Best States 2017 - U.S. News & World Report...Best States 2017 Ranking performance throughout all 50...

Copyright © 2018 U.S.News & World Report LP All rights reserved.

Best States 2017Ranking performance throughout all 50 states

Due to a number of factors, the 2017 Best States methodology differs in several ways from that of 2018. For more information, please visit our FAQ.

https://www.usnews.com/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states

https://www.mckinsey.com/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/frequently-asked-questions

2Copyright©2018U.S.News&WorldReportLP.Allrightsreserved.

BestStatesOverallRankings2017

OverallRank

State HealthCare

EducationCrime&

CorrectionsInfrastructure Opportunity Economy Government

Massachusetts 2 1 7 19 16 5 16

NewHampshire 4 3 12 13 1 13 30

Minnesota 3 11 17 5 2 12 24

NorthDakota 19 16 15 6 7 2 7

Washington 9 7 25 2 17 11 8

Iowa 5 8 16 16 6 30 10

Utah 15 9 30 3 23 4 3

Maryland 14 5 22 14 5 21 18

Colorado 11 18 26 7 31 1 13

Vermont 6 15 1 28 10 33 21

Virginia 25 10 6 24 11 27 2

Connecticut 12 4 8 26 15 38 20

Nebraska 20 6 27 9 21 20 17

NewJersey 8 2 4 18 27 25 50

SouthDakota 17 13 28 8 25 24 25

Wisconsin 21 17 10 37 14 35 5

NewYork 13 19 5 22 44 29 23

Maine 16 28 2 30 3 42 39

Oregon 24 22 36 1 29 15 27

Delaware 22 26 43 17 8 9 34

RhodeIsland 7 31 3 35 32 18 38

Indiana 41 27 33 20 4 26 1

California 10 25 20 33 42 3 44

Florida 31 29 37 11 43 7 9

NorthCarolina 27 21 24 47 34 17 4


3Copyright©2018U.S.News&WorldReportLP.Allrightsreserved.

BestStatesOverallRankings2017

OverallRank

State HealthCare

EducationCrime&

CorrectionsInfrastructure Opportunity Economy Government

Wyoming 43 12 13 29 9 41 40

Hawaii 1 36 38 48 13 22 33

Kansas 23 14 32 15 22 43 48

Illinois 32 20 29 10 19 44 47

Pennsylvania 18 33 14 34 26 39 36

Montana 36 24 23 32 30 23 28

Idaho 40 40 9 21 39 8 37

Michigan 34 42 19 41 12 28 22

Arizona 28 43 39 12 33 19 26

Ohio 29 38 34 40 18 31 12

Georgia 38 37 35 27 41 14 15

Missouri 35 23 44 36 24 36 14

Texas 30 41 31 49 45 6 11

Tennessee 42 32 45 23 37 32 6

Nevada 37 49 46 4 38 10 49

WestVirginia 46 44 18 44 20 49 19

Kentucky 44 35 11 46 35 40 35

Alaska 33 34 47 25 28 50 41

Oklahoma 48 30 40 42 36 34 31

SouthCarolina 39 50 41 43 48 16 32

NewMexico 26 48 49 38 46 47 43

Alabama 47 47 42 31 40 45 42

Arkansas 50 39 48 45 47 37 29

Mississippi 49 45 21 50 50 48 45

Louisiana 45 46 50 39 49 46 46


43

1711

JobsUnemploymentrateJobgrowthLaborforceparticipationrate

26331723

GrowthGDPgrowthrateNetmigrationpercapitaGrowthofyoungpopulation

2112

BusinessandinnovationenvironmentBusinessbirthratePatentspermillionpopulation

201

14223941

HigherEducationEducationalAttainmentGraduationrate(4-yearpostsecondarypublicinstitutions)Graduationrate(2-yearpostsecondarypublicinstitutions)AveragedebtatgraduationTuitionandrequiredfees

33

31121

19

Preschool-12PreschoolenrollmentQualityofstatePre-KprogramNAEPmathematicsscores(grade8)NAEPreadingscores(grade8)CollegereadinessPublichighschoolgraduationrate

1

1132

9

7

AccessCompliancewithchildren'spreventativecare(EPSDTprogram)AdultsuninsuredAdultswithoutaroutinecheckupinthepastyearAdultswithoutadentalvisitinthepastyearChildrennotreceivingdentalservices(EPSDTprogram)Adultswhowentwithoutcareinthepastyearduetocost

