U.S. News: R.I. 21st in nation on best states list, lowest in N.E.

RHODE ISLAND ranked 21st in the 'best states' list created by U.S. News & World Report. / COURTESY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
RHODE ISLAND ranked 21st in the 'best states' list created by U.S. News & World Report. / COURTESY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island landed in the top half of a ranking of the “best states” by U.S. News & World Report, coming in 21st, although it is the lowest ranked state in New England.

U.S. News, which released the ranking Tuesday, said Rhode Island’s neighbor, Massachusetts, is the best state in the nation.

U.S. News looked at 68 metrics, ranging from education, crime and corrections, and economy to health care, government and infrastructure, to determine how states best serve their citizens.

“Together, the new Best States rankings and platform are a comprehensive effort to provide citizens with a full picture of what’s working and what needs to be improved in their states,” Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer, said in a statement.
Following Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Minnesota are the No. 2 and No. 3 best overall states, respectively. North Dakota is No. 4, and Washington, No. 5. Vermont is No. 10, Connecticut is No. 12 and Maine is No. 18 on the list. Louisiana was last on the list.
The Ocean State’s highest ranking – third – came in the category of crime and corrections. It also ranked high in health care, coming in seventh. It ranked 18th in economy. However, it fell to 31st for education, 32nd for opportunity, 35th for infrastructure and 38th for government.

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It placed first in several subcategories, including online download speed, low prison overpopulation, pre-kindergarten quality and Medicare quality. But it ranked last in subcategories of bridge quality and transportation.

Rankings are based on numerous data points provided by McKinsey & Company’s Leading States Index. In calculating the rankings, categories were weighted based on a national citizen experience survey, conducted by McKinsey, asking people to prioritize each subject in their state and provide their levels of satisfaction with government services. Health care and education are the most highly weighted factors in the methodology, U.S. News said.

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  1. This is really good news for Rhode Island. You don’t go from 50th to first overnight. We have low crime and great healthcare. We need to work on education, business and government.