Utah named 2024 best state in America, per new report

Admin May 7, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — For the second straight year, Utah has been named the best state in America by U.S. News & World Report.

USNWR ranked all 50 states in the union on a range of categories including health care, education, economy, infrastructure, crime and corrections and natural environment, among others. Utah topped the rankings in 2023, overtaking Washington State, and has held on for a second consecutive year.

Utah consistently ranked among the top in the nation in USNWR’s rankings, earning top 20 results in seven of the eight categories and top 15 in six categories. Utah ranked second in the nation for education and achieved a top 3 finish for its economy and infrastructure.

Gov. Spencer Cox said he was proud of the Beehive State and he appreciates the validation that Utah is the best state in the nation.

“Utah has a vibrant, diverse economy and unsurpassed natural beauty, but what truly sets our state apart is our people,” said Cox. “We lead the nation in volunteering and charitable giving every year and this spirit of community leads to a collaborative approach to problem-solving, an ecosystem that supports innovation, and a culture that strengthens families and individuals.”

But USNWR said “best” doesn’t necessarily mean “perfect.” While Utah ranked No. 1 overall across the union, it underperformed in the natural environment category – a low No. 46. USNWR also said many of the top-ranking states are also not very racially diverse and had several disparities including by gender, race and disability.

New Hampshire ranked second in the United States while neighboring Idaho ranked in the top five. A list of the top 10 states can be found below: