Best & Worst State Economies 2026: All 50 Ranked

The US Economy by the Numbers

The national lines every state is measured against. A state's rank is really a story about how far above or below these lines it sits.

Average economy score

47.1

Median state: 46.1

Unemployment

3.9%

Average of states · South Dakota lowest at 2.1%

Household income

$80,903

Average of state medians · Massachusetts $104,828

GDP per person

$64,333

Average of states · New York $102,027

Real GDP growth

+1.9%

Average of states · Nevada +5.0%

Buying power

$99,081

Massachusetts leads · income ÷ cost of living

Read the national overview

The typical state scores 47.1 out of 100 for economy, 1 states score 75 or higher, and 6 fall below 30. 5 states have an unemployment rate under 3%, and 12 have a median household income above $90,000; Hawaii and New Hampshire are in the top 10 on both. The 10 strongest economies average 3.3% unemployment and a $93,160 median income; the 10 weakest average 4.5% and $67,344. The Northeast leads with an average score of 53.9; the South trails at 39.5. GDP per person runs from $38,882 in Mississippi to $102,027 in New York, and 3 state economies shrank in the latest year.

Economy Score Map: All 50 States

Darker states score higher. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its economy rank, score, and grade in the panel.

Create your own economy map →

Best and Worst State Economies

The 10 strongest and 10 weakest state economies, with each state's unemployment rate and median household income. Hawaii leads; Michigan is last.

Top 10 state economies

Score · grade

Worst 10 state economies

Score · grade

Why Hawaii is #1

The score measures two things, and Hawaii is near the top on both: the #2 lowest unemployment rate (2.4%) and the #4 highest median income ($100,745). It does not measure cost of living (adjusted for prices, Hawaii's income ranks #10), growth (GDP grew +1.4%, #39), or whether people are moving in (net migration -6.2 per 1,000). Full Hawaii profile →

Why Michigan is last

Michigan has the #48 unemployment rate (5.2%) and the #37 median income ($72,389), and its GDP per person is $55,326 (#40). Low prices help households: adjusted for cost of living its income ranks #42. Full Michigan profile →

Unemployment Rate and Median Household Income by State

The two inputs to the score. South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate (2.1%), Massachusetts the highest median income ($104,828), and Massachusetts the most buying power once local prices are counted.

Lowest unemployment

Typical state: 3.9%. Highest: California (5.5%).

Highest median income

Typical state: $80,903. Lowest: Mississippi ($59,127).

Where paychecks go furthest

Median income divided by the cost-of-living index, in national dollars. Iowa climbs from #34 to #17 on the income ladder once prices are counted; New York drops from #15 to #32.

GDP per Capita and Growth by State

Output per person and how fast it is growing, from the BEA. New York produces the most per person ($102,027) and Nevada grew fastest (+5.0%). Neither figure is part of the economy score; both are scored under fiscal health.

Highest GDP per person

Typical state: $64,333.

Lowest GDP per person

$63,145 separates the top and bottom. Shrinking economies: Wyoming (-1.5%), North Dakota (-1.0%), and Alaska (-0.5%)

Fastest real GDP growth

Latest year. Typical state: +1.9%. The five fastest growers rank #46, #32, #5, #27, and #16 for economy.

Growth rankings →

All 50 States Ranked by Economy

Every state's economy score with unemployment, median income, cost-adjusted income, GDP per person, GDP growth, population growth, and net migration. Click a column header to re-sort, search, or filter by region or grade. The # column is always the economy rank.

