What state beats all others as the best? Hint: It’s not California or New York

Is California the best place to live of anywhere in the nation? According to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States Rankings, California falls short in a crucial category, affordability, when it comes to evaluating how well it performs for its residents.

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So which state is thriving and topped the ranking and which one is in need of growth.

Here’s what to know:

How are rankings determined?

U.S. News created an index score for each state. The state that performed the best was given 100 points, and the state with the worst performance was given 0 points, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings were determined based on the following eight categories:

• Education: This category looked into higher education and Pre-K-12 education.
• Healthcare: An analysis of a state’s healthcare access, quality and public health.
• Economy: The category analyzed the state’s business environment, employment and growth.
• Infrastructure: The category examined a state’s internet access and transportation.
• Opportunity: This category analyzed a state’s affordability, economic opportunity and equality.
• Fiscal Stability: A look into a state’s long-term fiscal stability and short-term fiscal stability.
• Natural Environment: This category reviewed a state’s air and water quality and pollution.
• Crime and Corrections: This category evaluated a state’s corrections outcomes and public safety.

Where did California rank?

California ranked No. 35 in the nation overall. The Golden State stood out in healthcare and was ranked among the top six on healthcare quality and public health subcategories. It fell short, however, on the opportunity category. When it came to affordability, California ranked last. It earned points for fiscal stability.

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What are the top ten states in the U.S.?

Utah topped the overall ranking for best state in the nation.

The beehive state scored high on economy and fiscal stability. Additionally, it earned top marks in infrastructure and education.

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

What state was ranked last?

Louisiana ranked No. 50 overall. The Bayou State was ranked last for crime and corrections and scored low in the economy and natural environment categories. The highest ranked category Louisiana received was for fiscal stability.

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