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The US state that ranks WORST for quality of life - but welcomed 474K newcomers last year
Americans are moving there in droves, but this big, southern US state has nevertheless ranked as America's worst place to live.
In its annual scorecard, CNBC rates Texas as having the poorest quality of life in the US.
The Lone Star state gets that ignominious title due to its lack of doctors, and because so many residents are broke and struggle to pay their medical bills, the outlet says.
The trouble is, Americans who plan to relocate do not appear to have gotten the memo.
People are flocking to Texas — its population exploded by 473,453 people in the year to July 2023.
Poorer, conservative Southern states scored badly on CNBC's ranking for quality of life
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Those who set up home in Frisco, Rockwell, Dallas-Fort Worth and other fast-growing Texas cities are quickly 'encountering some serious livability issues,' warns CNBC.
The state has among the fewest doctors and nurses per 100,000 people, says the United Health Foundation.
Those who are lucky enough to snag an appointment may struggle to pay for it — Texas has more residents without health insurance than anywhere else.
Nearly a fifth of Texans have racked up medical bills that get passed on to collections agencies, credit records show.
The state of some 30 million people has famously low taxes and is a good place to launch business, but residents should also plan for fewer worker protections, the report warns.
Texans who get laid off can only expect unemployment benefits to cover a tenth of their living costs, Oxfam America says.
To make matters worse, Texas lawmakers have 'passed a barrage of laws' that make life tougher for LGBTQ+ residents, researchers say.
There are also restrictions on access to abortions that can leave many women needing to travel across state lines for terminations, they add.
Texas scored poorly, but other states were not far behind.
Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas rounded out the bottom five.
The annual scorecard measured crime, health care, air quality, child care, worker protections, and access to abortions.
Poorer, conservative, southern states have historically fared badly when measured in this way.
Still, Texas is not alone in welcoming newcomers.
Larry Nelson, 71, of Houston, struggles to power his oxygen tank, one of the many Texans who has problems with money and healthcare
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The South accounted for 87 percent of the nation's growth in 2023, the Census Bureau says.
Indiana was held back by its eye-watering childcare costs, which eat up 13 percent of a typical household income.
The Hoosier State only has 772 licensed childcare centers to serve 6.8 million people.
Those mulling a move to Alabama might want to plan on taking a wage cut, researchers said.
Oxfam America says the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour covers less than a fifth of living costs for a family of four.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, languishes with a raft of social and health problems — among the highest rates of obesity and the lowest rates of physical exercise in the nation.
Arkansas lags behind the rest of America thanks to its law and order problem, with the second-highest violent crime rate after New Mexico.
At the other end of the scale, researchers ranked Vermont as the best state to make a home and raise a family.
The Green Mountain State has low crime rates, childcare is plentiful, and it has the 'freshest air of any state in the region,' says the report.
Maine, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Washington rounded out the top five.
TEXAS' BOOMER BOOMTOWN
One southern city has become a boomer boomtown thanks to an influx of older Americans flocking to its age-restricted, bustling community.
Georgetown, Texas is officially the fastest-growing city in the country in part due to its wealthy 55-and-older community called Sun City Texas.
Home to some 15,000 residents across nearly 5,000 acres of land, the community in Texas was launched in 1994 when the Del Webb Company purchased the land
An analysis of Census Bureau data for cities with populations of at least 50,000 by The Wall Street Journal found Georgetown has now been the top city for population growth for three years in a row.
Georgetown grew 11 percent in 2023, 14 percent in 2022 and 11 percent in 2021. The median age in the boomer-rich city is 44 - and approximately 27 percent of its residents are 65 or older.
Driving the massive population growth are vivacious seniors who move to Sun City because of its lively social scene, which includes community theater, game nights, fitness classes, sports teams and so much more.
Sun City offers groups for people to connect with their roots such as the Born in Texas interest group (pictured)
'I didn't want to just move to an old community,' resident Betty Schleder told the Wall Street Journal.
Schleder, who is a keen skydiver at the age of 80, moved to the city two decades ago. Since then, she's met her new 72-year-old boyfriend and is thriving in the community.
'We're not dead yet,' said Suzanne Herndon, 70, who moved to Sun City in 2021.
Home to some 15,000 residents across nearly 5,000 acres of land, the community was launched in 1994 when the Del Webb Company purchased the land.
Construction began in October 1995 and by spring of 1996 residents were moving into the town.
The Sun City Sassy Ladies (pictured) is a club focused on the love of dance and bringing joy to others that performs at care facilities around Georgetown
The community association offers activities for residents, ranging from dance clubs, karaoke, arts and crafts, gardening, pickleball, cooking and poker.
There are also activity groups for singles and couples - and the environment has been described as akin to a college experience, without having to go to class.
Unlike their Gen Z counterparts studying at college, the groups of elderly Americans reaping the benefits of all Georgetown has to offer have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank to spend at their leisure.
Across the country, Americans over the age of 55 hold 70 percent of all household wealth. Sun City's median age is 73, compared to the US average of 39.
The community frequently hosts events such as ice cream social game night. Pictured is neighbors playing a game called Sequence
Photos from the community's social media page show swathes of baby boomers engaging in fun dance competitions, games nights, as well as holiday parties.
Among the Georgetown population, many have taken up renovating homes and classic cars as hobbies - while others have joined the computer club to fine-tune their technology skills later in life.
The community also puts on pickleball tournaments, as well as lively entertainment including a recent sold-out concert by a Beach Boys tribute band.
Almost a fifth of Sun City's residents are veterans, the WSJ found, and most served during the Korean or Vietnam wars. Around 90 percent are white.
Maria and Ottavio Arena moved from New York to be closer to their family, but remains connected to their home town when they meet with Sun City's New York club.
Across the country, Americans over the age of 55 hold 70 percent of all household wealth. Sun City's median age is 73, compared to the US average of 39
'We have more fun than our daughter,' said Ottavio.
Jim Ancmon, 67, who moved from the Chicago suburbs in 2016, said he was drawn to Texas for its lower taxes.
'I don't think we were getting much more for our money in Illinois,' said Ancmon.
Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder, who at the age of 47 is not old enough to live in Sun City, said he is thrilled about the influx of new residents.
'It's like they're at college except they don't have to go to class and they have $3 million in the bank. It's almost like a cruise ship on land,' said Schroder.