America's Top States For Business 2012

#21 Washington

#21 Washington

Seattle, 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

Top States For Business 2013