**How Divided Are America’s Feelings About California?**
A curious poll of 1,000 American adults, conducted for Clever Real Estate, offers fascinating insights into the nation’s love-hate relationship with California. The survey asked respondents to evaluate various traits of the 50 states, revealing just how divided Americans feel about the Golden State.
**Most and Least Desirable States**
To gauge desirability, participants were asked to rank states as both the most and least desirable places to live. California earned the No. 2 spot as the most desirable state, just behind Florida. Following California were Hawaii, Texas, and New York—states known for their large economies and attractive vacation destinations. At the bottom of the list were Mississippi, Kansas, and Nebraska.
However, when asked which states were the least desirable, California took the top spot. It was followed by Alabama, New York, Alaska, and Florida. The states considered least undesirable (or most desirable in the opposite sense) included North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Montana. This stark contrast highlights the conflicted feelings many Americans have about California.
**Affordability and Relocation**
A more logical split appeared in rankings related to affordability. When it came to relocating with an unlimited budget, California ranked No. 3, trailing only Hawaii and Florida. The states with the lowest scores for relocation desirability in this category were Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
For those facing financial struggles, however, California ranked only 42nd best place to move—hardly surprising given its famously high cost of living. Top bargains for budget-conscious movers included Alabama, Arkansas, and West Virginia, while Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New Jersey were considered the worst in terms of affordability.
**Other Notable Grades**
California also performed poorly when respondents were asked about underrated states, ranking No. 43. The highest rankings for underrated states went to those with smaller populations such as Vermont, Wyoming, and Maine. The lowest were Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana.
Two other poll questions yielded more ambiguous results. When asked about which states were the most boring (a term that could be interpreted as either dull or peaceful), California landed in the middle at No. 29. The most boring states were Iowa, Idaho, and Wyoming, while Hawaii, North Carolina, and Massachusetts were considered the least boring.
As for which states had the quirkiest residents—a quality that can be seen as either a positive or a negative depending on personal preference—California ranked No. 1. It was followed by Alaska, New York, Utah, and Oregon. The states deemed least quirky included North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland.
**Final Score: California’s Extreme Ratings**
California’s ratings were highly polarized. Six of its rankings placed it within either the top 10 or bottom 10 across seven different categories. This tied California with North Carolina for the states with the most extreme scores. Not far behind were Florida, New York, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Dakota, each with five extreme rankings.
In summary, the poll reveals just how polarized opinions of California are among Americans—a state that is simultaneously coveted and critiqued for its desirability, affordability, character, and lifestyle.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/19/americas-love-hate-relationship-with-california-echoes-in-this-poll/