The newest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings project has Pennsylvania sitting at #40 overall, a ranking unchanged from 2023. Utah is #1 for a second straight year, with New Hampshire and Nebraska at #2 and #3, respectively.

The ranking is a composite of Pennsylvania’s performance in the following areas: Health care (#11), education (#39), natural environment (#37), opportunity (#24), economy (#41), crime and corrections (#16), infrastructure (#43) and fiscal stability (#44).

The analysis encompassed thousands of data points across 71 metrics in eight categories to capture how each state serves their residents, the report said.

The report goes on to say that Pennsylvania is currently among the country’s largest producers of canned fruit and vegetable-specialty products, chocolate and cocoa products, potato chips and pretzels, and is home to the “Snack Food Capital of the World.”

The “worst states” were Mississippi, New Mexico and Louisiana. For the full analysis, you can click here.

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Image: U.S. News & World Report