California Dreamin'

American Demographics, Oct 1, 2003 by Rebecca Gardyn

Byline: REBECCA GARDYN

Jobs are tough to come by, housing costs are through the roof and its leadership couldn't be any less stable, but California is still the state in which most Americans wish they could live. Each year, Rochester, N.Y.-based research firm Harris Interactive polls over 2,000 Americans about their dream dwelling place, and for the second year in a row, The Golden State has taken top honors. Florida, which won the gold every year between 1997 and 2001, has slipped to second place for the past two years. Today's most popular states are in the West, South and Southwest regions. Texas, for one, moved significantly up the ladder this year, jumping to No. 7, up from No. 14 last year. Nevada, which never before made the top 15, moved into the No. 12 spot this time around, while Tennessee, ranked at No. 7 in 2002, dropped out of the pack completely. And despite the Midwest's wholesome, laid back, American-as-apple-pie image, few people indicate an interest in moving to any state in that region. Go figure.

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Despite the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, New York has increased in popularity over the past few years.

"IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY, EXCEPT THE STATE YOU LIVE IN NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE?"

RANKING OF STATES, BY SELECT YEARS: