The 10 states where it's hardest to live and work

A sizable chunk of Americans are struggling to get by. Surveys show at least one in three households is living paycheck to paycheck, wages are stagnating, and the job market is a mess. And where you live could be making things worse.

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, injury lawyers in the Carolinas, set out to find the states making it the hardest to live and work in 2025.

It considered various factors in its study, including annual income, living expenses, spare money potential, weekly work hours, unemployment rates, insurance coverage, safety ratings, and commute times. It also created a safety index out of 100 for each state.

The firm said its research shows, in part, that safety helps people financially. “In states with higher crime rates, residents pay more for many things, including personal and home insurance,” said James Scott Farrin. “When incomes are already low, these extra safety costs take a bigger bite out of family budgets.”

Continue reading to see which states made the list and why.

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Wyoming ranks 10th with an average yearly income of $61,866, an annual cost of living of $47,567, an unemployment rate of 3.3%, a safety index of 55.9, and 47.8% of employees insured.

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Maine ranks 9th with an average yearly income of $66,369, an annual cost of living of $47,321, an unemployment rate of 3.2%, a safety index of 64.2, and 46.4% of employees insured.

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Hawaii ranks 8th with an average yearly income of $78,745, an annual cost of living of $69,434, an unemployment rate of 2.7%, a safety index of 60.1, and 50% of employees insured.

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Mississippi ranks 7th with an average yearly income of $51,554, an annual cost of living of $42,632, an unemployment rate of 4.0%, a safety index of 35.1, and 42.7% of employees insured.

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West Virginia ranks 6th with an average yearly income of $57,979, an annual cost of living of $44,637, an unemployment rate of 3.7%, a safety index of 49.1, and 44.3% of employees insured.

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New Mexico ranks 5th with an average yearly income of $56,766, an annual cost of living of $41,481, an unemployment rate of 4.2%, a safety index of 48.0, and 34.6% of employees insured.

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Louisiana ranks 4th with an average yearly income of $53,821, an annual cost of living of $40,749, an unemployment rate of 4.5%, a safety index of 33.3, and 40.9% of employees insured.

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Rhode Island ranks 3rd with an average yearly income of $72,515, an annual cost of living of $61,265, an unemployment rate of 4.8%, a safety index of 57.5, and 50.8% of employees insured.

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Kentucky ranks 2nd with an average yearly income of $57,509, an annual cost of living of $44,027, an unemployment rate of 4.9%, a safety index of 52.7, and 46.1% of employees insured.

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Vermont ranks as the worst state to live and work in, according to the study, with an average yearly income of $65,712, an annual cost of living of $62,260, an unemployment rate of 2.6%, a safety index of 67.9, and 48.8% of employees insured.