What's the No. 1 state in the nation? U.S. News releases 2018 Best States list

That's according to U.S. News & World Report's official 2018 Best States ranking, for which analysts compared the 50 states across seven categories: health care; education; economy; opportunity; infrastructure; crime and corrections; fiscal stability; and quality of life.

>> On AJC.com: Georgia health care ranks among worst in nation, study says

Health care and education carried the most weight at 16 percent each.

Data used for the analysis were drawn from reliable governmental and private resources, as well as a national survey of what matters most to citizens around the U.S.

Iowa ranked in the top five in four different categories, including health care (3), education (5), opportunity (4) and infrastructure (1).

For the second straight year, Louisiana was ranked last.

Here are the top 10 best states in America, according to U.S. News:

1. Iowa

2. Minnesota

3. Utah

4. North Dakota

5. New Hampshire

6. Washington

7. Nebraska

8. Massachusetts

9. Vermont

10. Colorado

Other notable rankings:

15. Florida

23. North Carolina

25. New York

26. Tennessee

31. Georgia

36. Texas

38. Pennsylvania

40. Ohio

42. South Carolina