Here’s how Mass. ranked on the U.S. News list of ‘Best States in the U.S.’ – Charm

Massachusetts took third place for the best state in New England.

A view of Boston. David L Ryan/Globe Staff

Massachusetts is the ninth best state in the country, according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

Launched in 2017, the Best States rankings look at eight categories — health care, education, natural environment, opportunity, economy, crime and corrections, infrastructure, and fiscal stability — to assess the 50 states.

Education was the highest-weighted category in this year’s rankings based on survey results about the issues that Americans care about most.

Massachusetts ranked second in health care, third in natural environment, and fifth in education as well as crime and corrections. It came in third place for the best state in New England, after New Hampshire (second overall) and Vermont (seventh overall).

“Legislatively, Massachusetts has paved the way for other states: It led the way in universal health care coverage, with a plan enacted in 2006 that inspired former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act,” according to the report. “It was also the first state to legalize gay marriage and the second to pass discrimination laws for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.”

Education and health service industries employ the most people in Massachusetts, according to U.S. News. The state’s tourism industry is also a “major economic powerhouse.”

Utah came out on top for the third year in a row, ranking in the top ten in five of the Best State categories: fiscal stability, economy, infrastructure, education, and crime and corrections.