NEWS
Georgia ranked among the best states in new US News report
Vanessa JohnsSavannah Morning News
Aug. 1, 2026, 6:02 a.m. ET
Georgia landed in the top half of a new nationwide ranking that looks at everything from thestate’s economy and education system to healthcare, infrastructure andquality of life
The 2026 Best States rankings from U.S. News & World Report placed Georgia No. 22 overall among all 50 states
The rankings evaluate states using thousands of data points across eight categories, including education, healthcare, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, natural environment, and crime and corrections
Here’s everything to know
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How did Georgia rank in each category?
Georgia’s highest category ranking came in fiscal stability, where the state ranked No. 10 nationwide
- No. 20 in crime and corrections
- No. 20 in economy
- No. 20 in infrastructure
- No. 21 in natural environment
- No. 26 in education
- No. 31 in opportunity
- No. 35 in healthcare
What helped Georgia rank among the best states?
U.S. News highlighted Georgia’s growing economy, major corporations and role as a transportation hub
The state is home to several major companies, including The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines and Aflac
Georgia’s largest city, Atlanta, is also home to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, connecting millions of travelers each year
The state also continues to attract students and businesses with universities such as University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
Which states ranked highest overall?
The top 10 states in the U.S. News Best States rankings were:
- Utah
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- Idaho
- Florida
- Washington
- Vermont
How were the rankings calculated?
U.S. News analyzed 71 different metrics across eight categories to determine each state’s score
The organization also surveyed more than 56,000 people between 2018 and 2025 about how satisfied they were with their state’s performance
The categories considered factors such as:
- Education quality and graduation rates
- Healthcare access and outcomes
- Job growth and economic strength
- Roads, bridges and internet access
- Housing affordability and opportunity
- Government financial stability
- Environmental quality
- Crime rates and public safety
While Georgia ranked strongly in areas like fiscal stability and economy, the state scored lower in healthcare and opportunity compared to other states
For the full report, visit usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com
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