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Our Best States ranking measures six vital categories for businesses: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life. We factor in 33 different points of data to determine the ranks in the six main areas. Business costs that include labor, energy and taxes are weighted the most heavily. We relied on nine different data providers. Moody’s Economy.com is the most utilized resource.
1 Index based on cost of labor, energy and taxes.
2 Measures educational attainment, net migration and projected population growth.
3 Measures regulatory and tort climate, incentives, transportation and bond ratings.
4 Reflects job, income and gross state product growth as well as unemployment and presence of big companies.
5 Reflects projected job, income and gross state product growth as well as business openings/closings and venture capital investments.
6 Index of schools, health, crime, cost of living and poverty rates.
Sources: Moody's Economy.com; Pollina Corporate Real Estate; Pacific Research Institute; Tax Foundation; Sperling's Best Places; Census Bureau; SBA; FBI; Dept. of Education; Forbes.
2 Measures educational attainment, net migration and projected population growth.
3 Measures regulatory and tort climate, incentives, transportation and bond ratings.
4 Reflects job, income and gross state product growth as well as unemployment and presence of big companies.
5 Reflects projected job, income and gross state product growth as well as business openings/closings and venture capital investments.
6 Index of schools, health, crime, cost of living and poverty rates.
Sources: Moody's Economy.com; Pollina Corporate Real Estate; Pacific Research Institute; Tax Foundation; Sperling's Best Places; Census Bureau; SBA; FBI; Dept. of Education; Forbes.
