California, Hawaii & Florida is where the most people would Like to Live.

Notwithstanding its economic and political problems, more Americans would like to live in California than in any other state. For the seventh time in a row since 2002 California tops the list of states where the most people would like to live if they did not live in their own states. The next most popular states are Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, New York and Washington.

The Harris Poll has been asking this question almost every year since 1997. Over the last seven surveys, Hawaii and Florida have jockeyed for second and third places behind California, while other states have moved up and down below them. Several states have moved up in the rankings in this year’s survey:

* Hawaii up from #3 to #2;

* Colorado up from #5 to #4;

* Arizona up from #6 to #5; and,

* Oregon up from #10 to #7.

Three states that were not in the top 15 last year moved up: New Jersey (#12), Nevada (#13) and Virginia (#=14).

States that have lost ground and slipped down the rankings include:

* Florida down from #2 to #3;

* Texas down from #4 to #8; and,

* Washington down from #6 to #10.

Three states that were in the top 15 last year drop out of the list this year: South Carolina, Massachusetts and Georgia.

Differences by generation

There is some disagreement between younger and older people. While California tops the list of most popular states to live in among Echo Boomers (now aged 18 to 33) and Gen Xers (aged 34 to 45), Hawaii is the top pick for Baby Boomers (now aged 46 to 64) and Matures (aged 65 and over). Among Echo Boomers, Hawaii drops out of the top five.

So What?

These rankings highlight the powerful attraction of a warm climate. Colorado and Oregon are the only two of the top eight states, apart from Hawaii, that are not in the Sunbelt.

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For more information at http://www.harrisinteractive.com