#4 North Carolina
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Charlotte, North Carolina
| Category | Score | 2012 Rank | 2011 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Doing Business | 206 | 21 | 9 |
| Workforce | 255 | 3 | 3 |
| Quality of Life | 196 | 26 | 33 |
| Infrastructure & Transportation | 205 | 11 | 3 |
| Economy | 132 | 31 | 41 |
| Education | 140 | 13 | 18 |
| Technology & Innovation | 163 | 9 | 12 |
| Business Friendliness | 152 | 8 | 11 |
| Access to Capital | 69 | 18 | 11 |
| Cost of Living | 30 | 21 | 22 |
| OVERALL | 1548 | 4 | 3 |
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Governor: Beverly Perdue (D)
Population: 9,656,401
GDP (per capita): $39,879
Number of S&P companies: 14
Top corporate tax rate: 6.90 percent
Top individual tax rate: 7.75 percent
Gasoline taxes/fees: 39.2 cents
Bond Rating/Outlook: Aaa/Stable
SAT scores (average): 1475/2400
Degree Granting Institutions (colleges/universities): 139
Sources: Census Bureau (2011), Standard & Poor's (2012), Tax Foundation (2012), American Petroleum Institute (2012), Bureau Labor Statistics (2011), National Center For Education Statistics (2011), Moody's (2012), CNBC
