State Economies

Plain-English explainers for every U.S. state — jobs, cost of living, taxes, and what makes each economy tick.

• Alabama Economy: Auto, Aerospace, and Agriculture

  Plain-English overview of the Alabama economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Alaska Economy: Oil, Fish, and Federal Spending

  Plain-English overview of the Alaska economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, local sales taxes, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Arizona Economy: Sun, Semiconductors, and the Sun-Belt Boom

  Plain-English overview of the Arizona economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Arkansas Economy: Retail HQs, Agriculture, and Logistics

  Plain-English overview of the Arkansas economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• California Economy: Jobs, Wages, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the California economy: GDP, biggest industries, state income tax, minimum wage, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Colorado Economy: Aerospace, Outdoor Industry, and Tech

  Plain-English overview of the Colorado economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Connecticut Economy: Insurance, Defense, and the NYC Halo

  Plain-English overview of the Connecticut economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Delaware Economy: Corporate Charters, Banking, and DuPont's Legacy

  Plain-English overview of the Delaware economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, no statewide sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Florida Economy: Jobs, Wages, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the Florida economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales and property taxes, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Georgia Economy: Atlanta as a Growth Engine

  Plain-English overview of the Georgia economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Hawaii Economy: Tourism, Military, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the Hawaii economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, general excise tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Idaho Economy: Agriculture, Tech, and Population Growth

  Plain-English overview of the Idaho economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Illinois Economy: Jobs, Wages, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the Illinois economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, high sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Indiana Economy: Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Logistics

  Plain-English overview of the Indiana economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Iowa Economy: Corn, Insurance, and Wind

  Plain-English overview of the Iowa economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Kansas Economy: Aerospace, Agriculture, and the Wind Belt

  Plain-English overview of the Kansas economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Kentucky Economy: Bourbon, Cars, and Coal's Slow Fade

  Plain-English overview of the Kentucky economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Louisiana Economy: Energy, Petrochemicals, and the Mississippi

  Plain-English overview of the Louisiana economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Maine Economy: Tourism, Lobsters, and an Aging Workforce

  Plain-English overview of the Maine economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Maryland Economy: Federal Spending and Biotech

  Plain-English overview of the Maryland economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Massachusetts Economy: Brains as an Industry

  Plain-English overview of the Massachusetts economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax with a millionaire surtax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Michigan Economy: Beyond the Auto Industry

  Plain-English overview of the Michigan economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Minnesota Economy: Healthcare, Retail, and Cold-Climate Innovation

  Plain-English overview of the Minnesota economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Mississippi Economy: Manufacturing, Agriculture, and the Gulf Coast

  Plain-English overview of the Mississippi economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Missouri Economy: Logistics, Agriculture, and Bi-State Metros

  Plain-English overview of the Missouri economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Montana Economy: Agriculture, Tourism, and Energy

  Plain-English overview of the Montana economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, no statewide sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Nebraska Economy: Agriculture, Insurance, and the Strip

  Plain-English overview of the Nebraska economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Nevada Economy: Hospitality, Mining, and Tech Diversification

  Plain-English overview of the Nevada economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• New Hampshire Economy: No Sales Tax and the Boston Halo

  Plain-English overview of the New Hampshire economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax on wages, no sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• New Jersey Economy: Pharma, Ports, and the NYC Halo

  Plain-English overview of the New Jersey economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, high property taxes, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• New Mexico Economy: Federal Labs, Oil, and Tourism

  Plain-English overview of the New Mexico economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, gross receipts tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• New York Economy: Jobs, Wages, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the New York economy: GDP, biggest industries, state and city income taxes, minimum wage, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• North Carolina Economy: Banking, Tech, and Tobacco's Past

  Plain-English overview of the North Carolina economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• North Dakota Economy: Oil, Agriculture, and the Bakken

  Plain-English overview of the North Dakota economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Ohio Economy: Manufacturing's Comeback Story

  Plain-English overview of the Ohio economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Oklahoma Economy: Oil, Gas, and Aerospace

  Plain-English overview of the Oklahoma economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Oregon Economy: Tech, Forestry, and the No-Sales-Tax Question

  Plain-English overview of the Oregon economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, no sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Pennsylvania Economy: Manufacturing, Energy, and Healthcare

  Plain-English overview of the Pennsylvania economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Rhode Island Economy: Healthcare, Education, and the Bay

  Plain-English overview of the Rhode Island economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• South Carolina Economy: Auto Manufacturing and Tourism

  Plain-English overview of the South Carolina economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• South Dakota Economy: Agriculture, Tourism, and No State Income Tax

  Plain-English overview of the South Dakota economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Tennessee Economy: Music, Cars, and Healthcare

  Plain-English overview of the Tennessee economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Texas Economy: Jobs, Wages, and Cost of Living

  Plain-English overview of the Texas economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales and property taxes, jobs, wages, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Utah Economy: Tech, Tourism, and Population Boom

  Plain-English overview of the Utah economy: GDP, biggest industries, flat state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Vermont Economy: Tourism, Dairy, and Small Manufacturing

  Plain-English overview of the Vermont economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Virginia Economy: Federal Government, Defense, and Data Centers

  Plain-English overview of the Virginia economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Washington State Economy: Tech, Trade, and Aerospace

  Plain-English overview of the Washington state economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, high sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• West Virginia Economy: Coal's Decline and Energy Transition

  Plain-English overview of the West Virginia economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Wisconsin Economy: Manufacturing, Dairy, and the Service Shift

  Plain-English overview of the Wisconsin economy: GDP, biggest industries, graduated state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read

• Wyoming Economy: Energy, Tourism, and the Tax-Friendly Edge

  Plain-English overview of the Wyoming economy: GDP, biggest industries, no state income tax, sales tax, jobs, and cost of living. Written so anyone can follow it.

  5 min read