Here's How Illinois Compares In New Best States Ranking

Illinois’s 37th ranking shows it still has work to give residents the services they need, according to a new report.

Rather than focus on any one issue, U.S. News & World Report pulled together dozens of measures covering health care, education, the economy, infrastructure, public safety, opportunity and other factors that shape everyday life for its 2026 Best States Rankings.

To determine the rankings, categories were weighted differently according to a public survey on key priorities. The most critical areas identified were healthcare and education, receiving the highest importance.

These were followed by state economies, infrastructure, and citizen opportunity. Fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and the natural environment were also factored in, with fiscal stability carrying slightly more weight than the latter two.

With a population of 12,719,141, Illinois boasts a $1.2 trillion GDP. The median household income is $83,211. About 47.8 percent of the population claims to have a college degree.

The state of Illinois scored highest in education on the US News and World Report, ranking at #13. Illinois landed in the bottom of all states for fiscal stability, scoring #50.

Other rankings include:

• Crime and Corrections – #15
• Economy – #41
• Healthcare – #27
• Infrastructure – #21
• Natural environment – #45
• Opportunity – #38

The top 10 states in the U.S. News ranking are, respectively, Utah, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Idaho, Florida, Washington and Vermont.