Monday, June 22, 2009

A Preference Ranking of the States

Note: These rankings are “ceteris paribus”—holding income, family, friends and other attributes constant. Yes, California appears twice, once for weather and recreation, and once for being California.

Charges that I suffer from Confirmation Bias and Choice-Supportive Bias are obviously ridiculous.

Great places to live:
1. Idaho
2. Montana
3. Oregon
4. New Mexico
5. North Carolina
6. Colorado
7. California

Wouldn’t hate it there:
8. Washington
9. Utah
10. Wyoming
11. Maine
12. Massachusetts
13. Arizona
14. Tennessee
15. Virginia
16. Texas

Looking hard for a new job:
17. Georgia
18. Nevada
19. Delaware
20. Vermont
21. Connecticut
22. Rhode Island
23. Hawaii
24. Alaska
25. New Hampshire
26. South Carolina
27. South Dakota
28. North Dakota
29. West Virginia

Please get me out of here!
30. Wisconsin
31. California
32. Florida
33. Illinois
34. Michigan
35. Pennsylvania
36. Indiana
37. Kansas
38. Maryland
39. Iowa
40. Minnesota
41. Missouri
42. Nebraska
43. New York
44. Ohio
45. Oklahoma
46. Louisiana
47. Alabama
48. Kentucky
49. Mississippi
50. New Jersey
51. Arkansas

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I think maybe someone has too much time on his hands. My top 5 are definitely not in agreement with Ryan's. Without a whole lot of thought, my list would be:
1. North Carolina
2. Texas (San Antonio, the Valley, or the Gulf of Mexico area)
3. Utah
4. New Mexico
5. Colorado