The annual list of the best U.S. cities to live in for 2024 has been released by U.S. News and World Report, and the rankings are in. The report takes into consideration various factors such as economy, public safety, education, and more to determine the best states for their citizens.
Tennessee, while ranking in the middle of the pack at No. 27, fell behind three places from last year’s ranking. Some neighboring states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia fared slightly better in the rankings.
According to the study, Tennessee performed best in fiscal stability, economy, and infrastructure, but struggled in healthcare, crime and corrections, and natural environment. The state ranked No. 22 in opportunity and No. 31 in education.
The top 10 best states of 2024 according to U.S. News and World Report are Utah, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Minnesota, Idaho, Iowa, Vermont, Washington, Florida, and Massachusetts. On the other hand, the top 10 worst states include Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Louisiana.
The methodology used to determine the rankings involved ranking each state in 71 metrics across eight categories. These categories included healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment. The rankings were based on a survey of nearly 70,000 people who prioritized each subject in their state.
Overall, the rankings provide valuable insights into the best and worst states to live in for 2024.