Utah tops
rankings that measure health care, education and economy.
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Utah is the best state in the U.S., according
to the 2024 Best States rankings. U.S. News & World Report, the
global authority in rankings and civic journalism, evaluated all 50
states to capture how states best serve their citizens across a
range of categories, including health care, education, economy,
infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime &
corrections and natural environment.
"Utah has a vibrant, diverse
economy and unsurpassed natural beauty, but what truly sets our
state apart is our people," said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. "We lead the nation in volunteering
and charitable giving every year and this spirit of community leads
to a collaborative approach to problem solving, an ecosystem that
supports innovation, and a culture that strengthens families and
individuals. I'm proud of the Beehive State and appreciate the
validation that Utah really is the
best state in the nation."
Key findings in the 2024 Best States rankings:
- Utah, No. 1 overall,
achieved top 20 results in seven out of eight categories.
However, it underperforms in the environment category (where it
ranks No. 46), while New Hampshire
– ranked No. 2 – underperforms in fiscal stability (where it ranks
No. 38).
- The top 10 Best States are equally divided by past
presidential preference. Ahead of November's hotly contested
presidential election, five red states and five blue states make
the top 10 of the overall rankings.
- Western states generally perform much better in higher
education than in pre-K-12. Washington, California and Nevada, for example, rank in the top 15 for
metrics across higher education, but all three rank significantly
lower (by at least 29 spots) for metrics assessing pre-K-12
education.
- Hawaii leads
the way in health care. At No. 1 overall in this category, the
state is also ranked No. 1 in the subcategory of health care
access, No. 2 in the subcategory of health care quality and No. 3
in the subcategory of public health, excelling by topping the list
for metrics including child wellness visits, health care
affordability, mental health and low mortality rate.
- Metrics within the opportunity category reveal systemic
racial disparities. In comparing per capita income among
the BIPOCH (Black/Indigenous/people of color/Hispanic) population
to that of non-Hispanic whites, the smallest gap is 82 cents per dollar in Maine, and the largest gap is 53 cents in North
Dakota. In nearly all states – except for New Hampshire and Vermont – those who are BIPOCH are less likely
to have at least a bachelor's degree.
"As we anticipate this year's presidential election – as well as
critical races in the House and Senate and for governor's mansions
– Americans are taking a hard look at the policies and practices
that impact them where they live," said Gary Emerling, U.S. News managing editor for
government rankings. "The 2024 Best States rankings and editorial
content offer insightful information on where states are excelling
and where the pain points are so citizens can be better informed
going to the ballot box this November."
In its sixth edition, the Best States rankings draw
upon more than 70 metrics and tens of thousands of data points
to measure how well U.S. states are performing for their citizens.
In addition to health care and education, the metrics take into
account a state's economic growth; its roads, bridges, internet
access and other infrastructure; its public safety record; the
fiscal stability of state government; and the opportunity it
affords its residents. More weight was accorded to some metric
categories than others, based on surveys of what matters most to
residents.
2024 Best States Rankings
*See the full rankings here.
Overall – Top 10
1. Utah
2. New Hampshire
3. Nebraska
4. Minnesota
5. Idaho
6. Iowa
7. Vermont
8. Washington
9. Florida
10. Massachusetts
Health Care
1. Hawaii
2. Massachusetts
3. Connecticut
Education
1. Florida
2. Utah
3. Massachusetts
Economy
1. Florida
2. Idaho
3. Utah
Infrastructure
1. North Dakota
2. Oregon
3. Utah
Opportunity
1. Vermont
2. Maine
3. Iowa
Fiscal Stability
1. Wyoming
2. North Dakota
3. Nebraska
Crime & Corrections
1. New Hampshire
2. Maine
3. Vermont
Natural Environment
1. Hawaii
2. Minnesota
3. Rhode Island
The 2024 Best States rankings are unpacked in data-driven
stories, including an overview of why Utah is the best state in America; a
comparison of red state and blue state performance as it
relates to the rankings; and why Florida is No. 1 in the education and economy
categories.
The Best States rankings are the centerpiece of the U.S.
News Best States portal, a platform combining analysis, daily
reporting, historical information and photography on state issues.
Best States is part of U.S. News' civic journalism portfolio, which
includes the Best Countries report and the Healthiest
Communities project.
To view the full rankings and search state profiles,
visit www.usnews.com/states. For more information on Best
States, follow coverage on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X
(formerly Twitter) using #BestStates.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News
& World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that
empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make
better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting
their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company
with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate,
Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings,
independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S.
News Live events. More than 40 million people visit
USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in
1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
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SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.