Unpopular opinion: South Carolina isn’t always No. 1.
It might be in our hearts, but it’s not according to experts + data (lots and lots of data). In fact, the state ranked 42 out of 50.
Charleston gets so many accolades for being a great place to visit + live, but we’re only as good as the state we’re in. And that state just got shockingly bad reviews all across the board by the U.S. News and World Report.
So, how does S.C. compare?
[embed]https://giphy.com/gifs/jimmy-fallon-saved-by-the-bell-tiffany-amber-thiessen-UPeGRtC61xNJe[/embed]
We’re #48 in education, and in the bottom half of all rankings other than economy + fiscal stability. But, in the spirit of optimism, we ranked #5 in drinking water quality. 🚰
The full run-down (ranking out of 50, data from McKinsey & Company’s Leading States Index):
48. Education
42. Crimes + Correction
41. Health Care
39. Opportunity
33. Infrastructure
30. Quality of life
18. Fiscal Stability
15. Economy
Charts from McKinsey & Company
Quick facts:
- Iowa, Minnesota, Utah, North Dakota + New Hampshire were ranked in the top five overall, respectively.
- Oklahoma, Alaska, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, New Mexico, Mississippi + Louisiana ranked beneath S.C., respectively.
S.C. takeaways:
- 10.3% of bridges are deemed deficient
- 18.6% of roads are in poor/mediocre condition
- 15.8% of adults go without health care due to cost
- 32.3% of adults are obese
- 60% of college students graduate with debt
- Only 21.9% of children under five attend preschool
While the numbers may seem grim, it’s not all bad news. South Carolina’s 2018 rankings show a big improvement compared to last year— when the state ranked dead last in education and 45th overall.
Another glimmer of hope: S.C. leaped over ten states in the ‘infrastructure’ category, going from 43rd in 2017 to 33rd this year. Perhaps that’s partly due to the gas tax bill, aimed at giving some much-needed TLC to the state’s crumbling roadways.
