Tennessee – (WOKI / WVLT) – Tennessee has been ranked the worst state in the nation for quality of life in CNBC’s latest America’s Top States for Business study.
The 2026 report placed Tennessee at the bottom of all 50 states in the quality of life category, giving the Volunteer State a score of 64 out of 100 and a grade of “F.”
CNBC said the quality of life rankings were based on multiple factors, including crime rates, air quality, health care access, childcare availability, worker protections, inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights. The network increased the weight of quality-of-life measures in this year’s overall business rankings, making the category account for nearly 12 percent of a state’s total score.
According to the report, Tennessee’s strongest area was air quality. However, the state scored poorly in crime, worker protections, and inclusiveness.
CNBC pointed to several state policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including Tennessee’s law requiring transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth in certain settings and restrictions on local governments adopting their own anti-discrimination ordinances. The report also referenced Gov. Bill Lee’s approval of a resolution designating June as “Nuclear Family Month.”
The study further noted Tennessee’s high violent crime rate, citing FBI statistics, and highlighted public health concerns, including one of the nation’s highest rates of drug-related deaths.
Despite finishing last in quality of life, Tennessee performed much better overall in CNBC’s broader business rankings. The state placed ninth nationally in the 2026 America’s Top States for Business report, reflecting strengths in areas such as economic growth, business climate, and workforce development.
The report’s 10 lowest-ranked states for quality of life were Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Louisiana, Georgia, Utah, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
The findings are likely to spark debate, as Tennessee continues to experience population growth and strong economic development while also facing ongoing challenges in public safety, health outcomes, and social policy.
