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The Most Fiscally Healthy States (2026)
Fiscal health goes far beyond taxes — it measures a state's overall financial condition. Our expanded fiscal score combines tax burden (15%), state debt per capita (15%), rainy day fund reserves (15%), pension funded ratio (15%), credit rating (15%), GDP per capita (10%), budget surplus/deficit (10%), and GDP growth rate (5%). Data comes from the BEA, Census Bureau State Government Finances, Pew Charitable Trusts, NASBO, S&P/Moody's, and the Tax Foundation. Fiscal health carries an 8% weight in the composite score. States with balanced budgets, low debt, funded pensions, and strong credit ratings score highest — even if their tax rates aren't the lowest.
Weight8%
National Avg58.1
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Fiscal Health Score by State
| Rank | State | Grade | Fiscal Health Score | Overall Score | Key Metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | B+ | 79.4 | 68.2 | $72,523 GDP/cap · $1,420 debt/cap · 77% pension · AAA | West |
| 2 | South Dakota | A+ | 76.3 | 80.2 | $64,792 GDP/cap · $2,340 debt/cap · 100% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 3 | Tennessee | C | 76.1 | 45.3 | $61,193 GDP/cap · $1,630 debt/cap · 97% pension · AAA | South |
| 4 | Alaska | D | 74.2 | 39.3 | $76,415 GDP/cap · $4,890 debt/cap · 75% pension · AA | West |
| 5 | Texas | C | 72.2 | 45.9 | $68,820 GDP/cap · $1,850 debt/cap · 76% pension · AAA | South |
| 6 | North Carolina | C+ | 71.5 | 53.5 | $59,614 GDP/cap · $1,540 debt/cap · 95% pension · AAA | South |
| 7 | Utah | A+ | 71.4 | 81.5 | $62,444 GDP/cap · $2,180 debt/cap · 92% pension · AAA | West |
| 8 | Nebraska | A | 71.4 | 74.5 | $67,337 GDP/cap · $1,280 debt/cap · 87% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 9 | Idaho | B+ | 71.0 | 69.2 | $50,766 GDP/cap · $1,580 debt/cap · 91% pension · AA+ | West |
| 10 | Florida | C+ | 70.2 | 51.7 | $60,655 GDP/cap · $1,960 debt/cap · 82% pension · AAA | South |
| 11 | North Dakota | A | 69.8 | 77.1 | $73,814 GDP/cap · $2,190 debt/cap · 70% pension · AA+ | Midwest |
| 12 | Georgia | C+ | 69.7 | 51.3 | $63,669 GDP/cap · $1,690 debt/cap · 77% pension · AAA | South |
| 13 | Delaware | C+ | 67.2 | 52.4 | $73,530 GDP/cap · $4,630 debt/cap · 87% pension · AAA | Northeast |
| 14 | Iowa | B+ | 66.0 | 68.7 | $64,764 GDP/cap · $2,650 debt/cap · 87% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 15 | Missouri | C+ | 65.4 | 48.7 | $56,365 GDP/cap · $2,080 debt/cap · 80% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 16 | Indiana | C+ | 65.3 | 49.6 | $59,218 GDP/cap · $2,340 debt/cap · 82% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 17 | Washington | B | 64.3 | 63.2 | $89,989 GDP/cap · $3,650 debt/cap · 82% pension · AA+ | West |
| 18 | Wisconsin | B | 63.6 | 63.7 | $59,815 GDP/cap · $2,860 debt/cap · 100% pension · AA | Midwest |
| 19 | New Hampshire | A+ | 63.1 | 86.6 | $68,816 GDP/cap · $3,210 debt/cap · 65% pension · AA+ | Northeast |
| 20 | Virginia | A | 62.8 | 74.3 | $66,440 GDP/cap · $2,830 debt/cap · 80% pension · AAA | South |
| 21 | New Mexico | D | 62.0 | 32.6 | $52,834 GDP/cap · $3,050 debt/cap · 68% pension · AA | West |
| 22 | Colorado | B+ | 60.4 | 67.4 | $75,024 GDP/cap · $3,120 debt/cap · 67% pension · AA+ | West |
| 23 | West Virginia | D | 60.1 | 32.5 | $42,065 GDP/cap · $2,480 debt/cap · 66% pension · AA- | South |
| 24 | Montana | B+ | 59.5 | 70.8 | $53,889 GDP/cap · $2,750 debt/cap · 73% pension · AA+ | West |
| 25 | Arizona | C | 59.4 | 44.3 | $58,823 GDP/cap · $2,190 debt/cap · 72% pension · AA | West |
