What Rank the States publishes
Rank the States is an independent statistical publication. We organize state-level observations into comparisons that readers can inspect: the value, the population it describes, the reference year, and the source behind it.
The current edition covers 78 measures and all 50 states. It combines federal data about population, household resources, housing, taxes, safety, health, education, work, the economy, geography, climate and infrastructure use, from the Census Bureau, BEA, CDC, FBI, NHTSA, FHWA and NOAA. DC and Puerto Rico appear as clearly labeled reference jurisdictions where the source covers them. They are not counted as states.
What you can do here
Open a ranking for the full table, read a state report card, or compare two to five states. Downloads keep source metadata with the numbers. The custom ranking tool shows how chosen weights change calculated scores.
A high value does not always mean a desirable result. A population measure is descriptive. A cost measure is not a recommendation. We do not assign a single overall state grade, endorse political parties, or provide personal relocation or investment advice.
Independence and responsibility
The publication is not affiliated with the U.S. government or endorsed by the Census Bureau. Federal producers supply the observations; our calculations and explanations are our responsibility. We do not republish proprietary competitor ranking tables or accept payment to change ranks, weights, or coverage in a state’s favor.
The company that publishes this site is identified in our privacy policy. Reader and legal correspondence: [email protected]. Our calculations are checked automatically and documented in full, but they have not been independently peer-reviewed.
What comes next
The wider project includes other federal data families, historical releases, and reviewed composite methodologies. Current limitations and release status are listed in Sources; publication changes appear in Updates.
Read our editorial policy, methodology, and corrections process before relying on a particular comparison.