The Best States Data Explorer holds thousands of data points used to determine state rankings across eight categories: health care, education, economy, opportunity, infrastructure, crime & corrections, fiscal stability and natural environment. Within each of these areas there are several benchmarks – 71 metrics in all – that contributed to the state rankings.

Dive into the Best States data with our interactive explorer tools. You can view existing charts or build your own using the many metrics that power state-to-state comparisons across the several categories. Compare the performance of the 50 U.S. states side by side with the bar chart, explore regional trends with the heat map and see relationships among factors with the bubble chart.

In drawing comparisons between states, it’s readily apparent where some are thriving and others have room for improvement. Whether you want to know how Arizona stacks up in higher education or where Delaware stands for entrepreneurship, our interactive explorer tools will bring data to life and help you draw meaningful conclusions.