Top States for Business

America's Top States for Business 2024: The full rankings

To rank America's Top States for Business in 2024, CNBC scored all 50 states on 128 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. Each category is weighted based on how frequently states use them as a selling point in economic development marketing materials. That way, our study ranks the states based on the attributes they use to sell themselves. We developed our criteria and metrics in consultation with a diverse array of business and policy experts, and the states. Our study is not an opinion survey. We use data from a variety of sources to measure the states' performance. Under our methodology, states can earn a maximum of 2,500 points. The states with the most are America's Top States for Business.

America's Top States for Business 2024

Overall State Infra-structure Workforce Economy Quality of Life Cost of Doing Business Technology & Innovation Business Friendliness Education Access to Capital Cost of Living
1Virginia391119241551819
2North Carolina20343218112101031
3Texas261250611735637
4Georgia1474023181981218
5Florida35213825162837242
6Minnesota519244351222171219
7Ohio133826212122433104
8Tennessee7834572819202024
9Michigan24183824129841153
10Washington18518539442362042
11Indiana9141949520446145
12Arizona26541312126471837
13Utah416630263212432841
14Iowa2227331417301026272
15Illinois637422232633445
16Colorado12111623391432281646
17Pennsylvania2035342527741357
18Missouri164714448161414248
19South Carolina11171239102827284027
20Alabama8242048142113122914
21Wisconsin27243126191925261910
22New York941139411507342
23California15113284554724150
24Nebraska3321221321417284419
25New Jersey30151734226498737
26Oklahoma1332214713019404012
27Kentucky2711453244016223211
28Oregon173634634948372537
29Kansas242346421327612309
30Wyoming31401518304410173027
31Maryland3728301647837141624
32Connecticut292039943253942234
33South Dakota3644232816483243219
34Delaware2371027443546452614
34North Dakota4243372021501333712
36Idaho3431937282423484734
37Vermont3841411373328174433
38Massachusetts4438409493402948
39Nevada1910834384636502332
40West Virginia454728313471710501
41New Hampshire48244893635963634
42Maine4946422293437144027
43New Mexico39302735203944283227
44Rhode Island32224215462345433942
45Arkansas41323446144231373217
46Montana43442529333733284446
47Louisiana3950474383735203819
48Alaska50282817474315484924
49Mississippi46495036104928224314
50Hawaii4732497504542414848