I don't think that states are a good measure of where to live because they are generally so diverse in terms of locales. Texas simultaneously has places like Austin and loving County. Illinois has Chicago in East Saint Louis + a bunch of near Appalachian downstate nowheresvilles. Even Utah has a huge difference between desert retirement homes Lake St George vs vibrant big cities like Salt Lake. Oregon sound awesome because of Portland and Eugene? Try living in some fading Timbertown near the Idaho border.
While there are a few states that border on being universally bad like Alabama and Mississippi, as long as I could live in some University neighborhoods of a big city or college town, that probably wouldn't be so bad. Idaho might be bad, but I hear increasingly good things about Boise.
If I didn't know any better, I would think you would actually prefer ... East St. Louis ... over the plethora of Downstate cities like Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Champaign, etc. 
I hope he moves to East St Louis and blogs it. Lol
