Americans Flee Blue States Amid Rising Taxes

Ari Rastegar, CEO of Rastegar Capital, discussed the trend of Americans leaving blue states for lower taxes on ‘Fox News Live’. He highlighted the impact of rising rates on the housing market and issues like helium and fertilizer supply.

Meanwhile, CNBC faced online ridicule after its annual quality-of-life rankings placed only conservative red states among the “worst places to live” despite some showing population growth in U.S. Census data.

Critics accused CNBC of liberal bias in their criteria. The bottom ten states ranked were Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. All are Republican-led and supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

The CNBC report emphasized Quality of Life, which weighs factors like crime rates, air quality, and healthcare. It also considers childcare, state law inclusiveness, and reproductive rights. This category accounted for 11.6% of a state’s score.

CNBC’s top states study utilized criteria covering crime, air quality, healthcare, and childcare availability. Ideological policies also played a role, penalizing states for lack of discrimination protections and restrictive abortion laws.

Conservative commentators mocked CNBC’s list, pointing to states like California and New York not ranking despite high taxes and cost of living. Reverend Jordan Wells and Chrissy Clark added sarcastic remarks, highlighting the perceived bias.

The media targeted conservative legislation in several states. Tennessee’s “bathroom law” and anti-discrimination measures faced criticism. Issues such as low minimum wages and childcare availability affected Utah’s ranking. Georgia was noted for lacking LGBTQ+ protections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom commented, noting the list consisted of Republican-led states. However, conservatives argued that citizens are leaving progressive areas for regions with favorable policies including lower taxes and educational choices.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck and Rep. Lance Gooden voiced disdain, claiming the list did not reflect quality of life. Starbuck pointed to population increases in listed states as evidence against CNBC’s criteria.

Media personality Patrick Bet-David referenced migratory trends, noting states like Texas and Tennessee gained significant residents, contrasting CNBC’s negative evaluations.

These trends underline a broader exodus from blue strongholds post-pandemic. Southern and Sun Belt regions thrive as places like Boston, Chicago, and New York see people leave due to steep living costs and crime rates.

Los Angeles County’s population dropped from about 10 million in 2020 to around 9.7 million, losing over 56,000 in one year. New York City suffered a similar trend, losing more residents than it gained.

Fox News Digital reached out to CNBC for comments but had no immediate response. Reporter Joshua Q. Nelson covers cultural trends and public policy, joining Fox News Digital in 2019 as a Syracuse University and University of Pennsylvania alumnus.