Only 4 States Ranked Worse Than Michigan In A Surprising New National Ranking

If you're the sort of person who beams with hometown pride, you're probably quite miffed to see your state languish at the nadir of America's best and worst state rankings. Well, unfortunately for the citizens of New Mexico, Mississippi, Alaska, and Louisiana, a new U.S. News & World Report ranking has placed their states at the bottom of the pile. Alongside Michigan in 46th place, they make up the five "worst states" in America in 2026.

U.S. News used a variety of data points to compile its list, including general livability and prosperity indicators like infrastructure, education, healthcare, prevalence of crime, access to nature, and the economy. It then combined these statistics to create the overall standings. Utah topped the list, despite a low score in the natural environment category (48th) — surprising for a state that's home to five scenic national parks perfect for road trippers. South Dakota (second) and Minnesota (third) made up the rest of the top three. 

Despite the comprehensiveness of the study, a pejorative term like "worst" is also subjective. From a travel perspective, does Michigan, bordering its namesake lake and home to a resurging Detroit, deserve to be on your no-go list? What makes a state like Alaska, America's breathtaking and least-visited destination, fall into the proceed-with-caution category? Should you think twice about visiting New Mexico or Mississippi? And what about Louisiana, home to the iconic New Orleans — is it really the worst state of all?

Michigan didn't score particularly well in any of the categories, but it was dragged into the bottom five thanks to particularly low scores in education, economy, and infrastructure. How much this will affect you as a traveler here is debatable. However, it's worth noting that the access to public transport is below par. According to a study from the University of Michigan, transport insecurity in Detroit is more than double the national average, with 36% of residents struggling to get from place to place safely or on time. Elsewhere in the state, Michigan communities have traditionally been designed to be car dependent.

However, despite its poor showing in the rankings, Michigan still offers many things to the prospective traveler. Detroit, once a symbol of post-industrial collapse, is now booming, with smart new hotels, a lively tech startup scene, high-end restaurants, and new commercial developments popping up all over the city. It's little wonder the New York Times named it as one of the best places to travel in 2025. You've also got the lively college town of Ann Arbor, sprawling lake views and island-hopping adventures on lakes Michigan and Huron, and tours of the rolling vineyards of Michigan's underrated wine country — which has been dubbed the "Napa of the Midwest."

New Mexico may be considered America's "most cultural" state, but that didn't stop it from falling to 47th in the U.S. News table, coming dead last in the education category, and scoring poorly in crime & corrections and infrastructure. As a tourist, most of those factors are unlikely to impinge upon your vacation. After all, New Mexico receives tens of millions of tourists annually, who come to see the iconic Pueblo architecture of Santa Fe, learn about the state's Indigenous culture, and visit wilderness areas like White Sands National Park and Tent Rocks. New Mexico does have some problems with crime, most notably drug trafficking, as fans of "Breaking Bad" will surely recall. According to reports, violent crime rates in New Mexico are also well above the national average (despite a recent overall decrease), so if you're traveling in cities like Gallup, Belen, or Albuquerque, it's wise to exercise vigilance and caution.

Mississippi fared much better in the crime & corrections category than New Mexico, but it struggled in the economic and healthcare categories. Because it's considered to have the worst healthcare record of all states (including Washington, D.C.), travelers with underlying medical conditions should bear this in mind before booking their trip. The Clarion Ledger, a local newspaper, also notes that Laurel is the state's most dangerous city, with high violent crime rates in the downtown area.

On the bright side, Mississippi has many virtues. It gave rise to delta blues music, one of the most fundamentally American art forms, and is home to a literary trail that celebrates local wordsmiths like Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, and Kathryn Stockett. Other cool travel experiences include taking to the Delta waters in a canoe or boat, and visiting Mississippi's art and science museums.

You'll usually find Alaska near the top of any list ranking America's most beautiful destinations. It's strange, then, to see it considered the second worst state in the country. It ranked quite low in education and infrastructure, and — perhaps surprisingly — was in the bottom 10 in both the crime & corrections and natural environment categories. Alaska's struggles with crime are related to its high rates of violent crime and larceny when adjusted against its relatively small population of around 730,000. Its poor showing in the natural environment category is linked to "forever chemicals" in the drinking water supply and a glut of cruise ships toxifying the state's air and waterways.

That said, Alaska is not generally considered a dangerous place for tourists to visit. If you're in Alaska, chances are you're visiting one of its immense national parks, like Denali or Glacier Bay, in which case the environment itself poses the highest threat. Alaska's parks are filled with bears, are known for their severe and changeable weather conditions, and are prone to avalanches. It's wise to prepare thoroughly and consult relevant guidance before you visit.

Louisiana holds the ignominious title of America's worst state, according to the U.S. News ranking, coming in the bottom 10 in all categories, including 49th in natural environment and the economy, and last in crime & corrections. Louisiana has much to offer the intrepid traveler, with the jazz enclaves and bayous of New Orleans, a rich Creole and Cajun culinary heritage, and its annual Mardi Gras celebrations. But it's also hard to ignore the fact that three cities in Louisiana — Alexandria, New Orleans, Monroe — are among the top 10 most dangerous places in the U.S. Even local newspapers have cautioned travelers against visiting the state alone.