Another change at In-N-Out has everybody talking.
And no, it’s not a minor tweak to its mostly unwavering menu. It’s Lynsi Snyder, the sole owner of the popular hamburger chain, who told a podcaster she’s moving her family to Tennessee from California.
This California-centric food empire is undergoing a vast expansion to the East. It’s understandable that the boss wants to be close to the center of that evolution.
The 77-year-old, family-owned chain will establish twin operational bases. It’s relocating the western HQ from Irvine to where it started in Baldwin Park and creating an eastern hub in Tennessee.
But among other things, the 43-year-old mother of four worth an estimated $7.3 billion told the podcaster, “There’s a lot of really great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.”
When a billionaire criticizes California’s livability, everybody has an opinion. So, let’s see what my trusty spreadsheet says about Snyder’s choice for a family-friendly spot.
Five “best states for families” rankings – from WalletHub, Consumer Affairs, Money Rates, Home Snacks and Birth Injury Lawyers Group – were dissected and recalibrated into an overall grade based on (1) health, safety, and education, (2) quality of life and (3) economics.
The math confirms that Snyder is right. Tennessee is a better place than California to raise a family.
However, that conclusion comes with a huge caveat: Neither state is ideal for child-raising, based on these rankings.
Overall, California ranked No. 46. Only Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Louisiana scored worse than California. Tennessee ranked No. 37 among the states.
If Snyder – or you, my dear reader – wants the most family-friendly state, the rankings say move to Iowa. No. 2 is Wisconsin, then Massachusetts, North Dakota and New Hampshire.
And since we often discuss California’s leading economic rivals, Texas ranked No. 39, and Florida ranked No. 38.
Three challenges
Let’s look under the hood of these grades to see why California and Tennessee rank poorly.
Start with the family basics – health, safety and education. These are core attributes any parent seeks.
And California, by this math, gets the better low score. The Golden State ranked No. 37 compared with Tennessee’s No. 41.
Tops for this slice of life were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey and Maine. Conversely, avoid Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nevada. And Texas? No. 44. Florida? No. 35.
Next, ponder grades for what are often intangible items, the quality of life that every household seeks. By my gauge of rankings, California is 38th among the states compared with Tennessee’s No. 27.
Want the best? Try Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Vermont. And avoid Nevada, Mississippi, New Mexico, Louisiana and Alabama. Texas? No. 35. Florida? No. 24.
Then there’s the economics. For example, the cost of living weighed against opportunities for wealth. For most of us, these can be life-altering factors. For a billionaire like Snyder, not so much.
No surprise, California ranked fourth-worst ahead of only Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona. Tennessee is scored as cheaper, but it is only the 33rd best among the states.
The biggest bargains? Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Texas? No. 26. Florida? No. 45.
Moving in an easterly direction may be good for your family, but Tennessee isn’t the best choice, by this grading system.
Other factors
Snyder is nowhere near the first CEO to criticize California’s business climate.
Another state-vs.-state scorecard, compiled by my trusty spreadsheet last year, ranked business friendliness. It agreed with the corner offices.
California ranked No. 30, by this math. The worst spots for business were Hawaii, Louisiana and Alaska.
And Tennessee was No. 4, topped only by North Carolina, Utah and Texas. No. 5 was Florida.
But let me note something else that bothers many CEOs: how states rank for employees.
When you consider factors such as salaries and labor protections, my trusty spreadsheet last year found California was the third-best place to work. Only Massachusetts and Washington state were better. Tennessee ranked No. 41.
Worst? Mississippi, then Georgia, Louisiana, West Virginia and Idaho. Texas? No. 34. Florida? No. 20.
Lots of volunteers
Snyder is not alone in moving from California to Tennessee.
The Golden State lost 69,400 residents to the Volunteer State in 2021-23, the latest available migration statistics from the Census Bureau.
That’s just 3% of all the folks who left California in those three years. However, it’s a stunning 11% of everyone who relocated to Tennessee.
On the flip side, 14,200 left Tennessee for California in 2021-23. That’s 3% of both those who left Tennessee and all new Californians.
Final debate
This debate really doesn’t require a spreadsheet. Either you’re a California fan or a critic.
Let’s ponder what I see as the ultimate popularity variable: population.
Fans note that California has 38 million people who have chosen to call it home. That makes the state the most populous in the nation. Tennessee has 7 million, ranking No. 15.
Critics point to the flow. Between 2020 and 2024, California lost 90,000 residents. Only New York fared worse.
Meanwhile, Tennessee added 300,000 – seventh-best among the states.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com