WI Ranked Among America's Best States By U.S. News & World Report

Wisconsin came in at No. 15 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States ranking, which was published this week.

The ranking evaluates all 50 states across categories, including healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment, drawing upon 71 metrics and thousands of data points to measure how states perform for their residents.

Within the specific categories, Wisconsin ranked highest for education at No. 5 and lowest for infrastructure at No. 37. The Badger State placed in the overall ranking between Delaware at No. 14 and Wyoming at No. 16.

For the fourth consecutive year, Utah was ranked the No. 1 state in the country, followed by South Dakota at No. 2, then Minnesota in third, North Dakota in fourth, and Nebraska rounding out the top five.

"The U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings serve as a critical tool for understanding what drives long-term success in states across the country," U.S. News Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Gertler said in a news release.

"These rankings objectively evaluate performance, identify opportunities for improvement and ways to learn from the successes of other states. By translating data into actionable insights, the rankings help policymakers, business leaders and residents make informed decisions to improve their lives."

Read more about how Wisconsin performed in the ranking.