You may have heard that Minnesota is a “high tax” state,
but there’s more to the story…
Those taxes are strategic investments we make as a community for the common good. The result is that Minnesota is ranked #1, or top 5, or top 10 in the nation in virtually every category that matters.
Minnesota is THE State of Excellence:
Like any smart business, Minnesota makes smart, strategic investments that provide excellent returns.
If your company values:
- A thriving, diverse, high-tech economy
- A highly educated, healthy & productive workforce
- Quality, effective government
- Excellent infrastructure & transportation systems, and
- Exceptional quality of life for its employees, then…
| National Ranking | Category | By Whom | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVERALL MEASURES | |||
| #2 | Best state to live in overall | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #4 | Best run state in the USA | Wall Street 24/7 website | 2020 |
| #4 | Best state in America | U.S. News & World Report | 2024 |
| ECONOMY & BUSINESS | |||
| #1 | Best State for Independent Retailers | B2B Reviews | 2024 |
| #1 | Highest average credit score (FICO) | Experian | 2023 |
| #2 | Highest per capita medical device patents | U.S. Patent & Trademark Office | 2023 |
| #3 | Per capita Fortune 500 companies | DEED | 2024 |
| #4 | Five-year business survival rate | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2021 |
| #4 | Highest level of technology & innovation | CNBC | 2023 |
| #4 | State Agricultural exports | DEED | 2023 |
| #6 | Best State for Business, overall | CNBC | 2024 |
| #5 | Top states for business | CNBC | 2023 |
| #6 | Highest labor force participation rate | U.S. News and World Report | 2024 |
| #7 | Highest per capita patents (all types) | U.S. Patent & Trademark Office | 2022 |
| #8 | Best state for job creation | U.S. News & World Report | 2022 |
| TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE | |||
| #1 | Most on time airport in the world (MSP) | CNBC | 2024 |
| #1 | Best U.S. Airport | Travel + Leisure | 2024 |
| #5 | Best overall infrastructure | CNBC | 2024 |
| #4 | Transportation system | U.S. News & World Report | 2024 |
| #9 | Best overall infrastructure | U.S. News & World Report | 2023 |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | |||
| #1 | Least stressed state | WalletHub | 2023 |
| #1 | Participation in girls’ sports | Minneapolis Star Tribune | 2022 |
| #2 | Best state to raise a family | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #2 | Quality of Life | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #2 | Natural Environment Overall | U.S. News and World Report | 2023 |
| #3 | Best state for women | WalletHub | 2024 |
| #4 | Quality of Life | CNBC | 2024 |
| #4 | Best Life, Health & Inclusion | CNBC | 2023 |
| #5 | Best economic opportunity | U.S. News and World Report | 2024 |
| #5 | Best state for children | Annie E. Casey Foundation | 2023 |
| #5 | Largest zoo in the USA | MPR | 2023 |
| #6 | Best Cost of Living Index | B2B Reviews | 2024 |
| #6 | Best State to Raise a Family, by Avg Salary | Forbes Advisor | 2024 |
| #6 | Lowest poverty rate | U.S. News and World Report | 2024 |
| #7 | Safest state to raise children | SafeHome.org | 2023 |
| #7 | Least expensive state to raise children | WalletHub | 2023 |
| #7 | Natural Environment Overall | U.S. News & World Report | 2023 |
| #8 | Best state to retire in | CNBC | 2024 |
| #9 | Highest home ownership rate | U.S. Census Bureau | 2024 |
| HEALTH | |||
| #1 | Best State for Healthcare, overall | Forbes Advisor | 2023 |
| #2 | Healthiest state in America | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #3 | Highest life expectancy | World population review | 2024 |
| #4 | Best mental health | CNBC | 2023 |
| #6 | Lowest mortality rate | U.S. News & World Report | 2024 |
| #6 | Best health care affordability | U.S. News & World Report | 2024 |
| #6 | Lowest infant mortality rate | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #6 | Highest health insurance enrollment | U.S. News & World Report | 2024 |
| #8 | Best public health | U.S. News & World Report | 2023 |
| EDUCATION | |||
| #3 | Largest system of Colleges & Universities in the United States | Minnesota State | 2024 |
| #4 | Highest % with high school diploma | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #4 | Highest % with A.A. degree or higher | U.S. News and world Report | 2024 |
| #6 | Highest SAT scores | World Population Review | 2024 |
| #7 | Best Public Schools | World Population Review | 2022 |
| #8 | Highest mathematics scores, Grade 8 | National Assessment of Educational Progress | 2024 |
| #9 | Best state for education | WalletHub | 2024 |
| CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | |||
| #1 | Highest voter participation rate | World Population Review | 2023 |
| #2 | Highest level of charitable giving | Forbes | 2023 |
| #3 | Highest level of volunteerism | United States Census Bureau | 2021 |
