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    Every US State and Washington, DC, Ranked by Their Economies

    Press RoomBy No Comments6 Mins Read

    California’s economy is the fourth largest in the world, having passed Japan’s last year and trailing only the US, China, and Germany in terms of GDP.

    But GDP metrics don’t always tell the full story of what conditions are like for the people and businesses located there.

    A recent WalletHub study ranked all US states and Washington, DC, on their economies by evaluating their performance in 28 different economic indicators. These metrics made up three overall categories: economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential.

    Economic activity was measured by factors including the state’s change in GDP from 2024 to 2025, its share of fast-growing companies, and exports per capita. Economic health included the state’s unemployment rate, foreclosure rate, and fiscal health. Innovation potential was measured by the share of jobs in high-tech industries, entrepreneurial activity, and other indicators.

    WalletHub then calculated each state’s weighted average across the three dimensions, which provided the basis for its overall ranking. The study drew on data from a range of sources, including the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    While the study doesn’t paint the full picture of the economic conditions for residents, it may indicate the states where workers might have more job opportunities and where businesses have strong growth potential. WalletHub added that its analysis also shows “which states are pulling the most weight in moving the US economy forward.”

    “A strong state economy doesn’t guarantee success for the state’s residents, but it certainly makes financial success more attainable,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the study.

    Here’s the list of every US state and Washington, DC, ranked by their economies, from worst to best.

    51. West Virginia


    Wheeling, West Virginia.

    Wheeling, West Virginia.

    aceshot1/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 51

    Economic Health Rank: 30

    Innovation Potential Rank: 51

    50. Kentucky


    Louisville, Kentucky.

    Louisville, Kentucky.

    Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 43

    Economic Health Rank: 38

    Innovation Potential Rank: 50

    49. Louisiana


    Buildings in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Dennis MacDonald/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 37

    Economic Health Rank: 48

    Innovation Potential Rank: 47

    48. Maine


    Buildings next to boats on the water in Portland, Maine.

    Portland, Maine.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 50

    Economic Health Rank: 25

    Innovation Potential Rank: 41

    47. Rhode Island


    Providence, Rhode Island skyline.

    Providence, Rhode Island.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 49

    Economic Health Rank: 35

    Innovation Potential Rank: 31

    46. Wyoming


    Aerial view of Casper, Wyoming.

    Casper, Wyoming.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 46

    Economic Health Rank: 20

    Innovation Potential Rank: 44

    45. Mississippi


    Aerial view of buildings in Jackson, Mississippi.

    Jackson, Mississippi.

    Dennis MacDonald/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 34

    Economic Health Rank: 32

    Innovation Potential Rank: 45

    44. Hawaii


    Buildings on the water in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Steve Heap/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 30

    Economic Health Rank: 14

    Innovation Potential Rank: 49

    43. Oklahoma


    Buildings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

    Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 39

    Economic Health Rank: 23

    Innovation Potential Rank: 40

    42. Missouri


    Buildings in St. Louis, Missouri.

    St. Louis, Missouri.

    FilmRAW/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 44

    Economic Health Rank: 33

    Innovation Potential Rank: 32

    41. South Dakota


    Aerial view of the streets of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 47

    Economic Health Rank: 1

    Innovation Potential Rank: 48

    40. North Dakota


    Buildings in Fargo, North Dakota.

    Fargo, North Dakota.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 48

    Economic Health Rank: 5

    Innovation Potential Rank: 38

    39. Iowa


    Buildings in Des Moines, Iowa.

    Des Moines, Iowa.

    Nick Fox/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 45

    Economic Health Rank: 29

    Innovation Potential Rank: 28

    38. Ohio


    Bridge leading to buildings in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Cleveland, Ohio.

    f11photo/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 32

    Economic Health Rank: 44

    Innovation Potential Rank: 33

    37. Illinois


    Buildings in Chicago, Illinois.

    Chicago, Illinois.

    Terelyuk/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 27

    Economic Health Rank: 50

    Innovation Potential Rank: 26

    36. Arkansas


    Bridge in front of buildings in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 24

    Economic Health Rank: 15

    Innovation Potential Rank: 46

    35. Nevada


    Buildings in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Las Vegas, Nevada.

    AndyGriffin/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 21

    Economic Health Rank: 34

    Innovation Potential Rank: 43

    34. Nebraska


    Buildings in Lincoln, Nebraska.

    Lincoln, Nebraska.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 40

    Economic Health Rank: 7

    Innovation Potential Rank: 37

    33. Washington, DC


    National mall in Washington, DC.

    Washington, DC.

    xbrchx/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 25

    Economic Health Rank: 51

    Innovation Potential Rank: 14

    32. Alaska


    Skyline of Anchorage, Alaska.

    Anchorage, Alaska.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 14

    Economic Health Rank: 42

    Innovation Potential Rank: 42

    31. Wisconsin


    Bridges over a river in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

    Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

    Matthew A Reddy/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 41

    Economic Health Rank: 26

    Innovation Potential Rank: 18

    30. Pennsylvania


    Skyline of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Erik Gonzalez/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 29

    Economic Health Rank: 41

    Innovation Potential Rank: 16

    29. Vermont


    Aerial view of Montpelier, Vermont,

    Montpelier, Vermont.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 38

    Economic Health Rank: 28

    Innovation Potential Rank: 21

    28. Alabama


    Buildings in Birmingham, Alabama.

