Full Breakdown
California Ranks 35th in 2026 U.S. News Best-States Report, Topping Health Care but Falling Last in Opportunity
7/29/2026, 1:52:06 PM
Core Ranking Overview
On Tuesday, July 28, the U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best-States Rankings. California placed 35th overall, moving up two spots from its 37th position the previous year. The state earned top-tier marks in health-care quality (No. 7) and higher education (No. 25), while it ranked dead last (No. 50) in the opportunity category, which measures cost-of-living and housing-affordability factors.
Category-by-Category Performance
- Health care: No. 7
- Education: No. 25
- Economy: No. 26
- Infrastructure: No. 32
- Natural environment: No. 27
- Crime and corrections: No. 36
- Fiscal stability: No. 44
- Opportunity (affordability): No. 50
These rankings are based on eight broad categories that combine survey responses, economic data, and public-service metrics.
Affordability and Opportunity Shortfall
The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted on July 20 that mid-tier home prices in California average about $775,000, more than twice the national median for comparable homes. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that the state’s cost of living was approximately 11 % above the national average in 2024.
According to the Living Wage Institute (via the MIT Living Wage Calculator), a single adult with no children must earn $30.48 per hour in California to cover basic needs without public assistance. These affordability pressures drive the state’s bottom placement in the opportunity category.
Official Commentary
U.S. News managing editor Eric Litke framed the results as a data-driven reality check amid a polarized political climate. He highlighted the mix of strengths and weaknesses that produced the 35th-place finish.
- “In this space where we are in this hyperpolarized political climate, this is just our attempt to be a reality check,” — Eric Litke, news managing editor
- “It’s 25th in education, 27th in environment, dead last, 50th in opportunity, 44th in fiscal stability,” — Eric Litke, news managing editor
Litke’s remarks underscore that while California excels in health care and education, its “prominent weaknesses” in affordability and fiscal stability offset those gains.
Comparative Context
Utah retained the top spot for the fourth consecutive year, excelling in economy, fiscal stability, and infrastructure. California’s performance was modestly better than neighboring Nevada and Oregon but still lagged behind Arizona.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In this space where we are in this hyperpolarized political climate, this is just our attempt to be a reality check,” — Eric Litke, news managing editor
- “It’s 25th in education, 27th in environment, dead last, 50th in opportunity, 44th in fiscal stability,” — Eric Litke, news managing editor