SearchRegion

Grade

50 states

#										Grade	Region
1Hawaii	86.3	2.4%	$100,745	$91,586	$62,039	+1.4%	-0.1%	-6.2	#17	A+	West
2New Hampshire	74.0	3.2%	$99,782	$95,760	$68,816	+2.3%	+0.5%	+4.6	#1	A+	Northeast
3South Dakota	70.0	2.1%	$76,881	$86,773	$64,792	+1.3%	+0.9%	+2.3	#3	A+	Midwest
4Vermont	66.5	2.7%	$82,730	$84,418	$56,157	+1.5%	-0.3%	-1.1	#8	A+	Northeast
5Utah	65.6	3.6%	$96,658	$97,733	$62,444	+3.5%	+1.0%	+0.9	#6	A+	West
6Maryland	65.3	4.0%	$102,905	$98,005	$68,357	+2.3%	+0.3%	-1.9	#31	A	Northeast
7Virginia	64.6	3.4%	$92,090	$91,088	$66,440	+2.3%	+0.7%	+0.7	#15	A	South
8North Dakota	63.7	2.6%	$77,871	$87,496	$73,814	-1.0%	+0.8%	+0.6	#5	A	Midwest
9Colorado	60.3	4.0%	$97,113	$94,193	$75,024	+2.6%	+0.4%	-2	#18	A	West
10Massachusetts	59.8	4.5%	$104,828	$99,081	$99,274	+2.4%	+0.2%	-4.7	#13	A	Northeast
11Connecticut	59.4	4.0%	$96,049	$92,711	$87,478	+1.9%	+0.4%	-1.6	#16	B+	Northeast
12Nebraska	56.7	3.0%	$76,376	$84,768	$67,337	+1.8%	+0.6%	-0.2	#10	B+	Midwest
13Wisconsin	54.8	3.2%	$77,488	$82,346	$59,815	+1.6%	+0.3%	+1.2	#11	B+	Midwest
14Georgia	54.1	3.4%	$79,991	$83,064	$63,669	+3.2%	+0.9%	+2.4	#26	B+	South
15Minnesota	53.1	3.9%	$87,117	$88,354	$71,279	+2.2%	+0.6%	+1.4	#12	B+	Midwest
16Washington	52.3	4.7%	$99,389	$92,887	$89,989	+3.2%	+0.9%	+1.2	#20	B+	West
17Montana	51.5	3.3%	$75,340	$79,641	$53,889	+2.0%	+0.6%	+5.6	#7	B+	West
18Maine	51.1	3.4%	$76,442	$78,725	$54,630	+1.7%	+0.5%	+5.2	#9	B+	Northeast
19Idaho	50.9	3.7%	$81,166	$84,991	$50,766	+3.0%	+1.4%	+9.9	#4	B	West
20Wyoming	50.3	3.4%	$75,532	$81,480	$72,523	-1.5%	+0.3%	+2.5	#2	B	West
21Alabama	49.8	2.9%	$66,659	$75,066	$51,087	+1.8%	+0.6%	+4.5	#37	B	South
22New Jersey	49.4	5.2%	$104,294	$95,858	$73,820	+2.0%	+0.4%	-3.9	#28	B	Northeast
23Alaska	49.1	4.7%	$95,665	$93,423	$76,415	-0.5%	+0.1%	-6.1	#42	B	West
24Iowa	48.8	3.5%	$75,501	$85,992	$64,764	+1.2%	+0.3%	-0.3	#14	B	Midwest
25New York	46.3	4.3%	$85,820	$79,537	$102,027	+2.5%	+0.0%	-6.9	#29	B	Northeast
26Tennessee	45.8	3.5%	$71,997	$78,343	$61,193	+2.4%	+0.9%	+5.8	#24	B	South
27Florida	45.0	3.9%	$77,735	$75,179	$60,655	+3.5%	+0.8%	+1	#21	C+	South
28Kansas	44.6	3.8%	$75,514	$83,811	$61,165	+1.5%	+0.4%	-0.2	#27	C+	Midwest
29North Carolina	43.2	3.8%	$73,958	$78,428	$59,614	+2.8%	+1.3%	+7.6	#23	C+	South
30Indiana	42.9	3.7%	$71,959	$77,126	$59,218	+2.0%	+0.6%	+1.8	#22	C+	Midwest
31Arizona	42.6	4.3%	$81,486	$80,920	$58,823	+3.1%	+0.9%	+4.1	#38	C+	West
32Texas	42.5	4.2%	$79,721	$82,102	$68,820	+3.8%	+1.3%	+2.1	#32	C+	South
33Oklahoma	42.2	3.4%	$66,148	$75,339	$55,709	+1.6%	+0.6%	+3.5	#43	C+	South
34California	41.5	5.5%	$100,149	$90,469	$88,370	+2.8%	-0.0%	-5.8	#47	C+	West
35Rhode Island	41.4	4.5%	$83,504	$81,627	$62,367	+1.9%	+0.4%	-1.4	#19	C	Northeast
36Delaware	40.6	4.8%	$87,534	$87,709	$73,530	+2.1%	+0.9%	+6.5	#30	C	Northeast
37Illinois	39.8	4.6%	$83,211	$83,211	$74,153	+1.6%	+0.1%	-3.1	#39	C	Midwest
38Pennsylvania	39.2	4.3%	$77,545	$79,452	$64,785	+2.0%	+0.1%	-0.2	#25	C	Northeast
39Missouri	38.3	4.0%	$71,589	$78,843	$56,365	+1.9%	+0.4%	+2.2	#34	C	Midwest
40Oregon	32.9	5.2%	$85,220	$82,418	$61,810	+1.5%	+0.2%	+0.5	#35	C	West
41New Mexico	32.2	4.2%	$67,816	$73,553	$52,834	+1.2%	-0.1%	-1.1	#49	C	West
42South Carolina	31.8	4.5%	$72,350	$77,215	$50,515	+2.5%	+1.5%	+12	#36	C	South
43Mississippi	30.4	3.8%	$59,127	$67,962	$38,882	+0.5%	+0.1%	-0.3	#46	D	South
44Ohio	30.3	4.6%	$72,212	$77,815	$58,499	+1.4%	+0.3%	+1	#33	D	Midwest
45Arkansas	28.7	4.1%	$62,106	$71,468	$48,298	+1.5%	+0.6%	+4.7	#48	D	South
46Nevada	28.0	5.3%	$81,134	$81,134	$58,723	+5.0%	+0.9%	+4.6	#40	D	West
47West Virginia	26.2	4.2%	$60,798	$67,931	$42,065	+0.5%	-0.1%	+3.6	#44	D	South
48Louisiana	24.9	4.3%	$60,986	$69,145	$57,458	+0.8%	+0.1%	-3.1	#50	D	South
49Kentucky	23.7	4.6%	$64,526	$71,537	$50,825	+1.3%	+0.5%	+1.6	#41	F	South
50Michigan	21.9	5.2%	$72,389	$75,248	$55,326	+1.8%	+0.3%	+0.2	#45	F	Midwest

