Utah named best state in America by US News & World Report

The Utah State Capitol building in Salt Lake City. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

UTAH — The Beehive State was just named the 2023 best state in America by US News & World Report.

In order to create its fifth annual Best States list, which was released today, US News & World Report draws on thousands of data points and the results of a recent national survey. 

“The strengths of what Utah offers its residents, particularly in areas like the economy and education, are why it was ranked the No. 1 state in America in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings for 2023,” said a statement from US News & World Report. “The project captures how all 50 states serve their residents by analyzing more than 70 metrics across eight categories, including economy, fiscal stability, health care, and crime and corrections.”

Here’s how the state scored in US News & World Report’s main 8 rankings:

• Crime & Corrections: #15
• Economy: #1
• Education: #5
• Fiscal Stability: #1
• Health Care: #7
• Infrastructure: #4
• Natural Environment: #46
• Opportunity: #20

Utah was followed in rank by Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Although Utah earned the top spot from the media company, US News & World Report noted that there are several categories in which the state falls short.

“Data supports the notion that inequities are present,” said a statement from US News & World Report. “The state ranks No. 48 in the equality subcategory of the Best States analysis, and performs particularly poorly on the metrics of income and labor force participation gaps by gender, as well as education gap by race.”