WalletHub: Austin is the Nation’s Best State Capital

Austin, Texas is the 2018 best state capital to live in, according to WalletHub, which compared all 50 United States capitals on factors such as affordability, economics, education and health, and living standards. Austin scored a 67.73 on its State Capital Index score, besting second place Madison, Wisconsin by over three points. Boise, Idaho; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Bismarck, North Dakota rounded out the top five.

Of the 50 capital cities, Austin came in second for highest median income, second for lowest premature death rate, and had the second highest level of millennial newcomers. It came in third for its number of attractions. Austin had the fifth highest percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Austin’s overall affordability rank was seventh, its economic well-being rank was third, its overall quality of education and health was second, and its quality of life rank was fourth.

Fifty-one factors were included in the WalletHub state capital rankings. Additional factors included housing costs and cost of living, population growth, income growth, unemployment and underemployment rates, K-12 school systems and number of universities, quality of hospitals, number of restaurants and bars per capita; fitness centers per capita, average commute time, likelihood of accidents, mildness of weather, air quality, and violent and property crime rates.

Raleigh, North Carolina; Denver Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Juneau, Alaska, and Concord, New Hampshire claimed spots six through ten on the list. At the bottom of the list was Trenton, New Jersey in 50th place, with Hartford, Connecticut in 49th; Jackson, Mississippi in 48th, Montgomery, Alabama in 47th, and Providence, Rhode Island in 46th.