| 26 | Minnesota | A+ | 59.2 | 77.1 | $71,279 GDP/cap · $3,460 debt/cap · 79% pension · AAA | Midwest |
| 27 | Oklahoma | C | 58.4 | 41.8 | $55,709 GDP/cap · $2,560 debt/cap · 72% pension · AA | South |
| 28 | Nevada | D | 57.6 | 39.2 | $58,723 GDP/cap · $2,410 debt/cap · 76% pension · AA | West |
| 29 | Maine | A | 57.0 | 76.8 | $54,630 GDP/cap · $2,870 debt/cap · 79% pension · AA | Northeast |
| 30 | Ohio | C+ | 56.6 | 49.1 | $58,499 GDP/cap · $2,980 debt/cap · 76% pension · AA+ | Midwest |
| 31 | Alabama | C | 56.4 | 39.4 | $51,087 GDP/cap · $2,456 debt/cap · 72% pension · AA | South |
| 32 | Michigan | C | 56.2 | 45.0 | $55,326 GDP/cap · $3,180 debt/cap · 68% pension · AA | Midwest |
| 33 | Arkansas | F | 56.2 | 29.9 | $48,298 GDP/cap · $1,820 debt/cap · 78% pension · AA | South |
| 34 | Oregon | B | 55.4 | 60.0 | $61,810 GDP/cap · $3,520 debt/cap · 85% pension · AA | West |
| 35 | Maryland | B+ | 55.0 | 66.9 | $68,357 GDP/cap · $4,350 debt/cap · 75% pension · AAA | Northeast |
| 36 | South Carolina | C | 54.4 | 43.2 | $50,515 GDP/cap · $2,120 debt/cap · 60% pension · AA+ | South |
| 37 | Kansas | B | 52.4 | 59.5 | $61,165 GDP/cap · $2,280 debt/cap · 72% pension · AA+ | Midwest |
| 38 | Vermont | A+ | 51.1 | 77.5 | $56,157 GDP/cap · $4,380 debt/cap · 68% pension · AA+ | Northeast |
| 39 | Massachusetts | B+ | 50.1 | 70.3 | $99,274 GDP/cap · $9,680 debt/cap · 63% pension · AA+ | Northeast |
| 40 | California | C | 47.5 | 42.9 | $88,370 GDP/cap · $4,180 debt/cap · 72% pension · AA- | West |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | B | 45.6 | 58.2 | $64,785 GDP/cap · $4,120 debt/cap · 62% pension · AA- | Northeast |
| 42 | New York | B | 44.5 | 56.8 | $102,027 GDP/cap · $8,130 debt/cap · 90% pension · AA | Northeast |
| 43 | Mississippi | D | 43.8 | 31.4 | $38,882 GDP/cap · $3,140 debt/cap · 60% pension · AA- | South |
| 44 | Louisiana | F | 43.1 | 25.2 | $57,458 GDP/cap · $3,890 debt/cap · 64% pension · AA- | South |
| 45 | Rhode Island | B+ | 43.0 | 69.3 | $62,367 GDP/cap · $5,240 debt/cap · 58% pension · AA | Northeast |
| 46 | Connecticut | A | 38.4 | 73.5 | $87,478 GDP/cap · $11,038 debt/cap · 52% pension · A+ | Northeast |
| 47 | Kentucky | D | 38.4 | 38.0 | $50,825 GDP/cap · $3,420 debt/cap · 47% pension · A | South |
| 48 | Hawaii | B | 36.5 | 64.8 | $62,039 GDP/cap · $6,580 debt/cap · 59% pension · AA+ | West |
| 49 | New Jersey | B | 33.2 | 65.1 | $73,820 GDP/cap · $8,340 debt/cap · 55% pension · A+ | Northeast |
| 50 | Illinois | C+ | 21.9 | 50.5 | $74,153 GDP/cap · $6,750 debt/cap · 45% pension · BBB+ | Midwest |
Top 10 States for Fiscal Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states are in the best fiscal health in 2026?
Wyoming ranks #1 for fiscal health in 2026, followed by South Dakota and Tennessee, based on GDP, debt, pension funding, credit ratings, budget balance, and tax burden.
Which states have the worst fiscal health?
The states with the weakest fiscal health in 2026 are Illinois, New Jersey, and Hawaii, due to higher debt, unfunded pensions, or weaker credit ratings.
How is the fiscal health score calculated?
The fiscal score combines tax burden (15%), state debt per capita (15%), rainy day fund (15%), pension funded ratio (15%), credit rating (15%), GDP per capita (10%), budget surplus/deficit (10%), and GDP growth (5%). Data from BEA, Census, Pew, NASBO, and S&P/Moody's. It carries an 8% weight.
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Data Sources
📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022