14. Idaho

It may call itself the Gem State, but Idaho offers very low costs. Education is among the worst in the nation.

Category
Score
2015 Rank
2014 Rank
Workforce 203 32 (Tie) 8
Cost of Doing Business 246 6 8
Infrastructure 183 27 34
Economy 205 19 42
Quality of Life 190 22 16
Technology & Innovation 102 33 (Tie) 41
Education 53 47 (Tie) 45
Business Friendliness 103 11 (Tie) 6
Cost of Living 72 3 11
Access to Capital 32 19 21
Overall 1389 14 16

Economic Profile

Governor: Butch Otter, Republican

Population: 1,634,464

GDP growth: 2.7 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2015): 3.9 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 7.4 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 7.4 percent

Gasoline tax: 43 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa1/stable

Major private employer: St. Lukes's Health System

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Idaho FY 2014 CAFR

FULL LIST: 2015 TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

Latest Special Reports

  • CNBC Changemakers

    CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business is an annual list spotlighting women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world.

  • Geoff Cutmore, Steve Sedgwick and Karen Tso lead you into the open of the European markets.

  • The Just 100 is an annual ranking of America’s largest publicly traded companies on issues that define 'just' business behavior and reflect the priorities of the American public, produced in partnership with research nonprofit Just Capital.