Texas Lands In The Top Ten For Worst Quality Of Life

Texans love to talk about having the greatest state in the nation—but the truth may be far from that.

Personally, I think Texas is a pretty great place to live. That might be because I live in a city where healthcare, for the most part, is accessible and plentiful. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many Texans—and it’s a major reason the Lone Star State ranked poorly in a new national survey.

Texas Scores Low in Quality of Life

CNBC just published a survey naming the states with the Worst Quality of Life. Our neighbors in Oklahoma topped the list, followed by Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah, Indiana… and yes, Texas.

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In case you're keeping score, Texas came in 8th worst overall, earning just 72 points out of a possible 265. The Lone Star State also received a failing letter grade of “F.”

What’s Dragging Texas Down?

One of the biggest issues? Access to healthcare. While folks in urban areas may have decent options, rural Texans often have far fewer choices—or none at all.

We're also not doing well when it comes to crime, air quality, and childcare. All of these categories factored into the overall score.

It's a Wake-Up Call, Not a Death Sentence

I don’t believe in overreacting to surveys like this. Instead, I see it as a checklist of areas where we can do better.

Can we fix rural healthcare overnight? Probably not. But we can work on things like childcare, crime, and clean air. Texas has the people, the pride, and the resources—we just need the will.

If we truly want to claim the title of “Greatest State in the Nation,” then maybe it’s time we earned it.

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