Which States Made The Top 20 Best Places To Live In 2026

They say home is where the heart is, but for those looking for a great place to call home, it seems that a few states around Montana rank high.

First, what make somewhere a great place to live? The schools? The job opportunities? The nightlight? Cost of living? Safety?

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Actually, yes. Thanks to our friends over at WalletHub, we now know of a list of the Top Places to Call Home in 2026, and we know that one of our neighbors, is ranked at the very top. So, which state is it? North Dakota? South Dakota? How about Idaho or Wyoming? Is it Washington or Oregon?

The top state to live in based on the data, is Idaho.

This is based on affordability, the economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Idaho isn't the only neighbor making the list as both Wyoming and Utah are ranked in the Top 10 and 6th and 7th.

Is Montana a good place to live?

According to the data, Montana is a good place to live based on the factors mentioned above. Now, I would like to state that some areas or better than others, however, all of these factor in to the overall score. For those who are curious as to where Montana sits on the list, Big Sky Country is ranked as the 14th best state to live.

It should also be noted that both the Dakotas made the Top 20 as well.

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So, it seems that our region is well represented. Oh, and if you're wondering, Oregon and Washington, they're no where near the Top 20. What's your favorite thing about living in Montana? Let us know by sending us a message on our app.

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