Minnesota reclaims title of the nation's most healthy state

Minnesota is still a good place to live, two surveys reveal. The worst: Mississippi was deemed to be the least healthiest and least livable state in the country.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: March 27, 2008 - 7:55 PM

When it comes to health, Minnesota is No. 1, but the Gopher state has slipped a bit when it comes to livability. That's according to CQ Press, which is out with its list of the most healthy and livable states for 2008.

Minnesota supplanted Vermont as the nation's most healthy state, marking the first time since 1999 that Minnesota has come out on top in the annual survey. In its "Health Care State Rankings 2008: Health Care Across America" survey released Wednesday, the publisher examined 21 factors such as access to health care providers, affordability of health care and the general health of the population to come up with this year's list.

New Hampshire came in second followed by Vermont, which won the award as the nation's most healthy state six out of the last seven years. Maine and Massachusetts round out the top five.

Iowa came in sixth, North Dakota ninth, Wisconsin 14th and South Dakota 24th among states in the Upper Midwest.

The least healthy states were Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada and Florida.

New Hampshire was named the most livable state for the second straight year. The state was lauded for low crime rates, low levels of poverty and a highly educated populace.

Minnesota fell two positions to No. 4, according to the list contained in "State Rankings 2008: A Statistical view of America." Utah came in second and Wyoming third. Iowa was fifth.

The Washington-based publisher, a division of Congressional Quarterly, used 44 criteria to come up the 2008 list, including economic, educational, health-oriented, public safety and environmental factors.

North Dakota ranked 10th, South Dakota 15th and Wisconsin 23rd among states in the Upper Midwest.

Mississippi was deemed the least livable state, a distinction the Magnolia State had held nine of the past 10 years. Preceding Mississippi are South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Recent Local + Metro stories

Minn. Guard welcomes 12 troops from Afghanistan - March 27, 2008

Minn. Guard welcomes 12 troops from Afghanistan - The Minnesota National Guard is welcoming home 12 soldiers on Friday from a one-year deployment to Afghanistan. More