Each year, U.S. News & World Report conducts a survey of residents from each state to determine where states rank overall compared to one another. State rankings are determined based on the average of three years of data from an annual survey that asked 70,000 people to rank their state in the following eight categories (with their respective weightings):
- Healthcare (15.97%)
- Education (15.94%)
- Economy (13.36%)
- Infrastructure (12.93%)
- Opportunity (12.29%)
- Fiscal stability (11.36%)
- Crime & Corrections (9.16%)
- Natural Environment (8.99%)
The Evergreen State is at the top
The only state in the union named after a president came ranked in the top spot in this survey. This top ranking for the state of Washington was bolstered by the strength of its tech sector and other industries. As a matter of fact, its highest ratings came from infrastructure, economy, & education. The top 15 states in this survey were as follows:
- #1. Washington
- #2. Minnesota
- #3. Utah
- #4. New Hampshire
- #5. Idaho
- #6. Nebraska
- #7. Virginia
- #8. Wisconsin
- #9. Massachusetts
- #10. Florida
Summary
Based on a survey of what matters most to Americans, healthcare and education were weighted most heavily. As for The Sunshine State, its overall ranking came in at #10. This is actually 3 spots higher than the last survey that was conducted. As for particular categories, its highest ranking came at #3 for education. This was followed by two #8 rankings for economy and fiscal stability. The state’s lowest ranking was #33 for opportunity. This category measures poverty, housing affordability and equality for women, minorities and people with disabilities.
In closing, even though Florida came in at the #10 overall spot, we were surprised it did not rank even higher. Nonetheless, based on the number of people migrating into the state, it appears that many Americans look favorably upon Florida as well.
Are you thinking about a move to South Florida? We can help. Contact Live South Florida Realty, Inc. today!
