Arkansas' split-screen rankings reality
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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently touted a run of No. 1 rankings for Arkansas, saying: "We are blessed by God to live in the best state, in the best country, in the history of the world." But it's only part of the picture.
The big picture: Broad claims about where Arkansas stands nationally depend heavily on which metrics are used. The state ranks well on some measures, but poorly on others, including health and wages.
State of play: An Axios analysis found several recent No. 1 rankings for Arkansas, but also several bottom-tier measures.
By the numbers: Arkansas landed No. 1 in teacher job satisfaction, according to a recent Education Week analysis. The Heritage Foundation had the state tied for No. 1 in election integrity, while TNTP, an education policy and consulting nonprofit, said it has the nation's highest minimum teacher salary adjusted for cost of living.
- Americans United for Life again ranked Arkansas as the country's top "pro-life" state, though that measure comes from an advocacy group rather than a government data series.
- Atlas Van Lines said 65% of its Arkansas moves were inbound during 2024.
- U.S. News ranked Arkansas No. 1 in affordability, including No. 1 for cost of living and No. 3 for housing affordability, but No. 44 overall on its list of best states.
Yes, but: Some of Arkansas' weakest numbers come from federal health and economic data. USDA found Arkansas had the nation's highest household food-insecurity rate, 19.4%, based on 2022–2024 averages.
- America's Health Rankings placed Arkansas 49th overall in 2025, 50th in maternity practices in infant nutrition and care, and tied for 45th in adult obesity in 2024.
- CDC data shows Arkansas had the nation's second-highest infant mortality rate in 2023, at 8.22 deaths per 1,000 live births. Arkansas also ranked 49th for median annual wages, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The caveat: These rankings come from different sources using different methods, from federal datasets to private and advocacy group scorecards. Axios used the most recent data available for each measure.
Stunning stat: Arkansas is the nation's top rice producer and a major poultry and egg state, yet it also has the country's highest household food-insecurity rate.
Zoom out: Sanders has made some weak spots a policy focus. The $45 million Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act expands maternal care coverage, and Sanders also signed a law providing free breakfast to all public school students. In April, the administration launched the #RazorbackReady2026 challenge to promote the Presidential Fitness Test.
What they're saying: "Governor Sanders ran for office because she was tired of Arkansas ranking last in so many categories where we should be ranked first," spokesperson Sam Dubke wrote in an emailed response to Axios.
- He said the administration has made "massive strides" in education, economic development and public safety, and pointed to a summer food assistance program and $200 million in federal Rural Health Transformation funding.
The bottom line: Health rankings often lag policy changes by years, so new investments may not show up in statewide data right away.