Score averages the unemployment rate (BLS) and median household income (Census ACS), each scaled 0-100. Cost-adjusted divides income by the state's cost-of-living index (BEA Regional Price Parities). GDP / person and GDP growth are from BEA and are scored in other categories, not here. Net migration is domestic movers per 1,000 residents. Overall is the state's rank across all 11 categories. Latest releases.

The Strongest City Economies

The highest-scoring cities of 100,000 or more residents, using the same two inputs on city-level ranges. Carmel, IN leads with a $141,505 median income and 2.9% unemployment.

#	City	Score	Median income	Unemployment	Cost of living	Population
1	Carmel Indiana	88.1	$141,505	2.9%	95.7	101,651
2	Sunnyvale California	87.6	$186,170	3.6%	110.4	154,236
3	Santa Clara California	87.1	$178,958	3.7%	110.4	130,256
4	Frisco Texas	87.1	$150,212	3.7%	103.1	219,304
5	Naperville Illinois	86.5	$155,105	3.8%	103.6	150,692
6	San Mateo California	86.5	$153,504	3.8%	115.6	103,105
7	Bellevue Washington	84.7	$165,576	4.1%	111.1	151,847
8	Cary North Carolina	84.0	$134,905	3.1%	98.2	179,306
9	Fishers Indiana	83.7	$130,203	2.8%	95.7	102,337
10	Fremont California	82.9	$181,506	4.4%	115.6	228,295

Indiana, California, Texas, Illinois, Washington, and North Carolina supply the 10 strongest city economies. Most are high-income suburbs of major metros rather than the metros themselves.

Search all 1,312 cities →

How the Economy Score Is Calculated

Two federal statistics, weighted equally. Here is what each one means, how it is scaled, and what the score leaves out.

Unemployment rate

50%

The share of the labor force without work, from the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. A rate of 2% or lower scores 100; 5.5% or higher scores 0.

Median household income

50%

The income of the middle household, from the Census American Community Survey. $52,000 scores 0 and $110,000 scores 100, with every state placed proportionally between.

From inputs to score

Each input is scaled 0-100, the two are averaged, and states are ranked 1 to 50. Grades follow rank: A+ for 1-5 down to F for 49-50. Ties in score are listed by overall rank.

Weight in the overall score

15%

Economy is the heaviest of the 11 categories in each state's composite score, ahead of safety, health, and education at 12% each. Unemployment also feeds the growth category. See the overall rankings →

Cost-adjusted income

Median income divided by the state's cost-of-living index from BEA Regional Price Parities (100 = national prices). Shown for context; the score itself uses nominal income, and cost of living is scored in the affordability category.

GDP and growth

GDP per person and real GDP growth come from the BEA and are shown on this page, but they are scored under fiscal health (GDP per person, growth) and growth (population and migration), not here.

What is not counted

Total GDP, job growth, industry mix, wages by occupation, labor-force participation, and business climate. The score is a snapshot of whether people have jobs and what households earn.

Always the latest releases

This page is rebuilt from the most recent files each source has published (checked October 2026). Scores change when a new release moves a state up or down.

Because the score has only two inputs, it is easy to read: a state ranks high when its people have jobs and those jobs pay well, whatever the local price level or growth trend. Use the table above to sort by the measure that matters to you.

