What Are the Best States in the West in 2026? 13 States Ranked
Utah is the best state in the West in 2026 with a composite score of 79.3/100 and a A+ grade (#4 nationally). All 13 Western states are ranked across economy, safety, health, education, and more using real federal data.
West states ranked
The West includes 13 states with an average composite score of 57.1/100. Utah leads the region at 79.3 (A+ grade, #4 nationally), while New Mexico trails at 33.1 (D, #47). The spread of 46.2 points within the region shows how different the states are despite sharing geography.
Average median income across the West: $79,506. Unemployment: 4.2%. Cost of living: 100. Violent crime: 393/100K. These regional averages compare to national figures of $74,753, 3.8%, 97, and 350/100K.
| Rank | State | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Utah | 79.3 | A+ |
| #2 | Montana | 71.1 | B+ |
| #3 | Idaho | 70.7 | B+ |
| #4 | Wyoming | 69.4 | B+ |
| #5 | Colorado | 66.2 | B+ |
| #6 | Hawaii | 63.2 | B |
| #7 | Washington | 61.4 | B |
| #8 | Oregon | 58.1 | B |
| #9 | Arizona | 44.7 | C |
| #10 | California | 42.9 | C |
| #11 | Alaska | 42.1 | C |
| #12 | Nevada | 40.3 | D |
| #13 | New Mexico | 33.1 | D |
#1 in the West: Utah
Utah leads the West with a composite score of 79.3/100 and a A+ grade. The state's strongest categories are education (93.9) and health (91.8). Median income: $87,804. Unemployment: 3.2%. Violent crime: 228/100K.
#2 in the West: Montana
Montana ranks #2 in the region at 71.1/100 (B+ grade). Strong in affordability (71.8) and outdoor access (71.7). Median income: $72,340. COL index: 90. The weakest category is economy at 46.1.
#3 in the West: Idaho
Idaho ranks #3 in the region at 70.7/100 (B+ grade). Strong in safety (80.5) and growth (76.0). Median income: $68,930. COL index: 91. The weakest category is education at 40.8.
#4 in the West: Wyoming
Wyoming ranks #4 in the region at 69.4/100 (B+ grade). Strong in outdoor access (95.7) and safety (79.8). Median income: $71,847. COL index: 91. The weakest category is education at 36.7.
#5 in the West: Colorado
Colorado ranks #5 in the region at 66.2/100 (B+ grade). Strong in education (73.5) and health (67.3). Median income: $91,340. COL index: 101. The weakest category is safety at 39.2.
Western strengths and trade-offs
The West is defined by extremes. The region contains some of the best states in the country and some of the most expensive. Median household income averages $79,506, but the average cost of living index of 100 eats into that advantage. The average median home price is $537,154.
Where the West excels: outdoor access (average score: 52.9) and environment (49.3). Public land covers 46.4% of the average Western state. Population growth of 0.92% reflects continued migration westward, driven by lifestyle, climate, and job opportunities in tech and energy.
The bottom of the region
New Mexico (33.1), Nevada (40.3), Alaska (42.1) round out the bottom of the West. New Mexico's biggest challenges are safety (7.7) and education (12.2). But even the lowest-ranked Western state has strengths: New Mexico scores 79.5 in affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What is the best state in the West?
Utah ranks #1 in the West in 2026 with a composite score of 79.3/100, a A+ grade, and a national ranking of #4 out of 50 states. Utah's strongest categories are education (93.9) and health (91.8). The state has a median household income of $87,804, a 3.2% unemployment rate, and a cost of living index of 95. Montana (71.1) follows as the #2 state in the region.
Q:How many states are in the West?
There are 13 states in the West region. The average composite score across these states is 57.1/100, compared to the national average of 57.4. Within the region, there is a 46.2-point spread between the best state (Utah, 79.3) and the lowest-ranked (New Mexico, 33.1), showing significant variation despite shared geography. Regional averages for key metrics: median income $79,506, unemployment 4.2%, cost of living index 100, and violent crime rate 393 per 100K.
Q:What is the average cost of living in the West?
The average cost of living index across Western states is 100, compared to the national average of 97. This is right at the national average, though individual states vary significantly. The average median home price in the region is $537,154 and the average tax burden is 8.7%. For a detailed cost comparison, our affordability calculator at /affordability lets you model household costs across all 50 states.
Q:Which Western state has the strongest economy?
Hawaii leads the West for economy with a score of 90.0/100, driven by a 2.2% unemployment rate and a median income of $94,814. The regional average economy score is 46.3/100. Economic strength in the West varies based on industry mix, urbanization, and education levels — states with diversified economies anchored by knowledge-sector industries tend to outperform those reliant on single industries like agriculture or extraction.
Q:Which Western state is safest?
Idaho is the safest state in the West with a safety score of 80.5/100 and a violent crime rate of 214 per 100,000 residents. The regional average violent crime rate is 393 per 100K, compared to the national average of 350. Safety varies significantly across the West — the gap between the safest and least safe Western states spans 72.8 points, showing that regional geography alone doesn't determine safety outcomes.