Full Breakdown
Utah Holds Top Spot in 2026 U.S. News Best States Rankings
7/28/2026, 11:58:44 PM
Core Findings of the 2026 Rankings
U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 “Best States” index placed Utah at No. 1 overall for the fourth straight year. The top ten were: Utah, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Idaho, Florida, Washington, and Vermont. No state led every category; leaders included Texas (economy), Colorado (education), Hawaii (health care and natural environment), Nevada (infrastructure), Wyoming (fiscal stability), New Hampshire (crime & corrections) and Vermont (opportunity). Utah’s only low rank was 48th in natural environment.
Background and Context
The ranking evaluates all 50 states with 71 quantitative metrics across eight categories: economy, education, health care, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime & corrections, and natural environment. This is the eighth annual edition, published since 2017.
Data and Statistics
- Utah – 1st overall; 2nd in economy and fiscal stability; 4th in infrastructure; 48th in natural environment.
- South Dakota – 2nd overall; gains in health care, education, fiscal stability, and economy.
- North Dakota – 4th overall, up from 12th the prior year.
- New Hampshire – 6th overall; 1st in crime & corrections.
- Florida – 8th overall; 3rd in education, 7th in economy.
- Washington – 9th overall; 7th in natural environment, 8th in education and infrastructure.
- Vermont – 10th overall; 1st in opportunity.
Official Statements & Responses
Phil Dean, chief economist at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, said Utah’s diversified economy “mirrors the overall U.S. He noted Utah’s “social cohesion” as a key factor.
Verbatim Quotes
- “States in the Midwest and South generally moved up the rankings, while several Northeastern states fell substantially, showing how human and financial capital are actively migrating away from high-cost areas into more affordable regions,” — Eric Gertler, chairman and CEO
- “Low cost of living combined with strategic manufacturing investments are making these states prime destinations for young workers and expanding businesses,” — Eric Gertler
- “Sometimes it surprises people that Utah has a very diversified economy, but we're actually one of the economies in the U.S. that most closely mirrors the overall U.S. economy,” — Phil Dean
- “A lot of it really comes down to geography and topography,” — Nick Torres, American Lung Association
State Spotlights
Utah
Utah’s consistency stems from strong performance in most categories despite its natural-environment score. Technology, financial services, tourism, aerospace and energy drive its economy, while low unemployment and high job growth keep it above national averages.
Washington
Washington rose to 9th overall, ranking 7th in natural environment and 8th in education, thanks to a robust higher-education system. Short-term fiscal stability slipped to the bottom, and opportunity suffered from high housing costs.
Florida
Florida re-entered the top-10 at 8th overall, buoyed by a third-place finish in education and a seventh-place economy ranking. Opportunity remained low (47th) due to affordability pressures from rapid population growth.
Why It Matters
The rankings highlight migration toward the Midwest, South and Mountain West, where lower costs attract residents and businesses. States that combine economic diversification, youthful labor pools and business-friendly policies—exemplified by Utah—are better positioned to climb the index. High housing costs and environmental concerns can depress performance, as seen in Washington and Florida.
