Personal finance website WalletHub has recently determined which U.S. states have contributed most to America’s innovative success and which have been lacking.
The site analyzed the states (and the District of Columbia) across 18 key metrics such as share of STEM professionals, scientific knowledge output, eighth grade math and science performance, R&D spending per capita, tax friendliness, and average internet speed.
Below are some of the highlights from the analysis followed by the ten most and least innovative states:
- The District of Columbia has the highest share of STEM professionals, 9.4 percent, 2.8 times higher than in Mississippi and Nevada, which have the lowest at 3.3 percent each.
- Virginia has the highest share of technology companies, 7.52 percent, 3.9 times higher than in West Virginia, which has the lowest at 1.95 percent.
- New Mexico has the highest research and development (R&D) intensity, 6.31 percent, 19.7 times higher than in Wyoming, which has the lowest at 0.32 percent.
- The District of Columbia has the fastest average Internet speed, 22.47 Mbps, 2.1 times faster than in Idaho, which has the slowest at 10.65 Mbps.
- The District of Columbia has the highest share of public high-school students who completed advanced-placement (AP) exams, 60.2 percent, 4.4 times higher than in North Dakota, which has the lowest at 13.8 percent.
Most Innovative States
1. District of Columbia
2. Maryland
3. Massachusetts
4. California
5. Colorado
6. Washington
7. Virginia
8. Utah
9. Connecticut
10. New Hampshire
Least Innovative States
42. Maine
43. South Dakota
44. Iowa
45. Tennessee
46. North Dakota
47. Oklahoma
48. Kentucky
49. Louisiana
50. Mississippi
51. West Virginia
For the full list and an in-depth look at the methodology, click here.
Related Stories
Market Data | Nov 3, 2021
One-fifth of metro areas lost construction jobs between September 2020 and 2021
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas and Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade Calif. top lists of gainers.
Market Data | Nov 2, 2021
Construction spending slumps in September
A drop in residential work projects adds to ongoing downturn in private and public nonresidential.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 28, 2021
Marriott leads with the largest U.S. hotel construction pipeline at Q3 2021 close
In the third quarter alone, Marriott opened 60 new hotels/7,882 rooms accounting for 30% of all new hotel rooms that opened in the U.S.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 28, 2021
At the end of Q3 2021, Dallas tops the U.S. hotel construction pipeline
The top 25 U.S. markets account for 33% of all pipeline projects and 37% of all rooms in the U.S. hotel construction pipeline.
Market Data | Oct 27, 2021
Only 14 states and D.C. added construction jobs since the pandemic began
Supply problems, lack of infrastructure bill undermine recovery.
Market Data | Oct 26, 2021
U.S. construction pipeline experiences highs and lows in the third quarter
Renovation and conversion pipeline activity remains steady at the end of Q3 ‘21, with conversion projects hitting a cyclical peak, and ending the quarter at 752 projects/79,024 rooms.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2021
Demand for design services continues to increase
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for September was 56.6.
Market Data | Oct 14, 2021
Climate-related risk could be a major headwind for real estate investment
A new trends report from PwC and ULI picks Nashville as the top metro for CRE prospects.
Market Data | Oct 14, 2021
Prices for construction materials continue to outstrip bid prices over 12 months
Construction officials renew push for immediate removal of tariffs on key construction materials.
Market Data | Oct 11, 2021
No decline in construction costs in sight
Construction cost gains are occurring at a time when nonresidential construction spending was down by 9.5 percent for the 12 months through July 2021.