States Overview

Economic Outlook

This is a forward-looking forecast based on the state’s standing (equal-weighted average) in 15 important state policy variables. Data reflect state and local rates and revenues and any effect of federal deductibility.

Current Economic Outlook Ranks (2025 Edition)

From the 2025 edition of Rich States, Poor States. These values are the most recent available at the time of publication.

ME 45

VT 49

NH 21

WA 34

ID 7

MT 35

ND 5

MN 41

IL 46

WI 26

MI 19

NY 50

RI 39

MA 37

OR 43

NV 14

WY 12

SD 8

IA 30

IN 3

OH 25

PA 36

NJ 48

CT 44

CA 47

UT 1

CO 17

NE 31

MO 24

KY 27

WV 16

VA 32

MD 42

DE 38

AZ 6

NM 33

KS 23

AR 10

TN 2

NC 4

SC 29

OK 11

LA 18

MS 28

AL 20

GA 13

AK 22

HI 40

TX 9

FL 15

State	2025 Ranking
Alabama	20^th
Alaska	22^nd
Arizona	6^th
Arkansas	10^th
California	47^th
Colorado	17^th
Connecticut	44^th
Delaware	38^th
Florida	15^th
Georgia	13^th
Hawaii	40^th
Idaho	7^th
Illinois	46^th
Indiana	3^rd
Iowa	30^th
Kansas	23^rd
Kentucky	27^th
Louisiana	18^th
Maine	45^th
Maryland	42^nd
Massachusetts	37^th
Michigan	19^th
Minnesota	41^st
Mississippi	28^th
Missouri	24^th
Montana	35^th
Nebraska	31^st
Nevada	14^th
New Hampshire	21^st
New Jersey	48^th
New Mexico	33^rd
New York	50^th
North Carolina	4^th
North Dakota	5^th
Ohio	25^th
Oklahoma	11^th
Oregon	43^rd
Pennsylvania	36^th
Rhode Island	39^th
South Carolina	29^th
South Dakota	8^th
Tennessee	2^nd
Texas	9^th
Utah	1^st
Vermont	49^th
Virginia	32^nd
Washington	34^th
West Virginia	16^th
Wisconsin	26^th
Wyoming	12^th

United States Overview (2025 Edition)

From the 2025 edition of Rich States, Poor States. These values are the most recent available at the time of publication.

Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate	5.46% avg.
Top Marginal Corporate Income Tax Rate	6.66% avg.
Personal Income Tax Progressivity (change in tax liability per $1,000 of income)	$9.83 avg.
Property Tax Burden (per $1,000 of personal income)	$29.12 avg.
Sales Tax Burden (per $1,000 of personal income)	$25.03 avg.
Remaining Tax Burden (per $1,000 of personal income)	$18.44 avg.
Estate / Inheritance Tax Levied?	17 states
Recently Legislated Tax Changes	-$1.90 avg.
Debt Service as a Share of Tax Revenue	4.32% avg.
Public Employees Per 10,000 of Population (full-time equivalent)	528.08 avg.
State Liability System Costs (as a share of state GDP)	1.95% avg.
State Minimum Wage (federal floor is $7.25)	$11.00 avg.
Average Workers’ Compensation Costs (per $100 of payroll)	$1.31 avg.
Right-to-Work State? (option to join or support a union)	26 states
Tax Expenditure Limits	0.94 avg.

State Rank Trends (2008 - 2025)

A comprehensive look at overall state rankings since the first publication. Please note, data prior to the 2016 edition may be inconsistent with the print publication due to minor rounding errors.

