CNBC Ranks America's Top States for Business in 2011

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• More Share

• And The Winner Is — Virginia

  The Old Dominion State is back on top, knocking out Texas and capturing first-place honors for the third time in five years.

OVERALL RANKINGS:

Top Five

» More

• 1. Virginia
• 2. Texas
• 3. North Carolina
• 4. Georgia
• 5. Colorado

Bottom Five

» More

• 50. Rhode Island
• 49. Alaska
• 48. Hawaii
• 47. Mississippi
• 46. West Virginia

CATEGORY RANKINGS:

Access to Capital

» More

• 1. California
• 2. Massachusetts
• 3. New York
• 4.Texas
• 5. Illinois

Business Friendliness

» More

• 1. Delaware
• 2. Virginia
• 3. South Dakota
• 4. Colorado
• 5. Arizona

Cost of Doing Business

» More

• 1. Arkansas (T)
• 1. Iowa (T)
• 3. Missouri
• 4. Kentucky
• 5. Ohio

Cost of Living

» More

• 1. Kentucky
• 2. Tennessee
• 3. Oklahoma
• 4. Arkansas
• 5. Texas

Economy

» More

• 1. North Dakota
• 2. Wyoming
• 3. Alaska
• 4. Oklahoma
• 5. Iowa

Education

» More

• 1. New York
• 2. New Jersey
• 3. Connecticut
• 4. Massachusetts (T)
• 4. Vermont (T)

Quality of Life

» More

• 1. Hawaii
• 2. New Hampshire
• 3. Vermont
• 4. Wyoming
• 5. South Dakota

Technology & Innovation

» More

• 1. California
• 2. New York
• 3. Massachusetts
• 4. Texas
• 5. Washington

Infrastructure & Transportation

» More

• 1. Texas
• 2. Georgia
• 3. North Carolina
• 4. Ohio
• 5. Tennessee

Workforce

» More

• 1. Arizona
• 2. Florida
• 3. North Carolina
• 4. Georgia
• 5. Idaho

FEATURED STORIES

• New Scoring Formula for 2011
• Categories & Criteria
• The Most Improved States for Business
• The Worst States for Business
• States with the Best Quality Of Life
• States with the Lowest Cost Of Living
• Tech Titans: Leaders in Tech & Innovation
• Midwest's The Best Region
• Quiz: State Of The States
• Poll: What's Tops?

SLIDESHOWS

» More

• Governors' Mansions These houses are as famous as their residents  — maybe even more.

• Biggest Job Rate Declines These states have had the biggest declines in their jobless rates in the past year.

• Most Expensive States Here's what a basket of goods will cost you in ten states.

TOP STATES VIDEOS

» More

• • Virginia is Tops for Business  Discussing what makes the Old Dominion state work so well, and what federal lawmakers can learn from it, with former Gov. Douglas Wilder, (D-VA), and former Gov. James Gilmore, (R-VA).

  • Top State for Business: Virginia  CNBC's Scott Cohn has the story behind this year's top state for business: Virginia.

  • Top States for Business: Texas  CNBC's Scott Cohn has the No. 2 top state for business.

  • Top State Countdown: North Carolina  CNBC's Scott Cohn reveals North Carolina scored high points for workforce, infrastructure, and low taxes, making it a perennial contender for top state.

  • Top States for Business: Georgia  CNBC's Scott Cohn reports Georgia came in fourth as a top state contender, and reveals another hint about the top state winner.