U.S. News & World report ranked the best states in the US for a high quality of life, including everything from water and air quality to community engagement.
- U.S. News & World report ranked the best states in the US for quality of life.
- Quality of life includes the quality of the natural environment, like water and air quality, and the quality of the social environment, like community engagement and voter participation.
- Of every state in the US, North Dakota residents have the highest quality of life.
The United States is an enormous country, and quality of life varies from state to state.
But now, thanks to data published by U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday, we can decisively say which state's residents enjoy the highest quality of life in America.
The rankings, formed in partnership with McKinsey and Company, considered two metrics for each state: its natural environment, comprising drinking water quality, air quality, and pollution and industrial toxins; and its social environment, comprising community engagement, social support and voter participation.
Despite its small population, North Dakota topped the list, with two other Midwestern states, Minnesota and Wisconsin, finishing second and third.
Read on to see where your state ranks:
50. California
Natural environment ranking: 44
Social environment ranking: 47
49. New Jersey
Natural environment ranking: 32
Social environment ranking: 49
48. Indiana
Natural environment ranking: 46
Social environment ranking: 43
47. Illinois
Natural environment ranking: 50
Social environment ranking: 35
46. Texas
Natural environment ranking: 38
Social environment ranking: 46
45. West Virginia
Natural environment ranking: 47
Social environment ranking: 40
44. Pennsylvania
Natural environment ranking: 45
Social environment ranking: 41
43. Nevada
Natural environment ranking: 30
Social environment ranking: 50
42. Louisiana
Natural environment ranking: 49
Social environment ranking: 31
41. Virginia
Natural environment ranking: 39
Social environment ranking: 44
40. Ohio
Natural environment ranking: 48
Social environment ranking: 29
39. Arizona
Natural environment ranking: 40
Social environment ranking: 34
38. Connecticut
Natural environment ranking: 36
Social environment ranking: 39
37. New York
Natural environment ranking: 10
Social environment ranking: 48
36. Hawaii
Natural environment ranking: 31
Social environment ranking: 37
35. Alabama
Natural environment ranking: 43
Social environment ranking: 27
34. North Carolina
Natural environment ranking: 37
Social environment ranking: 25
33. Florida
Natural environment ranking: 1
Social environment ranking: 45
32. Georgia
Natural environment ranking: 15
Social environment ranking: 38
31. Maryland
Natural environment ranking: 29
Social environment ranking: 26
30. South Carolina
Natural environment ranking: 22
Social environment ranking: 33
29. Michigan
Natural environment ranking: 35
Social environment ranking: 23
28. Tennessee
Natural environment ranking: 24
Social environment ranking: 32
27. Kentucky
Natural environment ranking: 34
Social environment ranking: 22
26. Vermont
Natural environment ranking: 27
Social environment ranking: 28
25. Massachusetts
Natural environment ranking: 3
Social environment ranking: 42
24. Delaware
Natural environment ranking: 23
Social environment ranking: 30
23. Rhode Island
Natural environment ranking: 4
Social environment ranking: 36
22. Utah
Natural environment ranking: 41
Social environment ranking: 6
21. Washington
Natural environment ranking: 7
Social environment ranking: 24
20. Idaho
Natural environment ranking: 26
Social environment ranking: 12
19. Alaska
Natural environment ranking: 42
Social environment ranking: 1
18. Oregon
Natural environment ranking: 19
Social environment ranking: 15
17. Oklahoma
Natural environment ranking: 28
Social environment ranking: 9
16. Kansas
Natural environment ranking: 16
Social environment ranking: 16
15. Missouri
Natural environment ranking: 14
Social environment ranking: 18
14. Nebraska
Natural environment ranking: 21
Social environment ranking: 13
13. Montana
Natural environment ranking: 33
Social environment ranking: 2
12. Maine
Natural environment ranking: 25
Social environment ranking: 8
11. Wyoming
Natural environment ranking: 11
Social environment ranking: 19
10. Colorado
Natural environment ranking: 8
Social environment ranking: 20
9. Iowa
Natural environment ranking: 18
Social environment ranking: 10
8. New Mexico
Natural environment ranking: 17
Social environment ranking: 11
7. Arkansas
Natural environment ranking: 5
Social environment ranking: 21
6. Mississippi
Natural environment ranking: 9
Social environment ranking: 17
5. South Dakota
Natural environment ranking: 6
Social environment ranking: 14
4. New Hampshire
Natural environment ranking: 13
Social environment ranking: 7
3. Wisconsin
Natural environment ranking: 20
Social environment ranking: 5
2. Minnesota
Natural environment ranking: 12
Social environment ranking: 4
1. North Dakota
Natural environment ranking: 2
Social environment ranking: 3