have been in the top 10 in all nine years of the Gallup survey. Other states, such as Mississippi, Kentucky, and West Virginia remain consistently on the low end of the ranking.
From that article. That paragraph right there, it's an obvious contrast.
Returning to how nj ranked higher? You know, I've never met someone from jersey who hated living there. Just my own observation, while I know many who hate living here in ny.
Good article nonetheless. There are a lot of factors that go into those lists. College grads, salaries, job availability, overall health.
That is a roller coaster list. Cost of living is one factor. PA cost of living is less than NY. However I would think that NJ has a higher COl. Ca. is sunny year round, a lot of jobs. VT. People love living up there, it's a lifestyle thing. From what I understand it's taxed heavy but that is based on how much you make so the little people there don't pay as much in taxes? (Socialistic state?) those lists are made up from many factors. If you asked me if I was happy living in ny, I would say on one hand "yes" because it is a beautiful state that has a lot to offer. BUT it is very very expensive, and restrictive.
I don't think that answers completely but many ny'ers I know want to get out of here ASAP due to col.
I think Upstate people have been leaving due to weather, jobs, and taxes; although that may be leveling off as previously cheap places like the Triangle, Austin, Denver, etc become more and more expensive. NYC has always been a COL thing, as well as people tired of the crush of people.
VT heaviest taxes on property tax, which doesn't account for how much people earn, so yeah its a tough state to live in. Very little industry to offset high property taxes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by grouse789
From that article. That paragraph right there, it's an obvious contrast.
Returning to how nj ranked higher? You know, I've never met someone from jersey who hated living there. Just my own observation, while I know many who hate living here in ny.
Good article nonetheless. There are a lot of factors that go into those lists. College grads, salaries, job availability, overall health.
It is a happiness scale, not a quality of life scale.
What that means is the results have a cultural bias. Culturally, New Yorkers have a propensity to be pessimistic and complain about everything and be miserable, no matter how good they have it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VintageSunlight
I don't take these lists as being gospel and I know NY is heavily skewed by NYC but many people like NYC too.
Folks in New York City like NYC far more than upstaters hate it. I would go as far as to say the attitudes of NYC people help bump New York State up a couple of ranks.
And I have a theory as to why this may be, and why the states in the top ten are up there.
Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, and yes, NYC have had a consistent influx of new residents and these are happier residents because when someone voluntarily moves somewhere, they have optimism.
They made an informed choice to improve their life, on one metric or another such as making more money, being closer to family or nature, getting a fresh start, etc., and due to this they are not going to let little life difficulties affect their mood.
Places with long term stable populations, or where there is a net drain, suffer from pessimism and a general malaise.
Last edited by ABQConvict; 02-10-2017 at 09:31 AM..
It is a happiness scale, not a quality of life scale.
What that means is the results have a cultural bias. Culturally, New Yorkers have a propensity to be pessimistic and complain about everything and be miserable, no matter how good they have it.
Folks in New York City like NYC far more than upstaters hate it. I would go as far as to say the attitudes of NYC people help bump New York State up a couple of ranks.
And I have a theory as to why this may be, and why the states in the top ten are up there.
Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, and yes, NYC have had a consistent influx of new residents and these are happier residents because when someone voluntarily moves somewhere, they have optimism.
They made an informed choice to improve their life, on one metric or another such as making more money, being closer to family or nature, getting a fresh start, etc., and due to this they are not going to let little life difficulties affect their mood.
Places with long term stable populations, or where there is a net drain, suffer from pessimism and a general malaise.
Very insightful. Hawaii I can see, Colorado and maybe even Minnesota. But Alaska, where the sun sets all winter? Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas?!- flat, landlocked, colder than NY, and not attracting many newcomers? Definitively some states on there that are throwing me for a loop.
Very insightful. Hawaii I can see, Colorado and maybe even Minnesota. But Alaska, where the sun sets all winter? Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas?!- flat, landlocked, colder than NY, and not attracting many newcomers? Definitively some states on there that are throwing me for a loop.
Omaha is a metro area in Nebraska that has been growing due to its diverse economy and is a sleeper in regards to a growing city/area: Diverse economy continues to fuel Omaha
I was happy to see Arizona make the top ten at #7. To me, it should be #1.
I'm not sure how Alaska was rated at #2? I know a few people who have lived there and are now here in Arizona. They've all described it as one of the most miserable places on earth. A lot of poverty, crime, and bone chilling cold. My cousin was stationed out in the Aleutians. He said it was like a two year prison sentence.
I guess it all depends on what one is looking for.
Very insightful. Hawaii I can see, Colorado and maybe even Minnesota. But Alaska, where the sun sets all winter? Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas?!- flat, landlocked, colder than NY, and not attracting many newcomers? Definitively some states on there that are throwing me for a loop.
Omaha is a metro area in Nebraska that has been growing due to its diverse economy(I believe 5 Fortune 500 companies are based there) and is a sleeper in regards to a growing city/area: Diverse economy continues to fuel Omaha
Omaha is a metro area in Nebraska that has been growing due to its diverse economy(I believe 5 Fortune 500 companies are based there) and is a sleeper in regards to a growing city/area: Diverse economy continues to fuel Omaha
It doesn't hurt that one of the wealthiest people in the world(Warren Buffett) lives there as well.
Not sure about Kansas, but perhaps due to the Kansas City metro going into parts of eastern Kansas, that area may have some influence in this regard.
ABQ makes a great point and retirement spots make rank high as well.
I don't know. I'd still rank NY higher. Beach access, the ADKs, tons of lakes, worlds largest city. Proximity to Canada's premier cities. I don't see where ND, KS, NE, or AK can compare. I knew a woman from Omaha, she said Omaha was slightly better than Lincoln, and Lincoln was a city based on immigrant labor in slaughterhouses. A dreadful place. I guess Council Bluffs is across the river and is also really dismal.
Kansas seems like a backward place and I've driven through it- just nothing there.
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