U.S. News & World Report has named Alabama 44th among the 50 states in its annual “Best States” ranking.
Utah topped the list, while Louisiana took the 50th spot. Four of the bottom 10 states were from the South, not counting Alabama.
According to the magazine, its ranking took into account thousands of data points measuring crime, health care, education, opportunity, natural environment, infrastructure, fiscal stability and the economy.
More emphasis was accorded to some categories than others, with health care and education weighted most heavily, followed by economy and infrastructure.
According to the survey, Alabama ranked highest in financial stability at 19, followed by 28th in crime and corrections. It ranked 31st in opportunity, 32nd in economy and 36th in infrastructure.
The state got its lowest marks in health care, at 44, education at 45, and 47 in natural environment.