We scored all 50 states—using publicly available data—on 40 different measures of competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, we separated those metrics into the ten broad categories, with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers. We weighted the categories based on how frequently each is cited in state economic development marketing materials.
America’s Top States for Business 2007
OVERALL | State | Cost of Doing Business | Workforce | Economy | Education | Quality of Life | Technology & Innovation | Infra-structure | Cost of Living | Business Friendliness | Access to Capital |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Virginia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 12 |
2 | Texas | 27 | 7 | 1 | 31 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 3 |
3 | Utah | 8 | 5 | 6 | 45 | 2 | 22 | 30 | 24 | 9 | 14 |
4 | Georgia | 21 | 2 | 17 | 28 | 36 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 11 |
5 | North Carolina | 22 | 1 | 22 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 9 |
6 | Idaho | 1 | 9 | 5 | 46 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 35 | 37 |
7 | Colorado | 26 | 17 | 11 | 34 | 13 | 12 | 41 | 40 | 12 | 7 |
8 | Minnesota | 31 | 22 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 15 | 13 |
8 | Florida | 43 | 11 | 4 | 37 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 32 | 16 | 15 |
10 | Arizona | 23 | 5 | 10 | 43 | 37 | 20 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 20 |
11 | Iowa | 5 | 15 | 35 | 14 | 22 | 33 | 33 | 12 | 10 | 41 |
12 | Massachusetts | 40 | 26 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 43 | 13 | 2 |
13 | North Dakota | 1 | 22 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 47 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 48 |
14 | Wyoming | 11 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 49 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 44 |
15 | New Jersey | 45 | 40 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 48 | 27 | 5 |
16 | Kansas | 24 | 14 | 28 | 13 | 31 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
17 | Tennessee | 12 | 12 | 31 | 39 | 45 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 23 |
18 | South Dakota | 3 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 50 | 47 | 1 | 6 | 48 |
19 | Pennsylvania | 42 | 39 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 20 | 29 | 30 | 10 |
20 | Nebraska | 25 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 35 | 24 | 15 | 4 | 40 |
21 | New York | 50 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 39 | 4 |
22 | Washington | 36 | 37 | 30 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 36 | 35 | 6 |
23 | Oregon | 18 | 19 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 19 | 43 | 38 | 31 | 19 |
24 | New Hampshire | 35 | 35 | 28 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 40 | 41 | 3 | 24 |
25 | Missouri | 6 | 30 | 36 | 18 | 40 | 26 | 27 | 9 | 24 | 21 |
26 | Indiana | 12 | 31 | 48 | 23 | 37 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 26 |
27 | Maryland | 29 | 33 | 15 | 26 | 37 | 11 | 23 | 46 | 20 | 8 |
28 | California | 48 | 33 | 6 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 49 | 48 | 1 |
29 | South Carolina | 10 | 3 | 38 | 35 | 50 | 31 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 33 |
30 | Ohio | 33 | 48 | 37 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 33 | 18 |
31 | Connecticut | 47 | 44 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 43 | 16 | 17 |
32 | Oklahoma | 8 | 9 | 26 | 47 | 42 | 35 | 35 | 3 | 42 | 28 |
33 | Wisconsin | 30 | 46 | 46 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 13 | 21 | 27 |
34 | Kentucky | 7 | 25 | 39 | 36 | 41 | 37 | 9 | 19 | 32 | 29 |
34 | Montana | 19 | 45 | 9 | 17 | 33 | 45 | 33 | 25 | 44 | 47 |
36 | Arkansas | 4 | 4 | 41 | 40 | 49 | 43 | 44 | 2 | 40 | 34 |
37 | Alabama | 16 | 31 | 13 | 48 | 43 | 39 | 7 | 8 | 33 | 36 |
38 | Vermont | 38 | 29 | 33 | 4 | 11 | 34 | 46 | 41 | 35 | 46 |
39 | Illinois | 44 | 47 | 27 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 32 | 38 | 16 |
40 | Delaware | 31 | 20 | 14 | 28 | 43 | 28 | 39 | 30 | 1 | 39 |
41 | Michigan | 38 | 36 | 46 | 21 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 24 | 22 |
42 | Maine | 34 | 37 | 40 | 7 | 14 | 41 | 35 | 38 | 27 | 32 |
43 | Nevada | 41 | 21 | 18 | 49 | 30 | 28 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 38 |
44 | West Virginia | 15 | 42 | 44 | 33 | 33 | 48 | 41 | 21 | 50 | 35 |
45 | New Mexico | 20 | 41 | 21 | 43 | 48 | 40 | 27 | 27 | 44 | 31 |
46 | Mississippi | 17 | 16 | 49 | 50 | 47 | 45 | 32 | 6 | 43 | 43 |
47 | Louisiana | 27 | 27 | 45 | 42 | 46 | 38 | 35 | 18 | 41 | 45 |
48 | Rhode Island | 46 | 28 | 43 | 22 | 31 | 30 | 48 | 45 | 46 | 25 |
49 | Hawaii | 49 | 49 | 8 | 38 | 6 | 44 | 50 | 50 | 46 | 42 |
50 | Alaska | 37 | 43 | 50 | 40 | 35 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 48 | 48 |