There are many factors to consider

- Weather
- Crime rate
- housing market
- population growth yoy
- jobs/industry (unemployment rate)
- average adjusted median income
- state financial health (this will result in tax increase if not sound)
- community
- schooling (public/private)

If you are young professional 23 - 35, your primary factor to consider should be jobs/employment health. If you have kids then definitely think about school/community. So it just depends on what stage in life you're in.

Here are few top 10 lists.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-10-best-states-to-live-in-2016.html?slide=1
https://www.homesnacks.net/these-are-the-10-best-states-to-live-in-america-123067/
https://www.thestreet.com/story/13291294/1/the-15-best-places-to-live-in-the-united-states.html

DC/Virginia suburbs, Atlanta suburbs, Durham/Raleigh NC, Austin, TX and Seattle Suburbs are also pretty decent.