Texas finds itself positioned squarely in the middle of the pack in the latest 2024 Best States Rankings by US News and World Report, coming in at number 29. Texas moved up six spots from its #35 ranking in 2023. Solid showings in education and fiscal stability helped Texas move up.
"Texas does really well in economy. It’s a top ten performance there. It’s number eight in our fiscal stability category, which really looks at the fiscal performance of the state government in terms of budget balancing and pensions and fun stuff like that," says Gary Emerling, Managing Editor for Government Rankings at US News.
Utah has once again topped the charts in the 2024 Best States Ranking. This repeat victory underscores a consistent performance that sees the state excel in the realms of education, economy, and infrastructure.
Despite a stronger economic showing, Texas faces some significant challenges, especially in the areas tied to opportunity and social equality.
Ranking 48th in opportunity, the state reveals notable disparities, particularly in terms of food insecurity and inequality in income distribution across different racial and ethnic groups.
“Texas is dragged down by a high rate of food insecurity," Emerling explained. "There’s a measure of income gap by race...and Texas is almost last in that."
The state also shows lower rankings in environmental measures and crime and corrections, ranking 45th and 41st respectively.
The methodology behind the rankings is comprehensive, using 71 metrics across eight broad categories influenced by surveys on what residents prioritize in their state.
For Texans, there is a silver lining with the noticeable improvements in education and fiscal stability, suggesting potential for further progress.
"Texas moved up eight spots in fiscal stability and then moved up six spots in education," said Emerling.
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