The best and worst US states to live in
US News & World Report has released its annual ranking of the best US states to live in, evaluating them across eight categories including healthcare, education, and the economy. The report notes that high performance in one area, such as the economy, does not guarantee a top overall ranking due to trade-offs with other metrics like the natural environment.
Why it matters
These rankings influence public perception and policy discussions regarding state-level performance and quality of life across the United States.
Ogden, Utah. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images US News & World Report ranked all 50 states in the US on livability. States were ranked across eight categories, including education, healthcare, and the economy. More well-rounded states fared better than those that ranked high in just one or two categories. Every state has its pros and cons — but which one came out on top? US News & World Report released its annual list of the best states to live in, evaluating each in eight categories: education, healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, the natural environment, and crime and corrections. The categories are weighted differently based on a survey of 25,000 Americans that asked what they care most about.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in