GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Michiganders take a lot of pride in their home state, but according to the U.S. News and World Report, it doesn't stack up to the 32 states ahead of it.
Using more than 70 metrics, the report ranked Michigan as the No. 33 best state in the country.
Washington, New Hampshire and Minnesota were the top three states on the list, while Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana rounded out the bottom.
According to the report, "the metrics take into account a state's economy, its roads, bridges, internet and other infrastructure, its public safety, the fiscal stability of state government, and the opportunity it affords residents."
Michigan's highest category ranked was "opportunity" at No. 14. The state also scored well in economy (19), health care (24) and fiscal stability (27).
The Mitten's lowest score came in the infrastructure category at No. 41. Education was a close second at No. 37, followed by crime and corrections (35) and natural environment (29).
To rank each state, each of the eight categories is assigned weightings based on the average of three years of data from an annual national survey that asked a total of more than 50,000 people to prioritize each subject in their state.
The weightings are:
- Health Care: 16%
- Education: 15.8%
- Economy: 13.8%
- Infrastructure: 12.9%
- Opportunity: 12.7%
- Fiscal Stability: 10.5%
- Crime & Corrections: 9.9%
- Natural Environment: 8.4%
There are also elements within those categories, which can be viewed here.
The survey asked Americans how satisfied they were with various state government services and where they thought their state governments should focus resources. Respondents were asked to rank the eight categories from most to least important in order of what their home state's priorities should be.
Michigan was also No. 33 in the same report from 2017, but in 2018, Michigan dropped down to No. 37.
To view the full report, click here.
RELATED VIDEO:
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.