Utah ranks among nation’s worst states for quality of life in CNBC analysis

Utah ranked 45th nationally for quality of life in CNBC’s 2026 “America’s Top States for Business” analysis. Photo: Kace Lott

The state received low marks for air quality, access to health care and child care, wages and worker protections, even as it remained relatively competitive for business.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has landed among the 10 worst states in the country for quality of life, according to CNBC’s 2026 “America’s Top States for Business” analysis.

Utah ranked 45th nationally in the quality-of-life category, making it the sixth-worst state by that measure. The state earned 95 out of a possible 290 points and received an F grade.

The ranking does not mean CNBC found Utah to be the sixth-worst state overall. Quality of life is one of 10 categories used in the network’s broader annual ranking of state business climates. Utah ranked No. 16 overall in that analysis, reflecting stronger scores in areas more directly tied to economic and business performance.

CNBC evaluated quality of life using measures that included crime, environmental conditions, access to health care and affordable child care, worker protections, wages, and policies affecting personal freedoms.

The analysis pointed to Utah’s shortage of primary care providers and child care facilities, poor air quality and $7.25 minimum wage, which remains tied to the federal minimum. CNBC also considered state laws involving reproductive rights, discrimination protections, and organized labor.

Utah’s low ranking contrasts with rankings that emphasize the state’s economy, fiscal stability, and population growth. The difference highlights how dramatically state rankings can shift depending on what researchers choose to measure and how heavily they weight each factor.

Utah was joined in CNBC’s bottom 10 by Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Louisiana, Georgia, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Tennessee ranked last for quality of life, followed by Texas.

CNBC’s annual study is primarily designed to assess states from a business perspective. Its quality-of-life category reflects the idea that companies increasingly consider living conditions when deciding where they can recruit and retain workers.

For Utah, the findings suggest a divide between a state economy frequently praised for growth and business development and the daily conditions CNBC says affect the people who live and work here.