Where would you live....

Out of all of those you listed, only Arizona is a compact state. I would go there. That way you would have compact license, and wouldn't have to get a new license everytime.

The best is Texas or South Dakota... compact and no taxes.

I am in California. We have some of the best pay rates in the country, but also, some of the most expensive housing.
My LVN friends in the SF Bay Area make 30 dollars an hour, and RNs make more than $50/hr. BUT, you can't buy even a small house in a crappy neighborhood for less than 500,000. I rented a studio apartment in San Jose 12 years ago for $650 a month. It was in a decent area, but nothing fancy, and that was 12 years ago!
Now I live near Sacramento, where things are a little more reasonable. You can buy a decent house in a nice neighborhood for 400,000, or a condo or townhouse for 300,000, Of course, the salaries are a little lower. As an LVN, I earn only $17/hr, working for a home health agency. I could make 20-22 dollars per hour in the hospital. RNs here in the Sacramento Area make anywhere from 25 to 50 dollars an hour.

A group of states 20 now I think have a reciprocal agreement. If you reside in a compact state such as Arizona you can work in another compact state such as Tennessee.

You have to be a resident of Arizona though.

Here's the website to check it out www.ncsbn.org

If I were to live in a compact state it would be TN.. No income tax there either.