The Best States for a Fresh Start in The U.S.

Cost of living, job opportunities, and quality of life impacted Florida's ranking.

Every year, there are people looking to start fresh, to set up life in a new place where they can start over and establish their life. The beginning of a new year represents a chance for people to do just that. A survey by This Old House showed that 82% of Americans are looking for a fresh start, with many of them considering moving as a result. 

While a host of different motivations may cause someone to relocate, the team at View Homes in Canada gathered the 6 most important metrics to rank the top and bottom states to move to this year.

Florida Ranks 4th, with the high number of employment opportunities and cost-of-living indicators in the state contributing to its high ranking.

“We chose to look at a host of attributes to measure when determining the best places for a fresh start in the US,” says Liam Cope, a real estate and relocation expert. “For a lot of people, economic freedom is one of the primary motivators, so we looked at the cost of living, job opportunities, and economic data. Other factors like crime rates, quality of life, and social connectivity make a big difference when choosing where to move to, so we included those.”

Top 10 States for A Fresh New Start in 2025:

1. New York

2. California

3. Texas

4. Florida

5. Tennessee

6. Illinois

7. Pennsylvania

8. Iowa

9. Colorado

10. Ohio

To see the full data set, please find it here.

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