Iowa Tops Best States Ranking, Boosted by Infrastructure

Iowa has topped the 2018 best states ranking thanks to the opportunities available in the Hawkeye state as well as its accessibility to high-quality health care, according to a new report.

U.S. News and World Report released the rankings on Tuesday, listing all 50 states according to how they compared in various aspects from education and health care to infrastructure and the economy.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that the ranking is a "humbling tribute to our people who have proven time and again that in Iowa, if you're willing to work hard, you can accomplish anything."

Reynolds added that improving the overall quality of life for residents in terms of job growth and paths to success was one of her biggest challenges.

"I think if we have a talent pipeline ready to meet the needs and we're providing opportunities for Iowans in our state to really have a great quality of life, that's how we're going to succeed and continue to stay on top," she said, according to the Des Moines Register.

David Swenson, an economist with Iowa State University, said the state historically featured a low employment rate "because, quite frankly, the nature of our economy doesn't support a lot of slack in it," according to U.S. News and World Report.

Despite this, Iowa remains appealing for retirees as well as millennials who can afford to get a financial foothold by purchasing a home and having to only pay around $1,170 a month to own and $718 to rent, MarketWatch noted.

The overall top 10 states, according to the 2018 Best States Rankings, are:

1. Iowa
2. Minnesota
3. Utah
4. North Dakota
5. New Hampshire
6. Washington
7. Nebraska
8. Massachusetts
9. Vermont
10. Colorado

The full list can be viewed on the U.S. News and World Report website.

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