Augusta Rated the Worst State Capital in America in which to Live by Financial Website

by Seamus Othot | Feb 17, 2025

Augusta is the worst state capital in the nation, according to a report from the financial outlet WalletHub, based on a variety of factors, including affordability, quality of life, education, healthcare, and crime rate.

Financial analysts contracted by WalletHub scrutinized a variety of factors to determine the best capitals for affordability, economic well-being, quality of education and health, and general quality of life, and combined those rankings to find the overall best and worst capitals.

Augusta came in dead last, just under Trenton, New Jersey. Austin, Texas, tops the list.

Maine’s capital wasn’t on the bottom of any individual categories, though its cumulatively low ranks dropped it to the bottom of the list.

Considering the cost of living, median income, and housing costs, Augusta came in 47th, only outdone in expense by Honolulu, Hawaii; Boston, Massachusetts; and Hartford, Connecticut.

Augusta ranked 43rd for economic well-being, including various factors such as credit scores, debt, poverty, and unemployment.

The city’s general quality of life was also low, coming in 44th place based on metrics ranging from the crime rate to the number of movie theaters and coffee shops.

The capital’s best ranking came from health and education, where it placed 31st, considering school quality, the high school graduation rate, and hospital quality, among other factors.

Interestingly, the ranking does not directly consider the state and local tax burdens of the state capitals.

Seamus Othot is a reporter for The Maine Wire. He grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated from The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, where he was able to spend his time reading the great works of Western Civilization. He can be reached at [email protected] or ‪(401) 216-9160‬.

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