State	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Alabama	15^th	16^th	17^th	20^th	21^st	17^th	20^th	19^th	21^st	21^st	20^th	21^st	23^rd	25^th	23^rd	24^th	20^th	20^th
Alaska	37^th	38^th	22^nd	29^th	29^th	21^st	18^th	14^th	25^th	30^th	34^th	30^th	26^th	18^th	21^st	23^rd	25^th	22^nd
Arizona	6^th	3^rd	3^rd	12^th	9^th	6^th	7^th	5^th	5^th	8^th	5^th	11^th	10^th	13^th	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	6^th
Arkansas	11^th	12^th	13^th	13^th	11^th	24^th	26^th	22^nd	20^th	23^rd	22^nd	23^rd	22^nd	23^rd	16^th	15^th	15^th	10^th
California	42^nd	43^rd	46^th	47^th	38^th	47^th	47^th	44^th	46^th	47^th	47^th	47^th	46^th	45^th	48^th	45^th	47^th	47^th
Colorado	9^th	2^nd	2^nd	6^th	8^th	16^th	22^nd	21^st	16^th	15^th	15^th	18^th	18^th	20^th	22^nd	25^th	17^th	17^th
Connecticut	40^th	32^nd	36^th	35^th	44^th	43^rd	44^th	47^th	47^th	46^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	39^th	35^th	39^th	40^th	44^th
Delaware	31^st	31^st	37^th	34^th	34^th	30^th	27^th	38^th	44^th	37^th	36^th	36^th	24^th	31^st	30^th	29^th	33^rd	38^th
Florida	16^th	11^th	5^th	10^th	13^th	9^th	16^th	15^th	8^th	6^th	6^th	9^th	7^th	2^nd	8^th	9^th	14^th	15^th
Georgia	8^th	8^th	9^th	11^th	10^th	8^th	9^th	7^th	19^th	17^th	11^th	20^th	21^st	14^th	15^th	12^th	11^th	13^th
Hawaii	41^st	41^st	39^th	46^th	46^th	40^th	36^th	37^th	42^nd	43^rd	45^th	45^th	44^th	42^nd	43^rd	42^nd	41^st	40^th
Idaho	10^th	14^th	7^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	5^th	6^th	15^th	10^th	2^nd	2^nd	3^rd	11^th	5^th	4^th	2^nd	7^th
Illinois	43^rd	44^th	47^th	44^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	40^th	43^rd	44^th	48^th	48^th	47^th	47^th	45^th	46^th	48^th	46^th
Indiana	12^th	17^th	20^th	16^th	24^th	14^th	3^rd	3^rd	6^th	2^nd	3^rd	3^rd	4^th	6^th	7^th	7^th	5^th	3^rd
Iowa	23^rd	35^th	28^th	23^rd	22^nd	25^th	25^th	25^th	29^th	29^th	29^th	25^th	27^th	33^rd	32^nd	32^nd	34^th	30^th
Kansas	29^th	24^th	25^th	27^th	26^th	11^th	15^th	18^th	27^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	25^th	26^th	28^th	30^th	27^th	23^rd
Kentucky	44^th	36^th	40^th	40^th	39^th	38^th	39^th	30^th	33^rd	33^rd	31^st	33^rd	31^st	29^th	34^th	27^th	28^th	27^th
Louisiana	24^th	18^th	16^th	15^th	19^th	28^th	29^th	26^th	28^th	28^th	27^th	27^th	30^th	22^nd	20^th	26^th	31^st	18^th
Maine	46^th	47^th	44^th	48^th	47^th	41^st	40^th	42^nd	38^th	42^nd	42^nd	42^nd	41^st	43^rd	44^th	44^th	45^th	45^th
Maryland	28^th	28^th	29^th	21^st	20^th	35^th	34^th	33^rd	31^st	34^th	32^nd	35^th	37^th	40^th	42^nd	41^st	43^rd	42^nd
Massachusetts	22^nd	26^th	32^nd	24^th	25^th	29^th	28^th	28^th	26^th	25^th	25^th	28^th	35^th	30^th	33^rd	37^th	36^th	37^th
Michigan	17^th	34^th	26^th	25^th	17^th	20^th	12^th	24^th	22^nd	20^th	18^th	12^th	14^th	16^th	17^th	16^th	16^th	19^th
Minnesota	39^th	40^th	38^th	37^th	41^st	46^th	46^th	48^th	45^th	45^th	44^th	41^st	45^th	46^th	46^th	48^th	44^th	41^st
Mississippi	19^th	19^th	18^th	19^th	15^th	10^th	14^th	20^th	17^th	22^nd	24^th	19^th	20^th	27^th	27^th	22^nd	18^th	28^th
Missouri	25^th	23^rd	15^th	9^th	7^th	23^rd	24^th	27^th	24^th	24^th	23^rd	22^nd	19^th	21^st	29^th	31^st	29^th	24^th
Montana	32^nd	30^th	33^rd	36^th	36^th	42^nd	43^rd	43^rd	40^th	39^th	43^rd	39^th	33^rd	34^th	31^st	33^rd	30^th	35^th
Nebraska	34^th	29^th	34^th	32^nd	31^st	37^th	35^th	31^st	32^nd	32^nd	28^th	34^th	36^th	35^th	36^th	36^th	32^nd	31^st
Nevada	7^th	7^th	11^th	17^th	18^th	13^th	8^th	10^th	14^th	13^th	13^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	6^th	10^th	13^th	14^th
New Hampshire	26^th	37^th	30^th	28^th	28^th	27^th	32^nd	29^th	23^rd	18^th	17^th	16^th	17^th	19^th	18^th	19^th	19^th	21^st
New Jersey	48^th	46^th	48^th	45^th	42^nd	39^th	45^th	46^th	48^th	48^th	46^th	46^th	48^th	48^th	49^th	47^th	46^th	48^th
New Mexico	27^th	25^th	35^th	39^th	35^th	33^rd	37^th	34^th	34^th	35^th	35^th	29^th	34^th	38^th	38^th	38^th	38^th	33^rd
New York	49^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	49^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th
North Carolina	21^st	21^st	21^st	26^th	23^rd	22^nd	6^th	4^th	2^nd	3^rd	7^th	6^th	5^th	5^th	2^nd	2^nd	4^th	4^th
North Dakota	18^th	13^th	12^th	7^th	5^th	2^nd	4^th	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	4^th	4^th	11^th	8^th	9^th	8^th	10^th	5^th
Ohio	47^th	45^th	42^nd	38^th	37^th	26^th	23^rd	23^rd	18^th	19^th	21^st	24^th	29^th	28^th	19^th	20^th	26^th	25^th
Oklahoma	14^th	15^th	14^th	14^th	14^th	19^th	21^st	16^th	10^th	16^th	16^th	13^th	9^th	3^rd	4^th	5^th	9^th	11^th
Oregon	35^th	39^th	41^st	43^rd	45^th	44^th	42^nd	45^th	41^st	41^st	41^st	44^th	42^nd	44^th	41^st	43^rd	42^nd	43^rd
Pennsylvania	36^th	42^nd	43^rd	41^st	40^th	34^th	33^rd	41^st	39^th	38^th	38^th	38^th	38^th	36^th	37^th	35^th	35^th	36^th
Rhode Island	45^th	48^th	45^th	42^nd	43^rd	45^th	41^st	39^th	35^th	36^th	39^th	43^rd	43^rd	41^st	40^th	40^th	39^th	39^th
South Carolina	20^th	20^th	31^st	22^nd	27^th	31^st	31^st	32^nd	30^th	27^th	33^rd	32^nd	32^nd	24^th	26^th	21^st	24^th	29^th
South Dakota	2^nd	5^th	4^th	2^nd	2^nd	3^rd	2^nd	9^th	11^th	12^th	9^th	7^th	13^th	10^th	12^th	14^th	7^th	8^th
Tennessee	3^rd	9^th	10^th	8^th	12^th	18^th	19^th	17^th	7^th	5^th	12^th	8^th	8^th	12^th	13^th	11^th	12^th	2^nd
Texas	13^th	10^th	19^th	18^th	16^th	12^th	13^th	11^th	12^th	9^th	14^th	15^th	15^th	9^th	11^th	13^th	6^th	9^th
Utah	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st
Vermont	50^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	50^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	47^th	49^th	49^th	49^th
Virginia	5^th	4^th	8^th	3^rd	3^rd	5^th	11^th	12^th	13^th	11^th	10^th	14^th	16^th	17^th	24^th	18^th	22^nd	32^nd
Washington	30^th	22^nd	24^th	33^rd	33^rd	36^th	38^th	35^th	36^th	40^th	37^th	37^th	39^th	37^th	39^th	34^th	37^th	34^th
West Virginia	38^th	33^rd	27^th	31^st	30^th	32^nd	30^th	36^th	37^th	31^st	30^th	31^st	28^th	32^nd	25^th	28^th	23^rd	16^th
Wisconsin	33^rd	27^th	23^rd	30^th	32^nd	15^th	17^th	13^th	9^th	14^th	19^th	17^th	12^th	15^th	14^th	17^th	21^st	26^th
Wyoming	4^th	6^th	6^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	10^th	8^th	4^th	7^th	8^th	10^th	2^nd	4^th	10^th	6^th	8^th	12^th

