Arizona ranks No. 34 on website’s list of best states
May 18, 2019, 4:35 AM | Updated: 11:56 am
(AP Photo/Astrid Galvan)
PHOENIX — Between the Grand Canyon, consistent sunshine and penchant for tourism, there are several ways Arizona can make its claim as one of the country’s best states.
U.S. News & World Report, however, wasn’t buying Arizona’s charm.
The website recently unveiled their best state rankings for 2019, and Arizona finished at No. 34.
It was up five spots from the 2018 rankings, but Arizona fell short in most of the eight main metrics used to rank the states.
Arizona finished in the bottom third in five of the eight metrics, including education, fiscal stability, opportunity and natural environment.
The state’s worst mark came in crime and correction, ranking No. 42.
Most of the eight metrics were weighted evenly, but health care and education had the most pull because they were most important to citizens, according to the study.
Arizona actually ranked OK in health care, finishing at No. 23.
The state’s best two metrics were economy and infrastructure, ranking No. 10 and No. 11, respectively.
Washington was ranked as the best state while New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah and Vermont rounded out the top five.
Louisiana was the worst state.