Best U.S. Capitals List… Where Does Helena Rank?
Where are all my Helena folks? Like UFC Champion Suga Sean O'Malley, or classic actor Gary Cooper, or current Lady Griz Dani Bartsch ... or L. Ron Hubbard.
Yes, that would be the Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. I'm not sure if Helena accepts him as one of their own.
O'Malley, Cooper, Bartsch and Hubbard (I'm willing to bet that's the only time those 4 individuals have been put on the same list) all stem from the great city of Helena, Montana, our capital. I wonder what each of them would say about where Helena was ranked on WalletHub's List of Best & Worst State Capitals to Live in.
How did they determine the list?
WalletHub took "48 key indicators of affordability, economic well-being, and quality of life, education and health care" to rank the 50 capitals.
Combining all the scores Helena, Montana ranked...
22nd in the country
With an average overall score, Helena checked in just barely in the top half of the rankings. Helena's best individual grade appeared in the quality of education & health department ranking 12th in the nation. Its lowest ranking is quality of life, which doesn't seem like a great category to have your worst showing in.
The list's top 5 rankings were...
1. Austin, Texas
2. Madison, Wisconsin
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Atlanta, Georgia
Typically, I have some pushback on these top 5s but I like this one. Austin, Madison and Boise are all awesome. Atlanta was fun when I visited and I never visited Raleigh.
The list's bottom 5 rankings were...
46. Hartford, Connecticut
47. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
48. Jackson, Mississippi
49. Augusta, Maine
50. Trenton, New Jersey
The bottom five check out... I think. Having never visited any of those 5 cities, they all check out in my head but who knows?
LOOK: 50 cozy towns to visit this winter
Gallery Credit: Laura Ratliff