Pennsylvania ranks near worst in nation in new report

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A new study released by U.S. News and World Report ranking states against each other has placed Pennsylvania near the bottom.

Each state was ranked on eight different factors and how well the state performs for its citizens in those categories. The factors listed were crime and corrections, economy, education, fiscal stability, health care, infrastructure, natural environment and opportunity. The states that landed in the top five were Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota and Nebraska, respectively.

Pennsylvania ranked the following in each category individually:

• Crime and Corrections – 17th
• Economy – 38th
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• Education – 39th
• Fiscal stability – 39th
• Health care – 11th
• Infrastructure – 43rd
• Natural environment – 40th
• Opportunity – 29th

Overall, the Commonwealth ranked 41 out of 50 based on the aforementioned factors.

More specifically, the report provided a look into Pennsylvania when it came to each category. For example, the study estimated that the incarceration rate in the Commonwealth is 292 per 100,000 residents in comparison to the national average of 306 per 100,000. It was noted that Pennsylvania’s juvenile incarceration rate, 56 per 100,000, is higher than the national average of 41 per 100,000.

For more on the study, visit the U.S. News and World Report website.