The best and worst US states to live in

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Every state has its pros and cons — but which one came out on top?

US News & World Report released its annual list of the best states to live in, evaluating each in eight categories: education, healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, the natural environment, and crime and corrections. The categories are weighted differently based on a survey of 25,000 Americans that asked what they care most about.

US News & World Report senior data editor Evan Comen told Business Insider that since the categories aren’t evenly weighted, a state excelling in one category doesn’t guarantee a high overall ranking — and in some instances, success in one category could lead to the collapse of another.

Texas, for example, finished outside the top 25 despite ranking first in economy.

“The way we’ve structured our index, it does reflect some of these trade-offs among categories,” Comen said. “Texas is No. 1 in the economy — a lot of that economy is tied to oil and gas manufacturing. But then, Texas is No. 46 in natural environment. And our natural environment category is composed of metrics related to air and water quality and pollution.”

Though Southern states have typically performed well on lists that rank the best places to live, Florida and North Carolina were the only Sun Belt states to finish in the top 25. According to Comen, it’s not that Southern states are getting worse; rather, other states are improving.

“A decline in rankings doesn’t necessarily mean a state is performing poorly in any metric, but rather that they are being outpaced by other states,” he said. “Some states in the South might have experienced ranking decline, but it’s more because they’re being outperformed by other states, particularly the Midwest.”

One state that kept its ranking from the previous year was Utah, which finished first for the fourth consecutive year. While Utah finished 48th in the natural environment category, it had one of the most balanced rankings across categories, including the second-best economy.

Keep reading to see what each state is best at and what it needs to improve on, according to US News & World Report.

The population data comes from the US census.

50. Louisiana

Shreveport, Louisiana.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 4,618,189

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (43)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (50)

49. Alaska

Coastal houses sit along a forested shoreline with mountain peaks and reflections on calm blue water. — Homer, Alaska.

Jay Berkow Photography/Getty Images

Population: 737,270

Best ranking: Opportunity (30)

Worst ranking: Economy (49)

48. Mississippi

Government building in Jackson, Mississippi. — Jackson, Mississippi.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 2,954,160

Best ranking: Crime and corrections (23)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (50)

47. New Mexico

Buildings in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 2,125,498

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (12)

Worst ranking: Education (50)

46. Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA College Town Skyline stock photo — Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Population: 10,127,884

Best ranking: Healthcare (24)

Worst ranking: Education (45)

45. Arkansas

Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA Townscape stock photo — Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 3,114,791

Best ranking: Economy (23)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (49)

44. West Virginia

Buildings in Wheeling, West Virginia. — Wheeling, West Virginia.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 1,766,147

Best ranking: Opportunity (4)

Worst ranking: Healthcare and economy (50 in both categories)

43. Alabama

Buildings in Birmingham, Alabama. — Birmingham, Alabama.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 5,193,088

Best ranking: Opportunity (19)

Worst ranking: Education and healthcare (44 in both categories)

42. Ohio

Buildings in Columbus, Ohio. — Columbus, Ohio.

Sean Reid/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 11,900,510

Best ranking: Opportunity (18)

Worst ranking: Natural environment (43)

41. Kentucky

Bardstown, Kentucky.

Brian Koellish/Getty Images

Population: 4,606,864

Best ranking: Crime and corrections (10)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (46)

40. Pennsylvania

Statue and buildings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. — Philadelphia.

f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 13,059,432

Best ranking: Healthcare (11 )

Worst ranking: Economy (47)

39. Oregon

Portland, Oregon, skyline. — Portland, Oregon.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 4,273,586

Best ranking: Infrastructure (2)

Worst ranking: Economy (48)

38. Nevada

Aerial view of Reno, Nevada. — Reno, Nevada.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Population: 3,282,188

Best ranking: Infrastructure (1)

Worst ranking: Natural environment (47)

37. Illinois

Chicago, Illinois. — Chicago.

marchello74/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 12,719,141

Best ranking: Education (13)

Worst ranking: Fiscal stability (50)

36. Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline at twilight. — Oklahoma City.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 4,123,288

Best ranking Economy (11)

Worst ranking: Education (47)

35. California

Skyline in Los Angeles, California. — Los Angeles.

choness/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 39,355,309

Best ranking: Healthcare (7)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (50)

34. Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona, USA Downtown Skyline Aerial stock photo — Phoenix.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 7,623,818

Best ranking: Economy (4)

Worst ranking: Education (43)

33. Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island.

Beth Fitzpatrick/Getty Images

Population: 1,114,521

Best ranking Healthcare (4)

Worst ranking: Infrastructure (47)

32. South Carolina

Houses in Charleston, South Carolina. — Charleston, South Carolina.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 5,570,274

Best ranking: Economy (6)

Worst ranking: Education and crime and corrections(42 in both categories)

31. Missouri

Aerial twilight view of a riverfront town with bridges, marinas, wooded neighborhoods, and city lights. — Branson, Missouri.

JeremyMasonMcGraw.com/Getty Images

Population: 6,270,541

Best ranking: Opportunity (8)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (44)

30. Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana. — Indianapolis.

Nicholas Klein/Getty Images

Population: 6,973,333

Best ranking: Opportunity (17)

Worst ranking: Natural environment (50)

29. Montana

Missoula, Montana.