51036

4035

PopulationHealthMortalityRateSuiciderateAdultswhosmokeMentalHealthInfantMortalityRateAdultObesityrate

152

467

QualityMedicareQualityHospitalReadmissionRatesPrevalenceofpressureulcersinnursinghomes

454747288

TransportationAveragecommutetimeRoadqualityStructurallydeficientbridgesPublictransitcoverage

42352746

EnergyRenewableenergyconsumptionReliabilityofpowergridsAverageretailpriceofelectricity

132

BroadbandBroadbandaccessPopulationwithuploadspeed>100mbps

17334

CrimeViolentCrimeRatePropertyCrimeRate

1346533

469

CorrectionsPrisonoverpopulationParolecompletionIncarcerationrateJuvenileIncarcerationRateRacialincarcerationgapChangeinIncarcerationrate

2121

DigitizationUseofdigitaltechnology

99

TransparencyOnlineaccesstospendingdata

77

CorruptionStateIntegrityGrade

29164817

FinancialHealthStatecreditratingOperatingRatioPensionliability

10456

133

PovertyGinicoefficientMedianHouseholdincome%ofhouseholdsunderpovertylineFoodinsecurityrate

474544

AffordabilityCostoflivingHousingaffordability

125

31401941

EqualOpportunityGenderParityRacialgapineducationalattainmentRacialgapinincomeRacialgapinunemploymentrateDisabilitygapinunemploymentrate

61

315


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444820312414


Best States Overall Rankings 2017


In calculating the rankings, each of the seven categories were assigned weightings based on a national survey that asked people to prioritize each subject in their state:

Health Care: 18%

Education: 16%

Infrastructure: 14%

Crime & Corrections: 14%

Opportunity: 14%

Economy: 13%

Government: 10%

The elements of the categories and the weightings assigned to each were:

Health Care:

Health Care Access: 33%Health Care Quality: 33%Public Health: 33%

Education:

Higher Education: 50%Pre-K - 12: 50%

Infrastructure:

Energy: 33%Internet Access: 33%Transportation: 33%

Crime & Corrections: Corrections: 50%Public Safety: 50%

Opportunity:

Economic Opportunity: 40%Equality: 40%Affordability: 20%

Economy:

Growth: 50%Employment: 30%Business Environment: 20%

Government:

Fiscal Stability: 50%Budget Transparency: 17%Government Digitalization: 17%State Integrity: 17%

Note: Weights don’t add to 100 due to rounding.

The overall Best State ranking from U.S. News & World Report shows how each of the 50 U.S. states ranks in 68 metrics across seven categories. The data behind the rankings were based on McKinsey & Company’s Leading States Index.

How We Score

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https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/infrastructure

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/crime-and-corrections

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/economy

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/government

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care/healthcare-access

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care/healthcare-quality

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care/public-health

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education/higher-education

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education/prek-12

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/infrastructure/energy

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/infrastructure/internet-access

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/infrastructure/transportation

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/crime-and-corrections/corrections

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/crime-and-corrections/public-safety

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/economic-opportunity

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/equality

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/economy/growth

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/economy/employment

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/economy/business-environment

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/government/fiscal-stability

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/government/budget-transparency

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/government/government-digitalization

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/government/state-integrity



U.S. News and McKinsey created an index score for each metric for each state. In each metric, the top state based on the raw data was given 100 points and the bottom state was given 1 point. States between these were indexed proportionally. Then, we multiplied the weight for each metric by each state’s index score to calculate weighted averages. These weighted averages were then ranked 1-50 to determine the category and sub-category rankings.

For the overall rankings, U.S. News created a weighted average of the seven category rankings and multiplied each by the weight for each category, and then ranked the outcome. We chose this method for the overall ranking so that it would not be skewed by large differences in scores at a metric level.

Weights within categories and subcategories were selected in collaboration with experts based on each metric’s relative importance and breadth. For example, mortality metrics in the health care index were weighed the most heavily in that category because they encompass many factors of health in the state. For categories where there was no clear order of importance, equal weighting was used.

