2012 OVERALL RANKINGS
- Top Five
- 1. Texas
- 2. Utah
- 3. Virginia
- 4. North Carolina
- 5. North Dakota
- Bottom Five
- 50. Rhode Island
- 49. Hawaii
- 48. West Virginia
- 47. Alaska
- 46. Mississippi
The Lone Star State is tops again, displacing Virginia, which didn't even finish second this year. And who's last? Rhode Island.
Utah moved up six spots to finish second in CNBC's sixth annual study, thanks to high rankings in the categories of workforce, transportation and the cost of doing business.
The three-time winner of the study suffered from steep declines in the individual categories of transportation and the cost of doing business.
We score all the states on 51 measures of competitiveness and 10 categories, from the cost of doing business to technology and innovation.
CNBC ranks America's Top States for Business in 2012. See which state took the number one spot.
Overall payroll growth remains subpar and disappointing but these states, which include a few surprises, are showing healthy and diverse growth.
Cost of living may not be among the top criteria for a business, but it can be a big consideration for employees. Look at the cost of a variety of items in the nation's 10 most expensive states.
Hawaii’s tropical and beautiful, but some of the nation’s coldest states — including the best one in CNBC’s category – make the top in our study.
As part of our annual study, America’s Top States for Business, we grade states on several criteria in this important category of Technology & Innovation.
Curious about where your state Governor lives? On this years’ list, we have homes ranging from mansions to relatively modest.
South Dakota! The Mount Rushmore State was crowned the Top State for Business 2013. Here's why.
Where did your state rank last year? How will it stack up in 2014? America's Top States for Business is coming this June.
CNBC scored all the states on 55 measures of competitiveness and 10 categories.
The Old Dominion State returns as America’s Top State for Business in 2011, and we’re starting to detect a pattern here.
Data also provided by 
