New Study Ranks the Best States in the U.S.

Massachusetts — landing place of the pilgrims and one of the original 13 colonies — is the greatest state in the nation, according to a new report.

The Bay State is home to some of the nation’s best universities and hospitals. It also boasts one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment rates in the country. Those factors helped push Massachusetts to the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings of how well states are performing for their citizens.

The inaugural report combines a national survey on what matters most to Americans with state rankings for more than 60 metrics in the following categories, listed in order of weighted importance:

1. Health care: 18 percent weight
2. Education: 16 percent
3. Opportunity: 14 percent
4. Crime and corrections: 14 percent
5. Infrastructure: 14 percent
6. Economy: 13 percent
7. Government: 10 percent

The Bay State placed first in education and second in health care — the two most heavily weighted categories. According to U.S. News & World Report:

Its vibrant academic environment, innovative and supportive health care policies and modernizing economy, measure for measure, make this small New England powerhouse with a population of 6.8 million the strongest state of all.

While New England states clinched the top two spots in the Best States rankings, Southern states performed the worst, with Louisiana coming in dead last among the states.

This is how the states measure up:

1. Massachusetts
2. New Hampshire
3. Minnesota
4. North Dakota
5. Washington
6. Iowa
7. Utah
8. Maryland
9. Colorado
10. Vermont
11. Virginia
12. Connecticut
13. Nebraska
14. New Jersey
15. South Dakota
16. Wisconsin
17. New York
18. Maine
19. Oregon
20. Delaware
21. Rhode Island
22. Indiana
23. California
24. Florida
25. North Carolina
26. Wyoming
27. Hawaii
28. Kansas
29. Illinois
30. Pennsylvania
31. Montana
32. Idaho
33. Michigan
34. Arizona
35. Ohio
36. Georgia
37. Missouri
38. Texas
39. Tennessee
40. Nevada
41. West Virginia
42. Kentucky
43. Alaska
44. Oklahoma
45. South Carolina
46. New Mexico
47. Alabama
48. Arkansas
49. Mississippi
50. Louisiana

Are you curious about how your state measures up in other arenas? Learn more about your state’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as other states across the U.S., by checking out the following:

• The 17 Best States for Retirees in 2017
• 10 Best and Worst States for First-Time Homebuyers
• The Best and Worst States for Driving
• Top 10 States for Protecting Your Nest Egg in Retirement

What do you think of the best states rankings? Sound off below or on Facebook.