**How Divided Are America’s Feelings About California?**
A curious poll of 1,000 American adults, conducted for Clever Real Estate, explored various traits of the 50 states, revealing a fascinating love-hate relationship with California—the Golden State. My trusty spreadsheet analysis of this popularity contest uncovered just how divided opinions really are.
### Most and Least Desirable States
The survey took an interesting approach by asking respondents to rank states as both most and least desirable places to live. When it came to the most desirable, California ranked No. 2, just behind Florida. Following closely were Hawaii, Texas, and New York—states known for their strong economies and/or great vacation spots. The lowest desirability scores went to Mississippi, Kansas, and Nebraska—need I say more?
However, the picture shifted dramatically when respondents were asked about the least desirable states. California snagged the No. 1 spot here, followed by Alabama, New York, Alaska, and Florida. At the bottom of that list were North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Montana. This clearly shows the conflicted feelings many Americans have towards California.
### Affordability Rankings
More logical divisions appeared in the questions related to affordability—a key consideration for anyone thinking about relocation.
For those with an unlimited budget, California ranked No. 3 as a desirable place to move, trailing only Hawaii and Florida. The least attractive states for relocation with a big budget were Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
However, if financial struggles are a concern, California ranked only 42nd in desirability. That’s hardly surprising given its notoriously high cost of living. The top bargains for budget-conscious movers were Alabama, Arkansas, and West Virginia, while Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New Jersey ranked as the most expensive or least affordable.
### Other State Grades
California also received a low grade for being a “most underrated state,” coming in at No. 43. Anecdotally, smaller states appeared to score better in this category, with Vermont, Wyoming, and Maine topping the list. The states rated worst as underrated included Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana, showing no clear thematic link beyond general perceptions.
Two other poll questions produced interesting but ambiguous results.
– **Most Boring:** This rating could mean either dull or peaceful. California landed squarely in the middle at No. 29. Iowa, Idaho, and Wyoming were considered the most boring, while Hawaii, North Carolina, and Massachusetts were seen as the least boring.
– **Quirkiest Residents:** Quirkiness can be a positive or negative trait depending on one’s tolerance for the unconventional. California topped this list as the state with the quirkiest residents, followed by Alaska, New York, Utah, and Oregon. At the opposite end were North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland.
### Final Score: Polarizing and Extreme
California’s grades reflect a state with highly divergent opinions. Six of its rankings fell within the top or bottom 10 categories across the seven questions asked, tying with North Carolina for the most extreme grades.
Other states with numerous extreme rankings included Florida, New York, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Dakota, each with five.
This poll highlights just how complex and varied American perceptions of California are—admired and desired by many, yet criticized and avoided by others. It’s a state that inspires both love and frustration, embodying contradictions that few other states evoke as strongly.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/19/americas-love-hate-relationship-with-california-echoes-in-this-poll/