What's it like to live in your state?

Here in IL we are going on 2 years without a budget and we're going bankrupt. Jobs are leaving, attractions for things for folks to see and do are closing, fees for stuff like license plates, property tax, fishing, etc. are going up and up. The local mall looks like a ghost town. More and more doctors are refusing to take most of the lower-cost health insurance plans. The roads and bridges are crumbling and a few have even been closed as unsafe in the local area. It's only a matter of time before I will need to move from here. But where to go? There is so much conflicting information on the 'net I'm totally lost and confused. Where can someone live decently if you're not an extravagant spender?

So tell me, what's it like to live in your state? Weather, cost of groceries, property tax (is it legal to build an 800sq ft house), utilities, what the neighbors are like, access to good doctors, interesting things to do there, the general cost of living, etc.

I really do want to know what it's like to live in your state. Please tell me.