04 Aug Is Utah #1?

Utah Keeps Winning… But This New Ranking Might Surprise You

If you’ve spent any time in Southern Utah, you probably already know why so many people are moving here.

The red rocks. The sunshine. The outdoor recreation. The growing job market.

Now there’s another reason to brag.

According to the latest national rankings, Utah has once again been named the No. 1 state in America overall, marking its fourth straight year at the top in the U.S. News Best States rankings. The rankings measure everything from education and infrastructure to the economy, healthcare, opportunity, and fiscal stability. (Business Insider)

But There’s A Twist…

Another major study looked specifically at the best states to raise a family, and Utah didn’t finish first.

WalletHub ranked Utah 18th overall for raising a family after comparing all 50 states across 50 different factors, including:

• Family fun
• Health and safety
• Education
• Child care
• Affordability
• Socioeconomics

Even though Utah landed outside the Top 10 overall, it still posted some impressive individual rankings:

• One of the lowest child care costs in America
• One of the lowest family poverty rates
• The lowest separation and divorce rate in the country (WalletHub)

Why The Difference?

The two studies measure very different things.

The U.S. News rankings reward states with strong economies, infrastructure, education, and financial stability.

WalletHub places much more emphasis on affordability, family expenses, education, healthcare, and day-to-day life for parents.

That means a state can be fantastic overall while still facing challenges like rising housing costs.

What Do You Think?

If you’ve lived in Utah for a while…

Would you rank it as the best place in America to live?

Or has the rapid growth, higher home prices, and increased traffic changed your opinion?

Tell us in the comments: What’s the BEST thing about living in Utah… and what’s the one thing you’d change?