MA Ranks as the 2nd Safest State in the US
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Wednesday, June 08, 2016
GoLocalWorcester News Team
Massachusetts ranks as the 2nd safest state in the country, according to a recent study done by
WalletHub.
Massachusetts ranks 7th in Home & Community safety, 7th in financial safety, 1st in road safety, 23rd in workplace safety and 9th in safety from natural disasters.
The Rankings
Massachusetts ranks 2nd behind Vermont, while ranking ahead of New Hampshire and Rhode Island at 3 and 4 respectively.
Mississippi is ranked last.
To see where other states rank, see the map below.
The Method
To identify the safest states to live, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key dimensions, Home and Community Safety, Financial Safety, Road Safety, Workplace Safety and Safety from Natural Disasters.
WalletHub identified 25 relevant metrics and gave them each corresponding weights and a value between 0 and 100, 100 being the best.
WalletHub then calculated the overall score for each state using the weighted average across all metrics and ranked the states accordingly.
Home & Community Safety - Total Points: 40
- Number of Murders & Non-Negligent Manslaughters per Capita: Double Weight (~5.33 Points)
- Number of Forcible Rapes per Capita: Double Weight (~5.33 Points)
- Number of Assaults per Capita: Double Weight (~5.33 Points)
- Number of Thefts per Capita: Double Weight (~5.33 Points)
- Number of Sex Offenders per Capita: Double Weight (~5.33 Points)
- Number of Drug Abuses per Capita: Full Weight (~2.67 Points)
- Total Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita: Full Weight (~2.67 Points)
- Number of Active Firefighters per Capita: Full Weight (~2.67 Points)
- Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~2.67 Points)
- Bullying-Incidents Rate: Full Weight (~2.67 Points)
Financial Safety- Total Points: 15
- Percentage of Population Lacking Health-Insurance Coverage: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
- Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.75 Points)
- Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight(~1.88 Points)
- Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
- Debt per Income: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
- Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
- Percentage of People with Rainy-Day Funds: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Road Safety - Total Points: 15
- Number of Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles of Travel: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Number of DUIs per Capita: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Pedestrian Fatality Rate per Capita: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Note: This metric also includes pedacyclists.
Workplace Safety - Total Points: 15
- Fatal Occupational Injury Rate per 100,000 Full-Time Workers: Double Weight (~7.50 Points)
- Injury & Illness Rate per 10,000 Full-Time Workers: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
- Median Days Lost Due to Occupational Injuries & Illnesses: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
Safety from Natural Disasters - Total Points: 15
- Number of Climate Disasters Causing $1 Billion+ in Damages in Past Decades: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
- Estimated Property Losses from Natural Disasters per Capita: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
Related Slideshow: Massachusetts Business Rankings
See how Massachusetts stacked up.
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WalletHub
Massachusetts has 2015's 28th highest insurance premium penalties for high risk drivers, according to a WalletHub report.
Mass is behind Colorado and New Mexico who come in at 26 and 27 spots respectively while Mass is ahead of Tennessee and the District of Columbia who rank 29 and 30 respectively.
Massachusetts ranks 14th overall in the category of DUI conviction annual premium increase with an amount of $756.
Massachusetts ranks 20th overall in the category of speeding over 20 mph annual premium increase with a total of $261 while ranking 21 overall in the category of two accidents annual premium increase with a total of $1,364.
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WalletHub
Massachusetts has been ranked as the 5th most eco-friendly state in the country, according to a recent study by WalletHub.
Mass ranks tenth in environmental quality and fourth in Eco-Friendly Behaviors landing them in 8th overall.
Mass is behind Minnesota and New York who are in the fourth and third spots respectively, and in front of Washington and New Hampshire who come in at the six and seven spots.
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The Economist
Small Business Friendliness Grade: D+
The Economist grades states on an A+ to F grading scale for its small business climate. Massachusetts ranks near the bottom of the nation, joining New Mexico and New York in receiving D+ grades. 9 states scored worse than a D+ in the Economist rankings.
Overbearing bureaucracy and excessive licensing is stifling small business in America.
Read More About The Economist Grade Here
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CNBC
#25 CNBC
CNBC ranks each state in cost of doing business, economy, technology and innovation.
Massachusetts' unemployment rate as of May 2014 was 5.6 percent. The state added 9,100 jobs in the month of May.
Read More About CNBC Ranking Here
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Forbes
#13 Forbes
Forbes ranks each state in business costs, economic climate, and growth prospects.
The most damning in the commentary:
Massachusetts’ business costs, including labor, energy and taxes, are the highest of the 48 contiguous states—only Hawaii is higher—at 20% above the national average.
Read More About Forbes Ranking Here
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ChiefExecutive.net
#47 ChiefExecutive.net
ChiefExecutive.net ranks each state in taxations and regulations, workforce quality, and living environment.
The most damning in the commentary:
Taxation and regulation are always the key barometers. Massachusetts and Oregon are the worst.
Read More About ChiefExecutive.net Ranking Here
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Wallet Hub
#10 Wallet Hub
Wallet Hub ranks each state in ROI rank, state tax rank, and overall government services.
Massachusetts ranked #49 in worst roads and bridges, but ranked #7 in overall government services.
Read More About Wallet Hub Ranking Here
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ALEC
#41 ALEC
ALEC ranks each state in economic performance and outlook.
Although Massachusetts ranked low in economic performance, a forward-looking forecast is based on the state’s standing in 15 important state policy variables. Some of these variables include top marginal personal income tax rate and sales tax burden.
Read More About ALEC Ranking Here
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Kauffman Foundation
#29 Kauffman Foundation
Kauffman Foundation ranks each state in entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial activity generally is highest in Western and Southern states
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Read More About Kauffman Foundation Ranking Here
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Free Enterprise
#18 Free Enterprise
Free Enterprise ranks each state in performance, exports, innovation + entrepreneurship, business climate, talent pipeline, infrastructure.
Massachusetts's reputation as a hotspot for science and technology endures in this year's rankings. The commonwealth is a center for STEM jobs and university research and development, ranking 4th and 2nd, respectively, in those two categories. It also ranks 6th as a center for high-tech establishments. Massachusetts is taking aggressive steps to bolster economic activity with high-impact university-industry R&D projects and new tools for tech-based startup companies.
Read More About Free Enterprise Ranking Here
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