Utah holds No. 1 spot in U.S. News Best States rankings for third year

Utah ranked No. 1 overall in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings, earning the top spot for the third consecutive year. Photo: Arturo Rivera

Beehive State leads the nation in fiscal stability but falls near the bottom in natural environment category

UTAH — Utah has earned the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings for the third consecutive year, with the state receiving high marks for its fiscal stability, economy, and infrastructure.

The 2025 rankings evaluated all 50 states using 71 metrics across eight categories: health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment. The categories are weighted based on surveys measuring the issues residents consider most important.

Utah ranked first in the nation for fiscal stability and third for both economy and infrastructure. The state also placed fourth in education, seventh in crime and corrections, 14th in health care, and 19th in opportunity.

“Utah’s third straight No. 1 ranking is a reflection of the incredible people who make this state what it is,” Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement released by U.S. News & World Report.

“Being number one isn’t about crossing a finish line—it’s about continuing to improve,” said Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “This recognition is a powerful reminder that Utah’s greatest strength lies in our commitment to tomorrow.”

Utah landed in the top 20 in seven of the eight categories measured. Its weakest performance came in the natural environment, where the state ranked 48th. The category considers pollution-related measures, including air and water quality.

Utah also struggled in the category last year, placing 46th in the 2024 rankings.

New Hampshire placed second overall in the 2025 rankings, followed by neighboring Idaho in third. Minnesota and Nebraska rounded out the top five.

The top 10 states were:

1. Utah
2. New Hampshire
3. Idaho
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska
6. Florida
7. Vermont
8. South Dakota
9. Massachusetts
10. Washington

The rankings also identified the leading states in each category. Hawaii ranked first for health care and natural environment. New Jersey led the nation in education, while Florida placed first in the economy. Nebraska ranked first in infrastructure, Vermont led in opportunity, and New Hampshire earned the top spot in crime and corrections.