New Jersey Ranks No. 14 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States Rankings

The annual Best States rankings by U.S. News & World Report have been released, and New Jersey has climbed five spots to land at No. 14 this year. The rankings are based on various categories including health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime & corrections, and natural environment.

Utah claimed the No. 1 spot, with New Hampshire, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Idaho rounding out the top five. On the other end of the spectrum, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Virginia were at the bottom five.

In New Jersey’s report card, the state performed well in education and health care, ranking at No. 4 in both categories. However, it ranked lower in areas such as infrastructure, economy, natural environment, opportunity, and fiscal stability.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce responded to the rankings, highlighting the state’s No. 48 showing for fiscal stability as a concern. The organization emphasized the importance of not exacerbating weaknesses highlighted in the surveys, particularly in relation to Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed corporate transit fee.

The proposed fee, a 2.5% surcharge on the state’s most profitable businesses to fund NJ Transit, has raised concerns among business groups who fear it could deter investments and hinder economic growth in the long term. The Chamber stressed the need to support businesses in the state to ensure continued growth and employment opportunities for residents.

Additionally, U.S. News also released its list of the best outpatient surgical centers in the country, with nearly 20 New Jersey health care providers making the cut.