Vermont Ranks first in Quality of Life in CNBC’s Annual Ranking of Top States for Business
Vermont ranked at the top for “Life, Health and Inclusion,” one of 10 categories in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business study. While Vermont scored the top spot for quality of life, it ranked 29th overall when other measurements are factored in.
But CNBC notes that it is an important factor in attracting a workforce, as a shortage of workers is expected to continue across the country.
“Life, Health and Inclusion is among the ten categories of competitiveness in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business study, and under this year’s methodology, it is increasingly important in a state’s overall ranking.”
Vermont received an A+ for this category. According to CNBC: “By the numbers, living in the Green Mountain State is stress-free, easy, and healthy. Vermont offers America’s best air quality with zero high ozone days per year, and the nation’s most accessible childcare. Vermonters enjoy broad protections against discrimination, and it is one of the nation’s easiest states to vote in. Life in Vermont is good.
The top 10 for the category includes other New England states, with Maine in second place. The top 10 are:
1. Vermont
2. Maine
3. New Jersey
4. Minnesota
5. Hawaii
6. Oregon
7. Washington
8. Colorado (Tie)
8. Massachusetts
10. Connecticut
Vermont’s top quality of life ranking, however, could not offset CNBC’s ranking of Vermont for other factors, which includes grades of D or D+ in areas such as Workforce, Infrastructure, Cost of Doing Business and Cost of Living, resulting in the state’s overall ranking of 29th.
