There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities: Western Australia (WA) excels economically and for sunny lifestyle (Perth), Victoria offers culture/health/family (Melbourne/regional), Queensland (QLD) provides outdoor beauty/friendliness (Brisbane/Cairns), while South Australia (SA) is affordable (Adelaide). Consider your career, cost of living, climate preference, and lifestyle needs (e.g., city buzz vs. nature) when choosing, as WA leads economically, Melbourne for culture, and Perth for sunshine.
Queensland is sunny and humid, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Melbourne and Tasmania are cooler compared to other Australian states. Adelaide and Perth have warm, dry summers and mild winters, which might suit you if you're into warmer weather.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
Key findings. Crime rates in NSW are generally low compared to other Australian states and territories. Across both violent and property offences, NSW consistently records some of the lowest victimisation rates nationally, and for many offences, the lowest in Australia.
The Best Cities to Move to In Australia
It's official! Adelaide is the happiest city in Australia, and one of the happiest in the world! 🙌 We ranked #29 globally in the Happy City Index across six categories - environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing, health and governance.
Perth has been named as the sunniest capital city in Australia with clear skies 70% of the year. The average yearly temperature is 21ºC and there are an average 24 rainy days annually. Let's take a look at what the weather is like across each season.
But despite the economic uptick of recent years, Tasmania is still the poorest Australian state.
Top 10 Safest States in America
That is, Victoria is the most lawless state in Australia. Victoria has recorded increases of up to 58 per cent in the number of victims in eight out of 16 crime categories, including kidnapping/abduction, motor vehicle theft, armed robbery, and other offences including retail crime.
New South Wales (NSW): Thriving Cities and Expanding Regional Appeal. New South Wales remains one of Australia's most in-demand property markets, anchored by Sydney's global status and supported by high levels of infrastructure spending, employment diversity, and strong rental demand.
States with the lowest combined sales taxes:
The cheapest places to rent in Australia vary, but generally, regional towns in South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia offer the lowest rents, while Hobart (Tasmania) is often the most affordable capital city, followed by Adelaide, with suburbs like Melton (VIC) and Gagebrook (TAS) being particularly cheap within their capital cities. Expect to find the absolute lowest prices in very remote areas, while major cities have affordable pockets further from the CBD.
The easiest city in Australia to get a job depends on your skills, but Canberra often leads in job availability per person due to high demand and low unemployment, particularly in public service. Brisbane is a strong contender with rapid growth and diverse sectors, while Perth offers high wages in mining/engineering, and Sydney/Melbourne have vast markets but are competitive. Regional areas and specialized industries (like WA's skilled migration) also present unique opportunities, say Pathways to Aus.
Victoria is the most affordable state for renters, even though affordability has deteriorated in recent years. A median-income household could afford 54% of rentals advertised on realestate.com.au.
🏆 Tasmania has been named Australia's healthiest state, with Hobart topping the list as the healthiest capital city, according to a new study by Monash University.
States with the highest and lowest crime rates
Alaska had the highest violent crime rate of any state in 2024, at 724.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, followed by New Mexico (717.1), Tennessee (592.3), Arkansas (579.4) and Louisiana (519.8).
1. Massachusetts. According to WalletHub's study, Massachusetts is the best state to live in, excelling in all key factors—and earning the top spot in the ranking. It has the lowest premature death rate in the US, and residents earn a cushy median household income of over $101,000.
WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).
Sydney. Sydney boasts a staggering 126,900 resident millionaires, along with 184 centi-millionaires and 15 billionaires, residing in some of the world's most exclusive residential suburbs, such as Bellevue Hill, Darling Point, Mosman, Point Piper, and Vaucluse.
The poverty line in Australia is generally defined as 50 per cent of median household income. If someone was earning less than the below amounts (including a government income) in 2022, they were classed as below the poverty line: $454 a week for a single person. $725 for a sole parent with two children.
Firstly, the unhappiest city in Australia is Darwin. About 23. 4% of the population here is experiencing anxiety.
Not only did Canberra top the global list, but it also ranked as the highest Australian city across four of the six core quality-of-life indicators: income per person, income equality, housing expenditure and life expectancy. Discover more about what makes Canberra stand out.
California is known for having some of the best weather, with large cities like San Diego and Santa Barbara having little rainfall along with warm weather between 60 and 85 degrees.
WA — highest temperature 49.0C in Onslow on Wednesday, less than 2C off the Australian record of 50.7C in Onslow in 2022 and Oodnadatta in 1960.