Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images for Rock'n' Roll Marathon
Talk about a humbling moment: Washington has been dethroned as the best state in the U.S. — a position that the Evergreen State held multiple times — by Utah.
Driving the news: Utah was named 2023's best state in the country, per U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings that are based on 71 metrics, including economy, employment growth, education, infrastructure, public safety and natural environment.
- Washington is the second-best state overall, the rankings conclude.
- Utah was aided by its ranking as the best state in the nation in terms of economy and fiscal stability.
- The Evergreen State was hurt by being in 46th place for affordability.
Yes but: Utah ranked 48th on equality for its gender pay gap and educational attainment disparities by race.
Details: Idaho, Nebraska and Minnesota make up the remainder of the top five states, according to U.S. News' rankings.
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