Jon Bilous/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 1,144,694

Best ranking: Opportunity (15)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (41)

28. Hawaii

Downtown Honolulu, Hawaii aerial. — Honolulu.

ehabaref/Getty Images

Population: 1,432,820

Best ranking: Healthcare (1)

Worst ranking: Economy (46)

27. Maine

Buildings in Portland, Maine. — Portland, Maine.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Population: 1,414, 874

Best ranking: Crime and corrections (2)

Worst ranking: Infrastructure (41)

26. Texas

Buildings in Dallas, Texas. — Dallas, Texas.

travelview/Getty Images

Population: 31,709,821

Best ranking: Economy (1)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (48)

25. Tennessee

Aerial view of the downtown Nashville, Tennessee skyline from the Cumberland River. — Nashville, Tennessee.

Jeremy Poland/Getty Images

Population: 7,315,076

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (5)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (40)

24. Kansas

Aerial panorama of Topeka, Kansas. — Topeka, Kansas.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Population: 2,977,220

Best ranking: Infrastructure (5)

Worst ranking: Natural environment (39)

23. New York

An aerial view of Albany, New York skyline during autumn with vibrant foliage and clear blue sky — Albany, New York.

Wirestock/Getty Images

Population: 20,002,427

Best ranking: Natural environment (6)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (49)

22. Georgia

Atlanta state capitol with the skyline. — Atlanta.

adamkaz/Getty Images

Population: 11,302,748

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (10)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (35)

21. Maryland

Baltimore downtown skyline aerial. — Baltimore, Maryland.

Kruck20/Getty Images

Population: 6,265,347

Best ranking: Healthcare, natural environment (5)

Worst ranking: Economy (37)

20. New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey, skyline reflection on the banks of the Passaic River at night. — Newark, New Jersey.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Population: 9,548,215

Best ranking: Education (2)

Worst ranking: Fiscal stability (49)

19. Virginia

A colorful sunrise over the city of Richmond, Virginia skyline and the James River. — Richmond, Virginia.

Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson/Getty Images

Population: 8,880,107

Best ranking: Crime and corrections (13)

Worst ranking: Infrastructure (39)

18. Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut skyline. — Hartford, Connecticut.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Population: 3,688,496

Best ranking: Healthcare (3)

Worst ranking: Fiscal stability (47)

17. Colorado

Aerial view of Denver, Colorado skyline at sunset. — Denver, Colorado.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Population: 6,012,561

Best ranking: Education (1)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (47)

16. Wyoming

Snow-dusted mountains rise behind a city skyline under pink clouds at sunset. — Casper, Wyoming.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Population: 588,753

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (1)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (38)

15. Wisconsin

Downtown Madison with the State Capitol, Wisconsin, at dusk. — Madison, Wisconsin.

benedek/Getty Images

Population: 5,972,787

Best ranking: Education (5)

Worst ranking: Infrastructure (37)

14. Delaware

Aerial shot of downtown Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware on an overcast day in Fall. — Wilmington, Delaware.

halbergman/Getty Images

Population: 1,059,952

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (4)

Worst ranking: Education (37)

13. North Carolina

Aerial view of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. — Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kruck20/Getty Images

Population: 11,197,968

Best ranking: Education (10)

Worst ranking: Infrastructure, natural environment (26)

12. Iowa

Aerial of the Des Moines Riverwalk bridge and the Des Moines River, with the Downtown Des Moines skyline in the background. — Des Moines, Iowa.

Dee Liu/Getty Images

Population: 3,238,387

Best ranking: Opportunity (2)

Worst ranking: Economy (39)

11. Massachusetts

Springfield, Massachusetts, downtown skyline on the river at dusk. — Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Population: 7,154,084

Best ranking: Healthcare (2)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (41)

10. Vermont

Autumn view over the historic city of Montpelier, Vermont, with church spires and colorful fall leaves — Montpelier, Vermont.

jenifoto/Getty Images

Population: 644,663

Best ranking: Opportunity (1)

Worst ranking: Fiscal stability (41)

9. Washington

A view of buildings in Tacoma, Washington, with Mount Rainier behind. — Tacoma, Washington.

gmc3101/Getty Images

Population: 8,001,020

Best ranking: Natural environment (7)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (34)

8. Florida

Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. — St. Petersburg, Florida.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Population: 23,462,518

Best ranking: Education (3)

Worst ranking: Opportunity (47)

7. Idaho

Boise, Idaho, skyline panorama with fall colors — Boise, Idaho.

Darwin Fan/Getty Images

Population: 2,029,733

Best ranking: Economy (3)

Worst ranking: Education (30)

6. New Hampshire

Autumn trees, white riverside buildings, church steeples, and a stone bridge reflect in calm blue water. — Peterborough, New Hampshire.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Population: 1,415,342

Best ranking: Crime and corrections (1)

Worst ranking: Fiscal stability (36)

5. Nebraska

Sunny neighborhood in Downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. — Lincoln, Nebraska.

Alex Potemkin/Getty Images

Population: 2,018,006

Best ranking: Infrastructure (3)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (34)

4. North Dakota

Aerial shot of downtown Fargo, North Dakota, on an overcast sunset in Fall. — Fargo, North Dakota.

halbergman/Getty Images

Population: 799,358

Best ranking: Fiscal stability (3)

Worst ranking: Healthcare (29)

3. Minnesota

City view of Minneapolis by the 3rd Avenue Bridge — Minneapolis.

Claire Gentile/Getty Images

Population: 5,830,405

Best ranking: Infrastructure (9)

Worst ranking: Economy (24)

2. South Dakota

Aerial view of Rapid City, South Dakota. — Rapid City, South Dakota.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Population: 935,094

Best ranking: Natural environment (2)

Worst ranking: Crime and corrections (41)

1. Utah

Aerial of downtown of Salt Lake City, Utah. — Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Population: 3,538,904

Best ranking: Economy, fiscal stability (2 in both categories)

Worst ranking: Natural environment (48)

Sarah Walker 1 day ago