There’s more good news for Wisconsin. After being lauded for both its small business activity and low sales taxes, the Badger State also had a respectable showing in U.S. News and World Report’s first “Best States” report.
Overall, Wisconsin was ranked 16th best among all 50 states, as well as fifth for government and 14th for opportunity. Its best ranking, for state government, combined a variety of metrics, such as budget balancing, credit rating, pension fund liability, government digitalization, budget transparency, and state integrity. Among those factors, Wisconsin came in first in the nation for its healthy, well-funded pension fund.
U.S. News and World Report analyzed more than 10,000 data points and 68 different metrics to measure how citizens experience their states. “The new Best States rankings and platform are a comprehensive effort to provide citizens with a full picture of what’s working and what needs to be improved in their states,” U.S. News and World Report editor Brian Kelly said in a statement.
See the full study and Wisconsin’s specific report for more details.