Colorado was ranked the 10th best state in the nation, based on criteria such as health care, public education and economic growth, according to a new analysis by U.S. News.
The ranking included more than 70 metrics aimed at measuring how well states are working on behalf of their residents, according to U.S. News. Weighted most heavily in the analysis was health care quality, access and affordability, followed by the performance of their K-12 schools and higher education systems.
Colorado ranked 12th among the states on health care, 11th on education, first on its economy and eighth on infrastructure.
Criteria measured by the study included unemployment rates and gross domestic product growth; the condition of roads, bridges, electricity grids and transit options; and air and water quality.
U.S. News’ data came from both government and private sources, plus proprietary information from a countrywide survey.
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Which States Serve Their Citizens Best?
Rank | State | Health Care | Education | Economy | Infrastructure | Opportunity | Fiscal Stability | Crime & Corrections | Natural Environment |
1 | Washington | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 22 | 15 | 14 |
2 | New Hampshire | 16 | 5 | 13 | 31 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
3 | Minnesota | 10 | 17 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 16 | 3 |
4 | Utah | 9 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 49 |
5 | Vermont | 11 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 7 |
6 | Maryland | 8 | 13 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 25 |
7 | Virginia | 18 | 7 | 25 | 35 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 18 |
8 | Massachusetts | 2 | 1 | 7 | 44 | 29 | 30 | 4 | 26 |
9 | Nebraska | 27 | 6 | 21 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 27 |
10 | Colorado | 12 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 31 |
11 | Wisconsin | 14 | 14 | 24 | 30 | 6 | 14 | 30 | 10 |
12 | New Jersey | 6 | 2 | 31 | 34 | 8 | 49 | 6 | 13 |
13 | Florida | 29 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 2 | 31 | 21 |
14 | Iowa | 20 | 9 | 32 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 32 |
15 | North Dakota | 38 | 20 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 28 |
16 | Idaho | 26 | 33 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 11 | 8 | 15 |
17 | Georgia | 39 | 30 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 9 | 27 | 20 |
18 | North Carolina | 30 | 25 | 14 | 18 | 36 | 4 | 14 | 36 |
19 | California | 7 | 21 | 4 | 32 | 49 | 42 | 23 | 5 |
20 | South Dakota | 32 | 18 | 27 | 16 | 34 | 3 | 40 | 2 |
21 | Connecticut | 3 | 12 | 30 | 46 | 33 | 46 | 7 | 6 |
22 | Kansas | 33 | 15 | 36 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 32 | 8 |
23 | Delaware | 15 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 36 | 47 |
24 | Hawaii | 1 | 29 | 40 | 12 | 46 | 36 | 5 | 16 |
25 | New York | 13 | 22 | 33 | 22 | 47 | 26 | 10 | 24 |
26 | Rhode Island | 5 | 41 | 20 | 49 | 31 | 31 | 13 | 1 |
27 | Oregon | 17 | 36 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 30 |
28 | Missouri | 41 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 9 |
29 | Montana | 28 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 42 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
30 | Tennessee | 43 | 35 | 12 | 13 | 26 | 1 | 43 | 37 |
31 | Wyoming | 42 | 16 | 42 | 15 | 22 | 39 | 17 | 17 |
32 | Maine | 19 | 28 | 37 | 42 | 27 | 28 | 3 | 39 |
33 | Michigan | 24 | 37 | 19 | 41 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 29 |
34 | Arizona | 23 | 40 | 10 | 11 | 40 | 33 | 42 | 33 |
35 | Illinois | 22 | 19 | 41 | 24 | 17 | 50 | 20 | 43 |
36 | Indiana | 40 | 24 | 28 | 37 | 12 | 6 | 34 | 48 |
37 | Nevada | 31 | 45 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 37 | 39 | 46 |
38 | Texas | 37 | 34 | 15 | 33 | 39 | 12 | 33 | 40 |
39 | Ohio | 35 | 31 | 38 | 27 | 7 | 41 | 28 | 44 |
40 | Kentucky | 44 | 38 | 39 | 26 | 20 | 45 | 11 | 12 |
41 | Pennsylvania | 21 | 32 | 44 | 43 | 13 | 38 | 37 | 38 |
42 | South Carolina | 36 | 43 | 16 | 36 | 41 | 20 | 46 | 34 |
43 | Oklahoma | 47 | 39 | 34 | 39 | 25 | 32 | 41 | 42 |
44 | Alaska | 25 | 47 | 46 | 40 | 18 | 48 | 48 | 45 |
45 | Arkansas | 49 | 42 | 43 | 47 | 32 | 21 | 47 | 19 |
46 | New Mexico | 34 | 49 | 47 | 17 | 48 | 47 | 49 | 23 |
47 | West Virginia | 48 | 44 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 34 | 21 | 41 |
48 | Mississippi | 50 | 46 | 48 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 26 | 11 |
49 | Alabama | 46 | 50 | 45 | 38 | 45 | 23 | 45 | 35 |
50 | Louisiana | 45 | 48 | 49 | 48 | 50 | 43 | 50 | 50 |