The top 10 states have been revealed, and the list is sure to enrage people across the country.
US News and World Report, best known for its annual college rankings, on Tuesday released its list of the country’s “best states” for 2024.
The results were based on an average of three years of data from recent national surveys that asked nearly 70,000 people in total to prioritize issues such as public safety, crime and more in their home state.
Some categories were assigned more value than others. Health care and education carried the greatest weight, followed by state economies, infrastructure and opportunity, a broad category that includes measures of affordability and equality.
The list is sure to infuriate those whose home states didn’t make the cut. Some might be horrified to discover that New York is not on the list; Arizona, despite its pristine natural landscape and growing economy, was also left out.
Read on to see if your state is on the list.
1.Utah
Topping the list was none other than Utah. It achieved its high ranking thanks to its economy, which ranked third among the 50 states; education, which ranked second; and infrastructure, which ranked third. The landlocked state fell behind in the natural realm, falling to 46th place. This category encompasses metrics that reflect pollution threats and water and air quality, which residents perceived as poor.
Utah ranked first in US News and World Report’s ‘Best States’ rankings for 2024. Pictured: Snow Canyon State Park
2. New Hampshire
Despite its small size, New Hampshire made a big impact in this year’s rankings. The Granite State had by far the best result in terms of crime and corrections, coming in first place. This metric took into consideration crime rates and the number of people incarcerated in the state. New Hampshire also performed well in the economy, natural environment and education categories, ranking seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
New Hampshire came in second, ranking first in crime and corrections and doing well in the economy, natural environment and education categories. Pictured: the town of Littleton
3.Nebraska
The Cornhusker State secured its high ranking thanks to achievements in fiscal stability, ranking third, and infrastructure, ranking fourth. Their lowest rating was in the health care category, which took into account perceptions of public health, quality of health care and access to health care.
Nebraska ranked third, thanks to its residents’ positive perceptions of the state’s fiscal stability and infrastructure. Pictured: Toadstool Geological Park
4. Minnesota
Minnesota achieved an impressively high ranking in natural environment, ranking second among all states in the country. Its ranking in the fiscal stability and infrastructure categories was also fairly high (seventh and ninth), but the state lost some ground in terms of its economy, ranking 26th. While Minnesota’s economy is growing, it is lagging with respect to that of the United States as a whole.
Minnesota scored well in the natural environment category, ranking second among the 50 states. Pictured: Birch Lake, St. Louis County
5.Idaho
Idaho, known for its potatoes, trout and snowy mountains, beat out other contenders in the affordable category to take second place. All other rankings were in double digits, except for fiscal stability, which ranked ninth. Residents deducted some points from the state for its perceived lack of protection of its natural environment, which ranked 29th.
Idaho crushed its competitors in the economic category, but residents were less optimistic about the state’s protection of its natural environment. In the photo: the resort town of McCall.
6.Iowa
Iowa ranked surprisingly high in the opportunities category, coming in third. This metric included perceptions of affordability, economy, and equality. Despite its low unemployment rate and strong job creation, the state stumbled when it came to its economy, ranking 36th out of the 50 states.
Iowa ranked surprisingly high in the opportunity category, coming in third
7.Vermont
Vermont jumped to the top of the list in terms of opportunities, taking first place. It also performed well in terms of crime and corrections, ranking third. This small rural state has long been considered one of the safest in the country. However, Vermont fared worse in the fiscal stability category, ranking 35th. This metric took into account liquidity, budget balance, pension fund liabilities, and the government’s credit rating.
Vermont, long considered one of the safest states in the country, ranked third in crime and corrections. It also ranked first in the opportunities category. Pictured: the village of Grafton
8.Washington
Washington, the only state named after a U.S. president, received high marks in the infrastructure and health care categories, placing seventh and tenth respectively. The Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, provided billions of dollars in funding to the state, including more than $5 billion for 1,192 road, bridge, transit and climate resiliency projects.
Washington did well in the infrastructure and healthcare categories, ranking seventh and 10th respectively. Pictured: the Space Needle in Seattle
9.Florida
Florida ranked surprisingly well in its education and economic categories: first in both. Residents appear to have a high opinion of reading and math scores, tuition and fees, and college readiness across the state. However, Florida almost finishes at the bottom of the list when it comes to opportunities: 45th.
Floridians rated their home state highly when it comes to education and the economy, earning top marks in both categories. In the photo: Miami Beach
10.Massachusetts
The Bay State narrowly cracked the top 10. It earned single-digit rankings in health care, education, crime and corrections, natural environment and economics. However, residents were unhappy with fiscal stability and infrastructure, which ranked 39th. Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation Sunday authorizing $200 million for fiscal year 2025 to fund bridge and road maintenance and other projects throughout the state.
Massachusetts rounded out the list, earning single-digit rankings in health care, education, crime, natural environment and economy. In the photo: the Charles River in Boston
