U.S. News released its best rankings report, listing Alabama as only the 44th best state in the United States, despite Huntsville remaining near the top as one of the best places to live.
The only states U.S. News ranked lower than Alabama were Arkansas, West Virginia, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alaska and Louisiana, which came in last due to its crime and economy.
Though Alabama fell in the bottom quarter of states in crime, education, health care and natural environment, the state scored #20 in fiscal stability, #32 in opportunity and #33 in economy.
U.S. News rank states in 71 metrics across eight categories. Analysts assign each category weights based on the average of three years of survey data.
The report listed Utah as the best state for 2023, citing its economy, fiscal stability, health care and infrastructure. Following Utah are Washington, Idaho, Nebraska and Minnesota.
In another U.S. News report for 2023, Huntsville ranked the #2 best place to live in the United States, preceded only by Green Bay, Wisconsin. Last year, U.S. News dubbed Huntsville the #1 place to live.
Other high-ranking cities included Raleigh and Durham, N.C., Boulder, Colo., and Sarasota and Naples, Fla.
Huntsville also ranked #4 in the cheapest places to live and #14 in the fastest-growing places.
Huntsville remains U.S. News’ best place to live in Alabama, followed by Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. However, it only seems to include large cities, leaving out small towns and suburbs that may be more desirable.
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