Read the full methodology →

Key Takeaways

Patterns in the economy data that the table alone does not show.

Hawaii is #1 on jobs and paychecks, not on growth
Hawaii has the #2 lowest unemployment rate (2.4%) and the #4 highest median household income ($100,745), the two things the economy score measures. It is #10 once income is adjusted for its cost of living, its economy grew 1.4% last year (#39), and net domestic migration is -6.2 per 1,000 residents.
A big paycheck alone does not make a strong economy
California has the #5 highest median income ($100,149) yet ranks #34, because unemployment is 5.5%. Oklahoma runs the other way: a 3.4% unemployment rate (#14) but a median income of $66,148 leaves it at #33. Only Hawaii and New Hampshire rank in the top 10 on both.
The Northeast owns the top of the table
4 of the 10 strongest state economies are in the Northeast (New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, and Massachusetts), and the region averages 53.9 out of 100 with a median income of $91,039. 6 of the bottom 10 are in the South, which averages 39.5. The 10 best economies pay 38% more than the 10 weakest.
Booming is not the same as strong
The fastest-growing economies by GDP, Nevada (+5.0%), Texas (+3.8%), Utah (+3.5%), Florida (+3.5%), and Washington (+3.2%), rank #46, #32, #5, #27, and #16 here. GDP growth is scored under fiscal health, and the growth category tracks population and migration; this score asks whether people have jobs and what they earn today.
Adjust for prices and the map reshuffles
Divide income by each state's cost of living and Massachusetts has the most buying power ($99,081 in national dollars) while West Virginia has the least ($67,931). Iowa climbs 17 places on the income ladder once prices are counted; New York drops 17.
Big states finish mid-pack
The 10 most populous states land between #14 (Georgia) and #50 (Michigan). Only one of them ranks in the top 20. Large labor markets carry higher unemployment: the 10 biggest states average 4.4% against 3.3% in the top 10.

Average economy score by region

Mean economy score of the states in each Census region, with average unemployment and median income.

1Northeast11 states · 4.1% · $91,03953.9
2West13 states · 4.2% · $87,49349.5
3Midwest12 states · 3.7% · $76,50947.1
4South14 states · 3.9% · $70,58539.5

The Northeast outscores the South by 14 points, mostly on income: $20,454 more per household. Regions follow the site's four-region grouping used on every page.

Go Deeper

Wages by occupation and metro →

What 20 common jobs pay in every metro, adjusted for cost of living.

Fastest-growing states →

Population growth, migration, and unemployment, ranked.

What you'd actually keep →

Take-home after housing, taxes, childcare, and groceries in every state.

Compare two states →

Economy, cost of living, and every other category side by side.

Other categoriesSafety Health Education Fiscal Health Growth Affordability Environment Outdoor Access Transportation Livability

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has the strongest economy?

Hawaii has the strongest state economy with an economy score of 86.3 out of 100, built on a 2.4% unemployment rate (#2 lowest) and a median household income of $100,745 (#4 highest). New Hampshire (74.0) and South Dakota (70.0) rank second and third. The score uses the latest BLS unemployment and Census income releases.

What are the top 10 state economies?

The top 10 state economies are Hawaii (86.3), New Hampshire (74.0), South Dakota (70.0), Vermont (66.5), Utah (65.6), Maryland (65.3), Virginia (64.6), North Dakota (63.7), Colorado (60.3), and Massachusetts (59.8). 4 of the 10 are in the Northeast, and they average 3.3% unemployment and a $93,160 median income.

Which state has the worst economy?

Michigan ranks last (#50) with an economy score of 21.9: unemployment is 5.2% (#48) and median household income is $72,389 (#37). The bottom five are Michigan (#50), Kentucky (#49), Louisiana (#48), West Virginia (#47), and Nevada (#46).

Why does Hawaii rank #1 for economy?

Because the score measures two things, jobs and pay, and Hawaii is near the top on both: the #2 lowest unemployment rate at 2.4% and the #4 highest median income at $100,745. The score does not count cost of living, GDP, or growth. Adjusted for prices, Hawaii's income ranks #10; its GDP grew 1.4% (#39); and its net domestic migration is -6.2 per 1,000 residents.

Which state has the lowest unemployment rate?

South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate at 2.1%, followed by Hawaii (2.4%), North Dakota (2.6%), and Vermont (2.7%). 5 states are below 3%. The typical state is at 3.9%, and California is highest at 5.5%.

Which state has the highest median household income?

Massachusetts has the highest median household income at $104,828, followed by New Jersey ($104,294), Maryland ($102,905), and Hawaii ($100,745). 12 states clear $90,000. The typical state median is $80,903.

What is the poorest state in America?