Economic Performance

This is a backward-looking measure based on the state’s performance (equal-weighted average) in three important performance variables. These variables are highly influenced by state policy.

Economic Performance Ranks (2025)

Economic Performance Ranks (2025)

From the 2025 edition of Rich States, Poor States. These values are the most recent available at the time of publication.

ME 18

VT 39

NH 20

WA 10

ID 4

MT 14

ND 45

MN 30

IL 47

WI 34

MI 35

NY 31

RI 38

MA 27

OR 13

NV 5

WY 43

SD 16

IA 32

IN 21

OH 37

PA 44

NJ 36

CT 48

CA 22

UT 3

CO 6

NE 23

MO 25

KY 24

WV 46

VA 26

MD 41

DE 17

AZ 2

NM 29

KS 33

AR 19

TN 12

NC 11

SC 8

OK 28

LA 50

MS 40

AL 15

GA 9

AK 49

HI 42

TX 7

FL 1

State	2025 Ranking
Alabama	15^th
Alaska	49^th
Arizona	2^nd
Arkansas	19^th
California	22^nd
Colorado	6^th
Connecticut	48^th
Delaware	17^th
Florida	1^st
Georgia	9^th
Hawaii	42^nd
Idaho	4^th
Illinois	47^th
Indiana	21^st
Iowa	32^nd
Kansas	33^rd
Kentucky	24^th
Louisiana	50^th
Maine	18^th
Maryland	41^st
Massachusetts	27^th
Michigan	35^th
Minnesota	30^th
Mississippi	40^th
Missouri	25^th
Montana	14^th
Nebraska	23^rd
Nevada	5^th
New Hampshire	20^th
New Jersey	36^th
New Mexico	29^th
New York	31^st
North Carolina	11^th
North Dakota	45^th
Ohio	37^th
Oklahoma	28^th
Oregon	13^th
Pennsylvania	44^th
Rhode Island	38^th
South Carolina	8^th
South Dakota	16^th
Tennessee	12^th
Texas	7^th
Utah	3^rd
Vermont	39^th
Virginia	26^th
Washington	10^th
West Virginia	46^th
Wisconsin	34^th
Wyoming	43^rd

Economic Outlook

Current Economic Outlook Ranks (2025 Edition)

United States Overview (2025 Edition)

State Rank Trends (2008 - 2025)

Economic Performance

Economic Performance Ranks (2025)

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Rich States, Poor States 18th Edition

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