U.S. News & World Report ranked each state. Here's how Delaware fared

Delaware is ranked the 21st best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, coming in just behind Connecticut and ahead of Maryland.

The rankings are based on 71 metrics across the eight broader categories of fiscal stability, crime and corrections, education, health care, opportunity, economy, opportunity and natural environment, according to U.S. News & World Report. The data itself comes primarily from government agencies and is weighted based on resident surveys.

Where did Delaware rank the best?

The First State earned its best marks in the fiscal stability category, ranking fourth in the nation overall. This was followed by ninth place for health care, with healthcare quality specifically designated No. 6 in the country.

Other specific metrics in which Delaware was ranked within the top ten in the nation were business environment (No. 3), health care access (No. 10) and transportation (No. 10).

Where did Delaware rank the worst?

Delaware's lowest score fell under the category of natural environment, where it was ranked 43rd in the nation. When considering pollution specifically, Delaware ranked 47th. The state produces almost four times more industrial toxins than the national average, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. At the same time, it had below-average rates of drinking water violations.

Other specific metrics in which Delaware was ranked within the bottom ten in the nation were employment (No. 41) and Pre-K to 12 education (No. 42).

MORE: U.S. News & World Report just ranked Delaware’s top schools. But what do they miss?

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: U.S. News & World Report rankings: Where does Delaware sit?