    Birmingham, Alabama.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 26

    Economic Health Rank: 22

    Innovation Potential Rank: 34

    27. Michigan


    Buildings in Detroit, Michigan.

    Detroit, Michigan.

    Matthew G Eddy/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 42

    Economic Health Rank: 46

    Innovation Potential Rank: 11

    26. New Mexico


    Buildings in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 36

    Economic Health Rank: 36

    Innovation Potential Rank: 13

    25. New Jersey


    Buildings in Jersey City, New Jersey.

    Jersey City, New Jersey.

    Mariusz Lopusiewicz/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 23

    Economic Health Rank: 47

    Innovation Potential Rank: 15

    24. Oregon


    Buildings in Portland, Oregon.

    Portland, Oregon.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 33

    Economic Health Rank: 45

    Innovation Potential Rank: 8

    23. Kansas


    Aerial view of Topeka, Kansas.

    Topeka, Kansas.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 20

    Economic Health Rank: 13

    Innovation Potential Rank: 30

    22. Indiana


    Buildings in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Indianapolis, Indiana.

    FilmRAW/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 13

    Economic Health Rank: 39

    Innovation Potential Rank: 27

    21. Minnesota


    Buildings in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 28

    Economic Health Rank: 12

    Innovation Potential Rank: 20

    20. Maryland


    Buildings in Baltimore, Maryland.

    Baltimore, Maryland.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 35

    Economic Health Rank: 43

    Innovation Potential Rank: 4

    19. Montana


    Aerial view of Bozeman, Montana.

    Bozeman, Montana.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 17

    Economic Health Rank: 6

    Innovation Potential Rank: 35

    18. South Carolina


    Buildings in Columbia, South Carolina.

    Columbia, South Carolina.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 11

    Economic Health Rank: 17

    Innovation Potential Rank: 39

    17. Tennessee


    Buildings in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Nashville, Tennessee.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 12

    Economic Health Rank: 3

    Innovation Potential Rank: 36

    16. Connecticut


    Buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.

    Hartford, Connecticut.

    f11photo/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 22

    Economic Health Rank: 40

    Innovation Potential Rank: 7

    15. Arizona


    Buildings in Phoenix, Arizona.

    Phoenix, Arizona.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 16

    Economic Health Rank: 16

    Innovation Potential Rank: 23

    14. Virginia


    Buildings in Richmond, Virginia.

    Richmond, Virginia.

    Eli Wilson/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 18

    Economic Health Rank: 9

    Innovation Potential Rank: 19

    13. New Hampshire


    Skyline of Manchester, New Hampshire.

    Manchester, New Hampshire.

    Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 31

    Economic Health Rank: 10

    Innovation Potential Rank: 6

    12. Georgia


    Buildings in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Atlanta, Georgia.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 10

    Economic Health Rank: 21

    Innovation Potential Rank: 25

    11. Idaho


    Buildings in Boise, Idaho.

    Boise, Idaho.

    CSNafzger/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 19

    Economic Health Rank: 2

    Innovation Potential Rank: 17

    10. Florida


    Buildings on the water in Orlando, Florida.

    Orlando, Florida.

    CreativeStudio79/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 6

    Economic Health Rank: 19

    Innovation Potential Rank: 29

    9. Colorado


    Buildings in Denver, Colorado.

    Denver, Colorado.

    Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 15

    Economic Health Rank: 24

    Innovation Potential Rank: 5

    8. Texas


    Buildings in San Antonio, Texas.

    San Antonio, Texas.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 7

    Economic Health Rank: 11

    Innovation Potential Rank: 24

    7. New York


    Aerial view of Buffalo, New York.

    Buffalo, New York.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 4

    Economic Health Rank: 31

    Innovation Potential Rank: 22

    6. North Carolina


    Buildings in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Oak City Drone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 9

    Economic Health Rank: 8

    Innovation Potential Rank: 9

    5. Delaware


    Buildings and their reflection in Wilmington, Delaware.

    Wilmington, Delaware.

    James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 1

    Economic Health Rank: 27

    Innovation Potential Rank: 10

    4. California


    Buildings next to river in Sacramento, California.

    Sacramento, California.

    NorthSky Films/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 2

    Economic Health Rank: 49

    Innovation Potential Rank: 3

    3. Utah


    Buildings in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 3

    Economic Health Rank: 4

    Innovation Potential Rank: 12

    2. Washington


    Buildings in Seattle, Washington.

    Seattle, Washington.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 8

    Economic Health Rank: 18

    Innovation Potential Rank: 2

    1. Massachusetts


    Buildings in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Boston, Massachusetts.

    Terelyuk/Shutterstock

    Economic Activity Rank: 5

    Economic Health Rank: 37

    Innovation Potential Rank: 1

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