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 | May 8, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 8, 2020
The death of the office and Colorado's first multifamily project to receive WELL Precertification.
Market Data | May 7, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 7, 2020
5 memory care communities with a strong sense of mission and making jobsites safer in the COVID-19 world.
Market Data | May 6, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 6, 2020
5 questions engineers will ask after COVID-19 and coronavirus threatens push for denser housing.
Market Data | May 5, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 5, 2020
A new temporary hospital pops up in N.J., and apartment firms' reactivation plans begin to take shape.
Market Data | May 4, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 4, 2020
How working from home is influencing design and is this the end of the open office?
Market Data | May 4, 2020
The Los Angeles market continue to lead the U.S. hotel construction pipeline at the close of the first quarter of 2020
Nationally, under construction project counts hit a new all-time high with 1,819 projects with 243,100 rooms.
Market Data | May 1, 2020
Nonresidential construction spending declines in March as pandemic halts projects
Group warns loan threats are hurting relief program.
Market Data | May 1, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: May 1, 2020
DLR Group completes LA Memorial Coliseum renovation and over 50% of department stores in malls predicted to close by 2021.
Market Data | Apr 30, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 30, 2020
College programs help prepare students for careers in the construction industry and a national movement to cancel May rent takes shape.
Market Data | Apr 30, 2020
The U.S. Hotel Construction pipeline continued to expand year-over-year despite COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2020
Many open or temporarily closed hotels have already begun or are in the planning stages of renovating and repositioning their assets while occupancy is low or non-existent.
