According to a new report by US News and World Report, Iowa is without question the BEST state in the country. Missouri and Illinois…are not (but hey, we cracked the Top 50 at least!)

Compiling their list by ranking factors in healthcare, education, economy, opportunity, infrastructure, crime & corrections, fiscal stability, and quality of life, Iowa ranks just higher than runners up Minnesota, Utah, North Dakota, and New Hampshire.

 

So where do the Show-Me State and Land of Lincoln fall in this list? You might find it hard to believe (or you might not), but Missouri falls in at #30 and Illinois even lower at #35 (take that, #36 Texas!).

Missouri ranks 15th overall in Quality of Life, and 25th in Education. Illinois ranks 47 in Quality of Life and 24th in Education. With Illinois at #35, that might be one of the many reason people are leaving the state and not moving to.

Now take all of this with a grain of salt. Will this list inevitably spark some debate? Probably. Is everyone entitled to their own opinions of which state is the best? Of course. I mean, I think Illinois and Missouri should have ranked higher, but who am I to judge?

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