These are the best states in the US...and there's sure to be plenty of argument over the top 10

The top 10 best states in the United States have been revealed - and the list is sure to enrage people nationwide. 

U.S. News and World Report, best known for its annual college ranking, released its list of the country's 'Best States' for 2024.

The results were based on the average of three years of data from recent national surveys that asked nearly 70,000 people total to prioritize subjects like public safety, crime and more in their home state.

Some categories were assigned more value than others. Health care and education were weighted most heavily, followed by state economies, infrastructure, and opportunity, a broad category including measures of affordability and equality.

The list is sure to infuriate those whose home states did not make the cut. Some might be aghast to find that New York is missing from the list; nor did Arizona, despite its pristine natural landscape and growing economy. 

Read on to see if your state made the list.

1. Utah

Topping the list was none other than Utah. It achieved its high ranking thanks to its economy, which ranked third out of all 50 states; education, which ranked second; and infrastructure, which ranked third. The landlocked state fell behind in natural environment, falling to 46th place. This category encompasses metrics reflecting pollution threats and water and air quality, which were perceived as poor by residents.

2. New Hampshire

Despite its small size, New Hampshire packed a punch in this year's rankings. The Granite State did the best by far in terms of crime and corrections, coming in first. This metric took into consideration crime rates as well as the number of incarcerated people in the state. New Hampshire also fared well in the categories of economy, natural environment and education, ranking seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.

3. Nebraska 

The Cornhusker State secured its high placement thanks to achievements in fiscal stability, ranking third, and infrastructure, ranking fourth. Its lowest mark was in the health care category, which factored in perceptions of public health, health care quality and health care access. The state's hybrid law combining a 12-week abortion ban with limits on gender-affirming care has been the subject of controversy.

4. Minnesota

Minnesota achieved an impressively high ranking in natural environment, coming in second out of all states in the country. Its rankings in the categories of fiscal stability and infrastructure were fairly high as well - seventh and ninth - but the state lost some ground in terms of its economy, coming in 26th. While Minnesota's economy is growing, it is lagging behind the U.S. as a whole.

5. Idaho

Idaho - well-known for its potatoes, trout and snow-capped mountains - swept its contenders in the economy category, ranking second. All other rankings were in the double digits, with the exception of fiscal stability, which was ranked ninth. Residents docked the state some points over its perceived lack of protections for its natural environment, which came in 29th.

6. Iowa

Iowa ranked surprisingly high in the opportunity category, coming in third place. This metric included perceptions of affordability, economy and equality. Despite its low unemployment rate and robust job creation, the state stumbled when it came to its economy, landing in 36th place out of all 50 states.

7. Vermont

Vermont soared to the top of the list in terms of opportunity, reaching the first-place spot. It also fared well in term of crime and corrections, ranking third. The small, rural state has long been regarded as one of the safest in the country. However, Vermont did less well in the fiscal stability category, ranking 35th. This metric took into account liquidity, budget balancing, pension fund liability and government credit rating.

8. Washington

Washington, the only state named after a U.S. president, received high marks in the infrastructure and health care categories, ranking seventh and 10th respectively. The Biden administration's Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, passed in 2021, delivered billions of dollars worth of funding to the state, including over $5 billion for 1,192 road, bridge, transit and climate resilience projects.

9. Florida

Florida ranked surprisingly well in its education and economy categories - first in both. Residents appear to think highly of reading and math scores, tuition and fees, and college readiness throughout the state. However, Florida nearly wound up at the bottom of the list when it came to opportunity - 45th place.

10. Massachusetts

The Bay State narrowly made it into the top 10. It attained single-digit rankings in health care, education, crime and corrections, natural environment and economy. However, residents were unhappy with fiscal stability and infrastructure, both of which ranked 39th. Governor Maura Healey signed legislation on Sunday authorizing $200 million for the 2025 fiscal year to fund bridge and road maintenance and other projects across the state.