The US has come a long way in the last ten years when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation and rights. But in that time, famously queer-friendly metro areas like New York City and San Francisco have become astronomically expensive for the average American family to settle down in.

When it comes to laying down roots, LGBTQ+ families may be more concerned with risks around hate crimes and restrictive state legislation than traditional households.

We joined with Move.org and crunched the numbers around average prices for renting and purchasing a home, the cost of living index, current and advancing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the queer and general populations in all 50 states.

And we were just as surprised as you are with the states that topped the list. Here’s a look at what we found.

Bills and policies aimed at the queer community were at the center of Move.org’s Safety Score. Laws that make states less inclusive to all citizens are sure to impact the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals—especially those looking to start a family.

• 1,229 bills have been active in state legislatures so far in 2025 aimed at LGBTQ+ populations, which on average, make up less than 8% of any state’s population.
• Texas introduced the most bills, with 86 on the books. Second is Missouri with 39.
• The only states to have zero new bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community are Vermont and New York. Louisiana, Alaska, and Delaware only have one each.

Although general crime rates and trends weren’t a factor in our ranking, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community were considered. Keep in mind that these are only reported incidents, so the numbers are likely to be much higher. We also took a look at how the top states fared in our State of Safety survey, where we ask residents in every state how safe they feel and how much they worry about crime and safety.

• Hate crimes were reported in all 50 states, with the most in California (50) and the least in South Dakota (1) and Montana (1).
• Traditionally queer-friendly states like California (#46), New York (#33) score significantly higher on the cost of living index, moving them lower on our overall ranking. So while those states’ legislators may be more accepting, many queer families may be priced out of these areas.
• In our top state, Delaware, half of the residents feel safe, according to SafeWise's State of Safety report.
• Vermont residents won’t be surprised to see their state make the list. Six in 10 (60%) of the residents of the Green Mountain State surveyed by SafeWise say they feel safe in their state.

Learn more about the most (and least) friendly states for LGBTQ+ families in Move.org’s full report.

• Celebrate Pride Month with Confidence: A Guide to Staying Safe
• 100 Safest Cities in the US
• The Safest Cities in Every State