America’s top states for business ranking is now available. The annual CNBC study ranks all 50 states based on their scores in ten categories of competitiveness.
“Our exclusive study scores all states on 64 metrics across 10 categories of competitiveness. Our study is not an opinion survey, as we measure actual performance by the states,” according to the company.
The study’s aim is to grade each state based on qualities it deems most important in attracting business. For the 2018 results, states have also been given a letter grade in each category to measure its performance.
The infrastructure category highlights each state’s access to transportation. The company states it measures the vitality of each state’s transportation system by the value of goods shipped by air, waterways, roads and rail. The quality of state roads, bridges, and the time it takes to commute to work were also considered in this category’s ranking.
The chart below displays each state’s infrastructure ranking.
States (alphabetically) | Infrastructure Ranking (out of 400 points) | Grade |
Alabama | 218 | B- |
Alaska | 192 | C |
Arizona | 226 | B |
Arkansas | 231 | B |
California | 203 | C+ |
Colorado | 197 | C+ |
Connecticut | 150 | D |
Delaware | 189 | C |
Florida | 247 | B+ |
Georgia | 263 | A |
Hawaii | 173 | D+ |
Idaho | 203 | C+ |
Illinois | 205 | C+ |
Indiana | 279 | A+ |
Iowa | 203 | C+ |
Kansas | 277 | B |
Kentucky | 251 | A- |
Louisiana | 177 | C- |
Maine | 140 | D- |
Maryland | 157 | D |
Massachusetts | 168 | D+ |
Michigan | 218 | B- |
Minnesota | 255 | A- |
Mississippi | 172 | D+ |
Missouri | 238 | B+ |
Montana | 193 | C |
Nebraska | 197 | C |
Nevada | 247 | B+ |
New Hampshire | 123 | F |
New Jersey | 164 | D+ |
New Mexico | 223 | B- |
New York | 158 | D |
North Carolina | 206 | C+ |
North Dakota | 227 | B |
Ohio | 261 | A- |
Oklahoma | 201 | C+ |
Oregon | 200 | C+ |
Pennsylvania | 185 | C+ |
Rhode Island | 100 | F |
South Carolina | 189 | C |
South Dakota | 177 | C- |
Tennessee | 259 | A- |
Texas | 288 | A+ |
Utah | 246 | B+ |
Vermont | 193 | C |
Virginia | 207 | C+ |
Washington | 196 | C+ |
West Virginia | 157 | D |
Wisconsin | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Wyoming | 231 | B |