STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Some states excel in health care, while others soar in education. And there’s plenty of locales that are deemed desirable thanks to a strong economy or low rate of crime. In order to determine which of the 50 states have the best quality of life, U.S. News & World Report measured those data points, ranking public safety, fiscal stability, infrastructure and more.
“The Best States rankings by U.S. News draw on thousands of data points to measure how well states are performing for their citizens,” the publication noted in its most recent “Best States” report.
More weight was accorded to some categories than others, based on a survey of what matters most to U.S. citizens. Health care and education were weighted most heavily, followed by economy, infrastructure and the opportunity states offer their citizens.
And while New York didn’t make the top 10 – the state ranked right in the middle at 23 – it was recognized for having optimum health care (8th overall) and a beautiful natural environment (5th).
Some surprising takeaways: Hawaii was ranked 34th, garnering high scores for health care and natural environment, but taking the bottom spot in terms of economy, fiscal stability and infrastructure. Alaska ranked 45th, struggling with crime rates and education. And Louisiana placed last, scoring poorly in every category, especially those of infrastructure and economy.
Here’s a look at the top 10 overall best states to live, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report:
10. Massachusetts
9. Florida
8. Washington
7. Vermont
6. Iowa
5. Idaho
4. Minnesota
3. Nebraska
2. New Hampshire
1. Utah