#21 Washington
#21 Washington
Mark Windom | Getty Images
Seattle, Washington
| Category | Score | 2012 Rank | 2011 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Doing Business | 145 | 37 | 43 |
| Workforce | 184 | 21 | 26 |
| Quality of Life | 225 | 15 | 13 |
| Infrastructure & Transportation | 144 | 36 | 18 |
| Economy | 86 | 45 | 32 |
| Education | 140 | 13 | 14 |
| Technology & Innovation | 184 | 5 | 5 |
| Business Friendliness | 74 | 36 | 31 |
| Access to Capital | 92 | 3 | 8 |
| Cost of Living | 15 | 36 | 37 |
| OVERALL | 1289 | 21 | 20 |
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Governor: Christine Gregoire (D)
Population: 6,830,038
GDP (per capita): $45,520
Number of S&P 500 companies: 8
Top corporate tax rate: None but a there is a gross receipts tax with rates not strictly comparable to corporate income tax rates
Top individual tax rate: None
Gasoline taxes/fees: 37.5 cents
Bond Rating/Outlook: Aa1/Negative
SAT scores (average): 1560/2400
Degree Granting Institutions (colleges/universities): 85
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
