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America’s Best States to Live in 2012

2012 Quality of Life Points: 254 out of 350
2011 Quality of Life Rank: 6

Maine’s nickname offers one clue why it does so well in quality of life. The Pine Tree State has plenty of them, of course, and some of the best scenery the Northeast has to offer. But it has more than that, including the lowest crime rate in the country, and one of the healthiest populations.