Washington has been named the best state in the country according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The rankings used more than 70 metrics and thousands of data puts to compile their rankings as a way to show how well each state serves their residents.
Of the eight major categories Washington ranked in the top half for all, and the top five in four: Infrastructure, 2nd; Economy, 3rd; Education, 4th; and Health Care, 4th. In the other categories Washington ranked 14th in Natural Environment; 15th in Crime & Corrections; 19th in Opportunity; and 22nd in Fiscal Stability.
The report highlighted the state’s booming technology sector and efforts to promote clean and affordable energy. Washington also has the nation’s fastest growing economy according to U.S. News’ ranking of economic growth. Washington’s gross domestic product growth rate of 5.7% in 2018 was the highest in the nation.
The report included a national survey of over 23,000 people who were asked to rate their level of satisfaction of government services. Nationally, 38 percent generally agreed that their state government is effective. Meanwhile in Washington, 48 percent generally agreed that the state government is effective. Massachusetts topped the list at 64 percent, and Illinois at the bottom with 11 percent.
Washington previously ranked 6th in 2018 and 5th in 2017, the survey’s inaugural year. New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah, and Vermont rounded out 2019’s top 5, while New Mexico, West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana were at the bottom of the list.