Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the U.S., per CNBC ranking
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Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the country, according to CNBC, which gave the Volunteer State an F for quality of life in its annual ranking of the best states for businesses.
Why it matters: State leaders often pride themselves on making Tennessee as business-friendly as possible, but CNBC's closely watched rankings highlight some reasons businesses might stay away.
How it works: Multiple variables were considered when scoring states on their quality of life, including crime rates, the availability of affordable child care and paid leave policies.
- CNBC also considered "inclusiveness in state laws, including protections against discrimination of all kinds."
- The score also factors Tennessee's strict anti-abortion laws, with CNBC citing data showing many younger workers avoid working in states that ban abortions.
- The top state based only on quality of life was Vermont.
The big picture: Tennessee still fared relatively well in the overall rankings, which weigh quality of life against other factors such as the state economy, infrastructure and the costs of doing business.
- Tennessee came in at No. 9 when all of those factors were considered together. That's down one spot compared with last year.
By the numbers: CNBC scored all 50 states in 10 weighted categories for up to 2,500 points. Tennessee totaled 1,453 points this year.
- Ohio, which topped the overall rankings, scored 1,623.
Reality check: Tennessee is still a top destination for many large companies looking to relocate or establish new regional hubs.
- Starbucks is in the midst of creating a major corporate presence in downtown Nashville, and In-N-Out is anchoring its eastward expansion with a corporate complex in Franklin.