Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly In U.S. News 'Best States' Study

U.S. News and World Report's latest study did not go well for Pennsylvania. In the the publication's third annual best states rankings, Pennsylvania was ranked 41st overall, a slip from a 38th overall showing in 2018. Washington is the No.1 state in the country, according to the report.

Pennsylvania scored average marks in several categories, but did land a 13th overall ranking for Opportunity, which analyzes possibilities for upward mobility. However, the overall standings were not as kind to the Keystone State.

The state's worst ranking was in the Economy category, where it placed 44th. Specifically, the state's job growth was put at 0.4 percent, compared to a national average of 1.2 percent. (See Pennsylvania's U.S. News profile here)

To compile the rankings, U.S. News looked at 71 metrics under eight categories. The eight rankings were weighted based on the average of three years data from a national survey that asked respondents to prioritize each category in their state.

Health care, education and economy received the top three weights in the methodology. After U.S. News calculated category scores and rankings, it compiled overall rankings by creating weighted averages of the individual category rankings.

Here’s how Pennsylvania performed in individual categories:

• Health Care: 21st
• Education: 32nd
• Economy: 44th
• Opportunity: 13th
• Infrastructure: 43rd
• Crime & Corrections: 37th
• Fiscal Stability: 38th
• Natural Environment: 38th

According to U.S. News, list-topper Washington has a "booming" economy, thanks to companies like Amazon and Microsoft that are based in the state. Washington also ranks in the top five for health care, economy, infrastructure and education, U.S. News says.

“We are thrilled that U.S. News & World Report has named Washington the No. 1 state in the country,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement shared by U.S. News. “This confirms what we, in Washington have always known, that our state is great for businesses, workers, and investments, coupled with natural beauty and innovative, creative people.

“I am pleased to share Washington’s success with the world.”

A national survey conducted by U.S. News found that just 27 percent of respondents generally agree that their state is doing all it can to help residents prosper. The survey also found that 52 percent of respondents are generally dissatisfied about the quality of education in their state, 48 percent are dissatisfied about the quality of infrastructure and 42 percent are dissatisfied about the quality of health care.

Respondents also agreed that education, infrastructure and health care are the most underfunded by state governments.