Compare the 50 states by a named economic measure. Every ranking has its own data table, historical periods, analysis and source method.
Which states produce the most economic output? This is a ranking of economic size. A large population and a large business base can increase total output even when output per resident is modest.
2025 · BEA SAGDP1, line 3
First in this measure: California — 4,297,449.8 millions of current dollars.
Which state economies grew fastest after inflation? Growth compares each state with its own preceding-year output. It measures proportional change, so it does not rank the dollar scale of the economy.
2025 · BEA SAGDP1, line 1
First in this measure: Delaware — 5.13 percent, annual change.
How does economic output compare after accounting for population? GDP per capita divides workplace-based output by resident population. It is not average income, a paycheck, or a direct measure of worker productivity.
2025 · BEA SAGDP1 line 3 / SAINC1 line 2
First in this measure: New York — 123,273 current dollars per resident.
Where is personal income per resident highest? Personal income includes earnings, property income and transfers. Per capita is an average across residents, not the median wage or household income.
2025 · BEA SAINC1, line 3
First in this measure: Connecticut — 102,307 dollars per resident.
Which states have the lowest unemployment rates? Unemployment counts eligible jobseekers relative to the resident civilian labor force. A low rate does not establish high wages or high labor-force participation.
August 2026 · BLS LAUS state series, seasonally adjusted
First in this measure: South Dakota — 2.0 percent of civilian labor force.
Which states added payroll jobs fastest over the past year? Payroll growth compares workplace jobs, not the number of employed residents. Percentage growth and the absolute number of added jobs answer different questions.
August 2026 · BLS state CES total nonfarm, seasonally adjusted
First in this measure: New Mexico — 1.62 percent, year-over-year change.
Where are consumer price levels lowest? Regional price parities compare average prices across places. They are not CPI inflation, an individual household budget, or a complete relocation cost estimate.
2024 · BEA SARPP, line 1, all items
First in this measure: Arkansas — 86.937 regional price parity, u.s. = 100.
GDP ranks the scale of production; GDP growth ranks its pace after inflation. Output per resident removes population scale but retains workplace-based production. Personal income describes residents’ income from earnings, property and transfers. Unemployment concerns people looking for work, while payroll growth counts workplace jobs. Price parities compare the same year’s consumer price levels across places.
These are separate measurements. We do not combine them into an unexplained “best economy” score. A state can lead one ranking and sit much lower in another. Open its economic profile to inspect the levels, time series and industry context behind the rank.
The ranked universe is the 50 U.S. states. District of Columbia is available as a separate unranked comparison. Competition ranking gives equal values the same position and skips the following position; alphabetical order within ties is a display choice. Each page states its ranking precision. Missing observations are excluded and counted rather than treated as zero.
All results use the regional September 30, 2026 acquisition. Monthly August labor estimates, annual 2025 GDP/income and annual 2024 price parities have different reference periods. Historical selections use this acquired, revised history; they are not the ranks known at those earlier dates. Sources, file dates and calculations remain attached to the downloadable evidence.