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

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.

aceshot1/Shutterstock

Economic Activity Rank: 51

Economic Health Rank: 30

Innovation Potential Rank: 51

50. 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