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Cheeks' comments on New Mexico put me in mind of this.

1. Idaho: Gorgeous state without the crowds of Colorado.
2. New Mexico: Roughly 500 times better than Arizona. See Idaho comments, plus few snowbirds, high desert beauty, Santa Fe, Taos, highways on which you can travel very fast without interference.
3. Alabama: Possibly a controversial choice. Yes, Birmingham is a hole, but Montgomery is surprisingly nice. If you're into the whole water thing, Gulf Shores is nice. Northern Alabama looks remarkably similar to the Upper Midwest: wooded, hilly, pleasant. Friendly people.
4. North Dakota: Typically rated low, mostly because no one has visited it. The only state I've ever spent time where perfect strangers will indeed give you the shirts off their backs if you need it. The Badlands and Medora are gorgeous. Exceptionally clean. Fantastic small cities in Bismarck and Grand Forks, along with the growing Fargo. NE corner of the state is a hidden gem, right on the border with Manitoba. Frankly, though, most North Dakotans are fine if you don't know how nice it really is.
5. Cheeks' own Iowa, which is far more scenic than usually given credit.