Why US News ranks Utah as the best state for the 3rd consecutive year

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s unique political and religious culture helped the state earn the top spot in U.S. News and World Report’s annual best states index for the third year in a row.

The report, released Tuesday, cites “the Utah way” — a phrase often repeated by state political leaders to describe the state’s approach to thorny issues — and the Beehive State’s nickname to highlight a culture of community it says is key to the state’s success.

U.S. News and World Report notes that many hard statistics about crime, economic well-being and education give proof to the state’s status, but writes that: “Those in the know also note the intangible aspects of community and respect — at the dinner table or elsewhere — that fuel a phenomenon termed the ‘Utah way.’ To sum it up: In a politically divisive era, people actually talk to each other and try to work through issues.”

“There’s just so much that the government can’t do, and you need that fabric,” Gov. Spencer Cox told the publication. “It’s why Utah is different. It’s why Utah continues to do well, and it’s special.”

Utah has a “bipartisan body” of lawmakers

Regarding politics, the report references two state senators — Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, and Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Salt Lake City — who both speak of a relatively bipartisan body. Pitcher passed 14 bills during the last legislative session, more than any other Democrat and all but four Republicans.

“Obviously, there are certain issues that Democrats won’t win on,” she told U.S. News, particularly gun control and reproductive rights. “I think 90% of what we do is not partisan. It’s just that 10% that tends to get covered in the media and gets more attention and sort of creates the optics that maybe we’re more partisan than we really are.”

“Utah’s culture is: We want to understand, we want to listen and we want to find common ground,” Harper said.

Utah, as a whole, has been a place where we have been able to collaborate and find compromise. I’ve lived here now for almost 20 years, and I do think that part of it is wanting to be compassionate and caring of one’s neighbors.”  Marina Lowe, Equality Utah

The report also singles out the influence of religion — the dominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in particular — on the state’s social and political culture. Although the state is heavily conservative, the report mentioned several compromises that protected LGBTQ+ individuals and people of faith from discrimination and a ban on conversion therapy for minors as policies that are unique given the state’s political and religious culture.

“Utah, as a whole, has been a place where we have been able to collaborate and find compromise,” Marina Lowe, policy director for Equality Utah, told U.S. News. “I’ve lived here now for almost 20 years, and I do think that part of it is wanting to be compassionate and caring of one’s neighbors.”

Utah ranks high in several metrics

Utah ranks highly in several metrics, with the second-lowest poverty rate and the top rank on a measure of income equality. However, it was not perfect across the board, coming in the middle of the pack on cost of living and housing affordability, and falling near the bottom in the category that assesses states on “pollution-related problems,” per the report.

Leaders in Utah celebrated the announcement, which comes less than a month after the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative-leaning policy organization, said Utah has the best economic outlook for the 18th year in a row.

“From our strong economy to our top-tier educational institutions, Utahns continue to show the nation how service, faith, freedom and opportunity are foundational to success,” Cox said in a social media post. “I’m grateful to stand with you as we keep building the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said, “Being No. 1 isn’t about crossing a finish line — it’s about continuing to improve,” while House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, called the accolade “a reflection of the people who live here.”

Utah isn’t the only Western state to score highly in this year’s ranking. Washington was named No. 10, and Idaho was No. 3.