By median household income, Mississippi is the poorest state at $59,127, followed by West Virginia ($60,798), Louisiana ($60,986), and Arkansas ($62,106). By GDP per person, Mississippi is lowest at $38,882. Adjusted for cost of living, West Virginia households have the least buying power.

Which state is the richest?

It depends on the measure. Massachusetts has the highest median household income ($104,828), New York produces the most GDP per person ($102,027), and Massachusetts households have the most buying power once local prices are counted ($99,081 in national dollars).

Where do paychecks go furthest?

Dividing median income by each state's cost-of-living index, Massachusetts leads at $99,081 in national dollars, followed by Maryland ($98,005), Utah ($97,733), and New Jersey ($95,858). Iowa gains the most from the adjustment (from #34 to #17) and New York loses the most (from #15 to #32). Cost of living is scored separately in the affordability category.

Which state has the highest GDP per capita?

New York has the highest GDP per person at $102,027, followed by Massachusetts ($99,274), Washington ($89,989), and California ($88,370). Mississippi is lowest at $38,882. This page tracks GDP per person, not total GDP; the largest total economies are simply the most populous states.

Which state's economy is growing fastest?

Nevada's economy grew fastest at +5.0% in real GDP, followed by Texas (+3.8%), Utah (+3.5%), and Florida (+3.5%). 3 states' economies shrank, Wyoming the most at -1.5%. GDP growth is scored under fiscal health rather than here, which is why Nevada ranks #46 for economy.

Is Texas or California's economy stronger?

On this score, Texas ranks higher: California is #34 (41.5) with 5.5% unemployment and a $100,149 median income, and Texas is #32 (42.5) with 4.2% unemployment and $79,721. Texas grew faster (+3.8% versus +2.8%), while California produces more per person ($88,370 versus $68,820). Total GDP is not tracked here; California's is the larger of the two.

Where do California, Texas, Florida, and New York rank for economy?

Among the 10 most populous states, Georgia is #14, New York is #25, Florida is #27, North Carolina is #29, Texas is #32, California is #34, Illinois is #37, Pennsylvania is #38, Ohio is #44, and Michigan is #50. Georgia is the strongest big-state economy at 54.1; Michigan is the weakest at 21.9.

How is the state economy score calculated?

Two inputs, weighted equally: the unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, scaled so 2% or lower scores 100 and 5.5% or higher scores 0, and median household income from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, scaled from $52,000 (0) to $110,000 (100). The average is the economy score, which counts for 15% of each state's overall ranking, the largest single category.

Does the economy ranking account for cost of living?

No. The score uses nominal median income, so high-cost states get full credit for high paychecks. Cost of living is scored in the affordability category and shown on this page as cost-adjusted income: Hawaii, #1 for economy, is #10 on that measure, and Massachusetts is #1.

Does the score include GDP, job growth, or industries?

No. GDP per person and GDP growth are shown on this page for context but are scored in the fiscal health category; the growth category tracks population change and migration. Job growth by state and industry mix are not tracked. The economy score is a snapshot of whether people have jobs and what households earn.

Which region has the strongest economy?

The Northeast has the highest average economy score at 53.9, with 4.1% average unemployment and a $91,039 average median income. The West (49.5), Midwest (47.1), and South (39.5) follow.

Which cities have the strongest economies?

Among cities of 100,000 or more residents, Carmel, IN ($141,505 median income, 2.9% unemployment), Sunnyvale, CA ($186,170 median income, 3.6% unemployment), and Santa Clara, CA ($178,958 median income, 3.7% unemployment) score highest. City scores use the same two inputs on city-level ranges. Every city in the top 10 has a median income above $130,203.

Which state has the best job market?

By unemployment rate, South Dakota has the tightest job market at 2.1%, and Hawaii (2.4%), North Dakota (2.6%), and Vermont (2.7%) follow. Job openings and job growth by state are not tracked here, so this page cannot say where hiring is fastest; the growth rankings use population and migration as a proxy, and the careers pages show what specific occupations pay in each metro.

What is the national average unemployment rate and median income?

Averaged across the 50 states, unemployment is 3.9% and median household income is $80,903. GDP per person averages $64,333 and real GDP growth +1.9%. These are averages of state figures, not population-weighted national totals.

Where does the economy data come from, and how current is it?

Unemployment rates come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, median household income from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, GDP per person and growth from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and cost of living from BEA Regional Price Parities. The page is rebuilt whenever a source publishes a new release.

Economy Rank for Every State

Every state's economy rank, score, unemployment rate, and median income. Click through for the full profile.

Best and Worst State Economies: All 50 States Ranked Strongest to Weakest