The Survey

For the weighting of the Best States ranking, U.S. News wanted to use an objective measure reflecting the priorities

Methodologyof citizens for their state governments. McKinsey conducts a citizen experience survey on a fairly regular basis which asks Americans how satisfied they are with various state government services and where they think their state governments should focus resources. Between September 28 and October 14, 2016, McKinsey surveyed 11,100 adults ages 18 and up to reach a demographically representative sample of 500 responses from 22 states, which collectively accounted for 75 percent of the U.S. population. The survey results were weighted to be representative of the country’s population across all ages, genders, ethnicities and household incomes.

The categories for the survey aligned with the questions that were asked of citizens. We based the weightings for the categories on a question that asked respondents to rank the categories, like health and education, 1-7 in order of what matters most in their satisfaction with their home states. The weights for the categories were calculated from the average rank for each among the respondents. Since the survey was completed before the finalization of the Best States rankings, survey responses for crime & corrections on this question were unavailable. That category’s weight was based on the correlation between how satisfied respondents said they were with public safety in their state and how satisfied respondents said they were with




their state overall.

The Data

In order to select metrics for the project, we consulted experts in each of the categories for guidance. These are the criteria we used in choosing metrics:

Metrics that measure citizen outcomes in a state were favored over inputs or outputs. For example, we selected the percentage of state residents who have an associate’s degree or higher instead of the dollars spent on education per capita or the number of students enrolled at state universities.

The set of metrics within each category should work together to provide an overview of that category.

Government data were favored over other sources because of their reliability.

Standardized data needed to be available across all or most states.

Metrics should be from 2013 or later.

These guidelines meant that some of the desired metrics were not available, such as recidivism in the criminal justice system, which is measured differently across different states. Where possible, we selected a close substitute (successful parole completions).

In developing the Best States ranking, we pulled data from the following sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau

• National Center for Education Statistics

• The Institute for College Access & Success

• National Institute for Early Education Research

• ACT

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• U.S. Department of Transportation

• Federal Communications Commission

• U.S. PIRG Education Fund

• The Center for Public Integrity

• Moody’s

• The Mercatus Center at George Mason University

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• Feeding America

• The Council for Community and Economic Research

• McKinsey & Company: Power of Parity Report

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• U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

• FBI

• Oregon State Public Interest Research Group

• U.S. Department of Energy

• TRIP

• Center for Digital Government

For each set, we used the most recent data available as of Dec. 22, 2016. Because datasets have different schedules for updates, data come from different years and months. This allowed us to pull many more data points. All data will be updated again for the 2018 relaunch of Best States.

In some cases, data for certain states are missing because not all states provide data for all metrics. In other cases, especially in states with small populations, there weren’t enough people to have a statistically significant sample in a given year, which led to missing values. We omitted metrics with missing data from the calculation of rankings for those states.

Ties were rare in the dataset because we calculated scores to the maximum amount of decimal places without rounding. In some cases, where the score was from a letter grade, such as the digitization index, there were ties.

Best States didn’t rank Washington, D.C., or U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico. Data

for Washington, D.C. were included for national averages.

You can see all the raw data behind the Best States ranking on the Data Explorer.


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/data-explorer



What Is Best States?

Best States is a unique rankings and news analysis platform designed to inform citizens, business leaders and policymakers alike about what’s working and what needs improvement across the country.

The site includes rankings that measure the 50 states overall and across seven different categories: education, health care, government, infrastructure, economy, opportunity and crime & corrections. The rankings are derived from more than 60 metrics and thousands of data points.

In addition to rankings, the platform offers expert commentary, news analysis and storytelling to highlight the issues, insights and best practices that matter most for states.

Why rank states?

U.S. News & World Report created the Best States rankings to provide a platform for citizens, government leaders and business executives alike to compare and better understand the issues, insights and best practices that matter most for states.

Like Best Countries, launched last year, Best States gives readers a new way to analyze the world around them. It shows which state policies are working and which can be improved, and encourages citizens

FAQto interact more with their governments to promote positive change.

How is this different from existing state rankings?

Existing state rankings tend to focus on a very narrow set of issues, such as the business or tax environment of a state or the education and health care offered there.

U.S. News Best States is the first comprehensive effort to gauge how state governments perform across a wide array of issues. This project provides citizens with a full picture of state government performance.

What role did each partner play in producing Best Sates?

U.S. News & World Report, a global authority on rankings, news analysis and consumer advice, provides the journalistic, data and rankings expertise for the Best States project. U.S. News developed the rankings, hosts the website, and maintains editorial control of the content.

