These are the best states in the US...and there's sure to be plenty of argument ... trends now
The top 10 best states in the United States have been revealed - and the list is sure to enrage people nationwide.
U.S. News and World Report, best known for its annual college ranking, released its list of the country's 'Best States' for 2024.
The results were based on the average of three years of data from recent national surveys that asked nearly 70,000 people total to prioritize subjects like public safety, crime and more in their home state.
Some categories were assigned more value than others. Health care and education were weighted most heavily, followed by state economies, infrastructure, and opportunity, a broad category including measures of affordability and equality.
The list is sure to infuriate those whose home states did not make the cut. Some might be aghast to find that New York is missing from the list; nor did Arizona, despite its pristine natural landscape and growing economy.
Read on to see if your state made the list.
1. Utah
Topping the list was none other than Utah. It achieved its high ranking thanks to its economy, which ranked third out of all 50 states; education, which ranked second; and infrastructure, which ranked third. The landlocked state fell behind in natural environment, falling to 46th place. This category encompasses metrics reflecting pollution threats and water and air quality, which were perceived as poor by residents.
Utah ranked first in the U.S. News and World Report's 'Best States' ranking for 2024. Pictured: Snow Canyon State Park
Despite its small size, New Hampshire packed a punch in this year's rankings. The Granite State did the best by far in terms of crime and corrections, coming in first. This metric took into consideration crime rates as well as the number of incarcerated people in the state. New Hampshire also fared well in the categories of economy, natural environment and education, ranking seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
New Hampshire came in second, scoring first in crime and corrections and faring well in the categories of economy, natural environment and education. Pictured: the town of Littleton
3. Nebraska
The Cornhusker State secured its high placement thanks to achievements in fiscal stability, ranking third, and infrastructure, ranking fourth. Its lowest mark was in the health care category, which factored in perceptions of public health, health care quality and health care access. The state's hybrid law combining a 12-week abortion ban with limits on gender-affirming care has been the subject of controversy.
Nebraska ranked third, thanks to its resident's positive perceptions of the state's fiscal stability and infrastructure. Pictured: Toadstool Geologic Park
4. Minnesota
Minnesota achieved an impressively high ranking in natural environment, coming in second out of all states in the country. Its rankings in the categories of fiscal stability and infrastructure were fairly high as well - seventh and ninth - but the state lost some ground in terms of its economy, coming in
