Why Washington Is the Best State in America
SEATTLE Buoyed by its rapidly expanding economy, Washington state is on a winning streak.
For the second time, Washington has been named No. 1 in the U.S. News Best States ranking and is the first state to earn the top spot twice in a row.
Washington s low-carbon energy system and robust secondary education system continue to rank among the nation s best, as does the state s economy, the fastest growing in the nation. Shortcomings have proved persistent, too, as the state s high living and labor costs leave it in the middle of the pack when it comes to opportunity for its residents, according to the Best States rankings.