McKinsey & Company, with deep experience working with state government leaders on many of their most pressing issues, serves as the analytical engine for the project. McKinsey produced its Leading States Index in order to help state government leaders better understand


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries



where to focus their efforts, make lasting improvements in their performance and deliver on their mission to citizens. McKinsey also ran a nationwide survey on citizen satisfaction that included more than 10,000 responses measuring citizen satisfaction with government services, which was used to calculate the weightings behind the Best States rankings.

How were the states ranked?

The overall Best States ranking is determined from how each of the 50 U.S. states ranks in seven main categories: health care, education, infrastructure, crime & corrections, opportunity, economy and government. The rankings are based on thousands of data points gathered by McKinsey in its Leading States Index.

The categories and subcategories considered were:

Health Care

Health Care AccessHealth Care QualityPublic Health

Education

Higher EducationPre-K - 12

Infrastructure

EnergyInternet AccessTransportation

Crime & Corrections

CorrectionsPublic Safety

Opportunity

Economic OpportunityEqualityAffordability

Economy

GrowthEmploymentBusiness Environment

Government

Fiscal StabilityBudget TransparencyGovernment DigitalizationState Integrity

Certain categories were weighted more heavily than others. For more information on category weights, please see the Best States methodology.

What were the respective weights of the inputs and why were they chosen?

The overall Best States ranking is determined from how each of the 50 U.S. states ranks in our seven categories. The weights of the categories are as follows:

Health Care: 18 percentEducation: 16 percentInfrastructure: 14 percentCrime & Corrections: 14 percentOpportunity: 14 percent

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Economy: 13 percentGovernment: 10 percent

Note: these weights do not equal 100 due to rounding.

In order to determine the weights of the category rankings, McKinsey & Company conducted an online survey of 11,100 people. The survey was meant to determine which factors are the most important to people about their state. For more on the survey, weighting and inputs, including for subcategories, please click here.

Why did my state perform so well?

Each state’s performance in the overall ranking correlates directly with its ranking in each of the seven categories, including health care, education, infrastructure, crime & corrections, opportunity, economy and government. The overall ranking takes a holistic view of all of these category rankings to determine which states best serve their citizens in all aspects. If a state performed well in several categories, especially those weighted more heavily, it is likely to rank highly overall.

Why did my state perform so poorly?

Each state’s overall ranking relies on its performance in all seven categories. Since these categories are not weighted equally, a state could rank highly in one or more categories, but not overall. For example, if a state ranks near the top for government, weighted at 10 percent, it could still perform poorly overall if it ranks near the

bottom for health care and education, the most highly weighted categories.

Are the rankings objective and fair?

To ensure that the Best States rankings are objective and fair, U.S. News weighted the seven major categories based on results from a representative survey designed to determine what factors most influence Americans’ satisfaction with their home states.

Within each category, the metrics were selected objectively in collaboration with experts, using specific criteria. Among these considerations were the comprehensiveness, reliability and timeliness of the metrics. The project used publicly available government data when possible, and vetted proprietary data in cases where public data was not available.

Further, experts helped determine the weights of the subcategories and the metrics within them, focusing on which were most important and representative of their respective categories.

Why wasn’t Washington, D.C., included in the rankings?

For this ranking, U.S. News looked at the 50 states and didn’t include D.C. or U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico. One reason was data availability, as many state sets do not include these locations. Values for D.C. are often skewed because of its small population, making meaningful comparisons between D.C. and other states difficult. D.C. was included in

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national averages for each metric though.

How often will the rankings be updated?

The Best States rankings will be updated each year.

Is the data used for the rankings reliable?

The rankings are based on publicly available data from government sites. Examples include the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How recent is the data?

U.S. News and McKinsey used the most recent data available as of Dec. 22, 2016. Not all data sets were released at the same time, since they are created throughout the year.

Are there any ties?

Ties were rare in the dataset because we calculated scores to the maximum amount of decimal places without rounding. In some cases, where the score was from a letter grade, ties were possible. There were ties in the government category, including in the state integrity ranking.

How was culture/history factored into the rankings?

The Best States rankings concentrate on factors that a government can influence with policy. Because of this, we didn’t include factors such as culture or history of the state. Those factors are considered in some of our other rankings such as Best

Places to Live and Best Places to Travel.

Who can I contact with questions?

For questions about Best States, please email: [email protected].


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