The Midwest fared well in WalletHub’s ranking of the 2016’s best and worst state capitals, with three state capitals here — Lincoln, Nebraska; Madison, Wisconsin; and Columbus, Ohio — making the Web site’s best-of list.
And when it came to the site’s accompanying list of the worst state capitals? Not a single Midwest state capital showed up.
This list clearly isn’t scientific. And if you live in Boston, Baton Rouge or Dover in Delaware, you might take exception to it. Those state capitals made the worst-of list. To identify these cities, WalletHub looked at 35 metrics, including cost-of-living, the quality of public schools and the number of cultural attractions each city boasts.
WalletHub used the same criteria when selecting the best state capitals. Austin, Texas, led the best-of list. And coming in second was the first Midwest capital, Lincoln. Madison ranked fourth and Columbus ranked 10th. Rounding out the top five on WalletHub’s list were Bismarck, North Dakota; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
WalletHub singled out Madison’s high percentage of residents who have at least a bachelor’s degree — 55 percent — as one reason it ranked so high. Lincoln ranked so high in part because of its affordability, qualify of life and top healthcare providers. Columbus scored high in the same categories.
Bringing up the bottom of the list? Hartford, Connecticut, which, WalletHub says, is expensive and offers a low qualify of life.
