US News releases 2025 Best States Rankings: Washington and Oregon drop, Idaho rises
States in the Pacific Northwest moved around a few places in the 2025 Best States Rankings from U.S. News & World Report, but they largely remained in line with their positions from the previous year.
Washington ranked 10th in the newest edition of the Best States Rankings, down from eighth in 2024. Oregon ranked 35th, down from 31st the previous year. And Idaho had them both beat, ranking as the third-best state in the U.S., up from its fifth-place showing the year prior.
U.S. News bases its rankings on over 70 metrics across eight categories, including crime, education, fiscal stability, health care, infrastructure, opportunity, the economy, and the natural environment, according to the media outlet.
The best state in the nation, according to U.S. News? That honor goes to Utah, which received high marks for its corrections outcomes, fiscal health, and transportation and internet infrastructure.
Here's more on Washington's place in the rankings and the Deep South state that ranked at the bottom of the list.
A ship is seen in the harbor on October 16, 2024 in Port Angeles, Washington in Clallam County. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) ROBYN BECK, AFP via Getty Images
Why did Washington place 10th on US News' Best States Rankings?
The Evergreen State scored highly in the infrastructure, natural environment, and education categories of the Best States Rankings, according to U.S. News.
According to the report, the state's average commute time is 27 minutes, compared to the national average of 25 minutes. Nearly 30% of its roads are in "poor condition," higher than the national average of 17.5%.
Regarding the natural environment, Washington ranked fifth in the country for its air and water quality and 15th in pollution threats, according to the report.
The state was also noted for its smarts. It ranked third in the nation in the higher education subcategory, which "comprises metrics reflecting the share of citizens in each state holding college degrees, as well as college graduation rates, the cost of in-state tuition and fees, and the burden of federal student loan debt carried by recipients."
What is the worst state in the US, according to US News?
Louisiana ranked 50th in U.S. News' Best States Rankings for 2025. It held the same rank in 2024.
Full US News Best States Rankings list
Utah
New Hampshire
Idaho
Minnesota
Nebraska
Florida
Vermont
South Dakota
Massachusetts
Washington
Colorado
North Dakota
North Carolina
Iowa
Connecticut
Virginia
Wisconsin
Delaware
New Jersey
Maryland
Georgia
New York
Wyoming
Rhode Island
Kansas
Montana
Maine
Hawaii
Texas
Arizona
Missouri
Tennessee
Indiana
Nevada
Oregon
Illinois
California
Ohio
Kentucky
South Carolina
Pennsylvania
Oklahoma
Michigan
Arkansas
Alabama
West Virginia
New Mexico
Mississippi
Alaska
Louisiana
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: US News releases 2025 Best States list: See where Washington ranks
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