U.S. News & World Report has announced its biannual rankings of best states and lo and behold, Washington is #1 again. The publication ranks states using thousands of data points to measure how well they are performing for their citizens, including health care, education, economy, infrastructure, safety, fiscal stability of state government and opportunity.
Washington bested #2 Minnesota, #3 Utah, #4 New Hampshire and #4 Idaho. Washington ranked highest in education (#4), economy (#4), infrastructure (#3) and fiscal stability (#6). Washington was named Best State in #1 in 2019, moving up from #5 in 2017.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, the state continues to outperform many larger states, including California, Texas and South Carolina, which finished in the middle of the pack. This is largely due to the state’s diverse economy, anchored by the technology, aerospace and clean energy sectors, which continue focus on future economic drivers such as autonomous vehicles, cloud computing, zero-carbon emissions, artificial intelligence and commercial space.
U.S. News singled out the state’s stunning landscape, noting that “the Evergreen State is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with its geological diversity, ranging from mountains to deserts, rainforests and a Pacific coastline. It offers the Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier, one of the nation’s highest peaks in the Lower 48.”
Find out more about the #1 state in the U.S. in U.S. News & World Report.