#36 Kentucky (Tie)

Governor: Steve Beshear (D)

Population: 4,369,356

GDP (per capita): $32,331

Number of S&P companies: 6

Top corporate tax rate: 6.00 percent

Top individual tax rate: 6.00 percent

Gasoline taxes/fees: 27.8 cents

Bond Rating/Outlook: Aa2/Negative

SAT scores (average): 1711/2400

Degree Granting Institutions (colleges/universities): 76

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