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 1Virginia128311111422354122Texas277131265542433Utah8564522230249144Georgia212172836173919115North Carolina2212230281821151096Idaho195462827263035377Colorado26171134131241401278Minnesota31223410713112315138Florida4311437258132161510Arizona2351043372063462011Iowa515351422333312104112Massachusetts402641134384313213North Dakota122122423472722214814Wyoming1113161520492425234415New Jersey454022512304827516Kansas241428133132137133017Tennessee1212313945254522318South Dakota3242418185047164819Pennsylvania423918815102029301020Nebraska251825201635241544021New York5050217383739422Washington36373016107133635623Oregon1819312727194338311924New Hampshire3535286524404132425Missouri63036184026279242126Indiana12314823372291482627Maryland293315263711234620828California483363191194948129South Carolina103383550311719273330Ohio334837121915217331831Connecticut47442034154543161732Oklahoma8926474235353422833Wisconsin304646921211113212734Kentucky72539364137919322934Montana194591733453325444736Arkansas4441404943442403437Alabama16311348433978333638Vermont382933411344641354639Illinois444727241661832381640Delaware312014284328393013941Michigan383646212481328242242Maine343740714413538273243Nevada4121184930281611163844West Virginia1542443333484121503545New Mexico2041214348402727443146Mississippi171649504745326434347Louisiana2727454246383518414548Rhode Island4628432231304845462549Hawaii49498386445050464250Alaska37435040354248474848
