Michigan Lands in Bottom 5 of 2026 US News State Rankings at No. 45

Q: As economic power shifts inward, what hidden demographic advantage is quietly keeping Utah ahead of booming states like Texas?

Utah’s quiet edge is its unusually young age profile. While Texas is bigger and now leads the nation in raw economic measures such as job growth, GDP growth and migration, Utah still benefits from having the youngest population in the country. Census-based reporting puts Utah’s median age at about 32.6, well below the U.S. median of 39.4, and only about 12.4% of Utah residents are 65 or older. That matters because a younger population strengthens several of the categories that drive overall state rankings. It expands the share of working-age residents, supports labor-force growth, keeps dependency costs lower, and helps state finances by reducing the immediate burden of age-related spending compared with older states. It also feeds school enrollment, household formation and long-run workforce replacement. Texas has strong youth growth too, but it is aging faster. Texas demographers project a sharp rise in its 65-and-over population, with the state moving toward an “ultra-aged” profile by 2060. Its growth is also becoming more dependent on migration as fertility declines and population gains slow. Utah’s advantage is that its economic momentum is paired with a deeper demographic cushion: a younger resident base that helps sustain fiscal stability, labor supply and future growth at the same time. That balance helps explain why Utah can stay ahead overall even when another state, such as Texas, posts bigger headline economic numbers.

3 articles · Updated · Detroit News · Jul 28

US News placed Michigan 45th overall in its 2026 Best States ranking, leaving it among the six lowest-ranked states alongside Arkansas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alaska and Louisiana.
Michigan’s weak finish was driven by 45th in education, 43rd in economy and 42nd in infrastructure, with additional low marks in fiscal stability at 38th and opportunity at 33rd.
Health care was Michigan’s strongest category at 24th, while it ranked 32nd in crime and corrections and natural environment.
Utah topped the 50-state list, while Louisiana ranked last at No. 50; US News said the standings were based on 71 metrics across eight categories and surveys of more than 56,000 people from 2018 to 2025.