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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico pulled in a No. 46 among the 50 states ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States list, although there was a relative bright spot — it rose to middle of the pack when it comes to health care.

In particular, New Mexico was No. 6 when it comes to child dental visits.

The rankings released Tuesday are a measure of “how well states are performing for their citizens,” based on seven categories, the magazine said. Massachusetts was ranked No. 1 overall, while New Hampshire was No. 2.

New Mexico was No. 26 in the health category, which measured a number of factors having to do with health care access and quality and public health.

The child dentist ranking was based on the percentage of those eligible for Medicaid who saw a dentist within a one-year period. The state was No. 17 for child wellness visits.

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Other categories measured in the listing were a state’s economy, the opportunities it offers people, education, crime and corrections, roads, bridges, internet and other infrastructure and the integrity and health of state government. Health care and education were weighted most heavily, based on a survey of what matters most to people, the magazine said.

New Mexico was consigned to a spot near the bottom largely because of the crime and corrections category, in which it ranked No. 49, and the education category, in which it ranked 48th.

Rounding out the bottom of the overall list, below New Mexico, were Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana at No. 50.