Top States 2011: Overall Rankings
We scored all 50 states on 43 measures of competitiveness developed with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers and the Council on Competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, we separated those metrics into ten broad categories, weighting the categories based on how frequently they are cited in state economic development marketing materials. That way, our study ranks the states based on the criteria they use to sell themselves.
Overall | State | Cost of Business | Workforce | Quality of Life | Economy | Infrastructure & Transp. | Technology & Innovation | Education | Business Friendliness | Access to Capital | Cost of Living |
1 | Virginia | 21 | 12 | 26 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 24 |
2 | Texas | 33 | 14 | 32 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
3 | North Carolina | 9 | 3 | 33 | 41 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 22 |
4 | Georgia | 18 | 4 | 38 | 35 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 16 | 13 | 9 |
5 | Colorado | 30 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 26 | 14 | 30 | 6 | 15 | 33 |
6 | Massachusetts | 41 | 31 | 10 | 15 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 41 |
7 | Minnesota | 23 | 36 | 8 | 27 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 33 |
8 | Utah | 12 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 33 | 25 | 46 | 4 | 23 | 17 |
9 | Iowa | 1 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 37 | 28 | 15 | 11 | 35 | 14 |
10 | Nebraska | 17 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 31 | 35 | 20 | 5 | 35 | 6 |
11 | Kansas | 27 | 13 | 26 | 16 | 19 | 30 | 24 | 14 | 28 | 7 |
12 | Pennsylvania | 27 | 43 | 29 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 33 | 7 | 31 |
13(t) | North Dakota | 20 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 28 | 48 | 23 | 9 | 35 | 19 |
13(t) | South Dakota | 7 | 15 | 5 | 11 | 42 | 49 | 20 | 3 | 35 | 26 |
15 | Indiana | 8 | 41 | 40 | 30 | 21 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 |
16 | Missouri | 3 | 33 | 34 | 29 | 9 | 23 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 8 |
17 | New Hampshire | 37 | 40 | 2 | 10 | 45 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 40 |
18(t) | Florida | 40 | 2 | 31 | 47 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 25 |
18(t) | Tennessee | 19 | 9 | 47 | 46 | 5 | 24 | 43 | 8 | 26 | 2 |
20 | Washington | 43 | 26 | 13 | 32 | 18 | 5 | 14 | 31 | 8 | 37 |
21 | Wyoming | 34 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 50 | 18 | 21 | 35 | 27 |
22 | Illinois | 24 | 45 | 28 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 36 | 5 | 20 |
23 | Ohio | 5 | 50 | 42 | 24 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 42 | 21 | 13 |
24 | Arizona | 38 | 1 | 35 | 44 | 10 | 18 | 49 | 13 | 18 | 36 |
25 | Wisconsin | 13 | 46 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 28 | 27 | 23 |
26 | New York | 48 | 49 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 3 | 45 |
27 | Oregon | 9 | 33 | 20 | 48 | 16 | 20 | 37 | 23 | 19 | 38 |
28 | Oklahoma | 6 | 22 | 37 | 4 | 35 | 37 | 42 | 24 | 24 | 3 |
29 | Maryland | 39 | 38 | 30 | 12 | 39 | 10 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 44 |
30 | New Jersey | 43 | 32 | 16 | 42 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 6 | 46 |
31 | Idaho | 11 | 5 | 16 | 38 | 36 | 39 | 45 | 22 | 35 | 12 |
32 | California | 47 | 29 | 22 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 36 | 50 | 1 | 48 |
32 | Arkansas | 1 | 10 | 45 | 9 | 40 | 44 | 31 | 44 | 35 | 4 |
34 | Michigan | 27 | 41 | 35 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 34 | 36 | 31 | 18 |
35 | Kentucky | 4 | 22 | 46 | 36 | 16 | 36 | 32 | 36 | 34 | 1 |
36 | Delaware | 31 | 19 | 48 | 22 | 40 | 32 | 26 | 1 | 35 | 35 |
37 | South Carolina | 14 | 6 | 42 | 49 | 19 | 26 | 46 | 29 | 35 | 28 |
38 | Montana | 25 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 34 | 46 | 28 | 46 | 35 | 30 |
39 | Connecticut | 45 | 33 | 11 | 44 | 43 | 19 | 3 | 40 | 17 | 47 |
40 | Maine | 26 | 44 | 6 | 34 | 48 | 40 | 9 | 32 | 30 | 39 |
41 | Alabama | 16 | 16 | 49 | 39 | 24 | 33 | 44 | 29 | 35 | 11 |
42 | Louisiana | 22 | 25 | 50 | 28 | 26 | 34 | 33 | 26 | 35 | 21 |
43 | New Mexico | 36 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 30 | 31 | 39 | 46 | 25 | 29 |
44 | Vermont | 42 | 37 | 3 | 21 | 49 | 40 | 4 | 34 | 32 | 42 |
45 | Nevada | 35 | 18 | 44 | 50 | 25 | 37 | 50 | 17 | 29 | 32 |
46 | West Virginia | 15 | 39 | 38 | 13 | 44 | 47 | 38 | 49 | 35 | 16 |
47 | Mississippi | 31 | 20 | 41 | 39 | 32 | 45 | 48 | 45 | 35 | 10 |
48 | Hawaii | 50 | 47 | 1 | 16 | 46 | 42 | 40 | 43 | 33 | 50 |
49 | Alaska | 49 | 48 | 21 | 3 | 47 | 43 | 41 | 34 | 35 | 49 |
50 | Rhode Island | 46 | 26 | 24 | 42 | 49 | 27 | 24 | 48 | 35 | 43 |