A new study has revealed the smartest states in America, with Massachusetts ranking top.
Data collected by the Web3 platform Freename analyzed 29 metrics, which were organized into six categories: business and professional indicators, educational attainment and achievement, IQ, lifelong learning and intellectual engagement, standardized test performance, and STEM focus and innovation.
Each of the 29 metrics was ranked within its category and standardized to give each grouping a score out of 100. These six scores were then combined to calculate an overall score and determine the smartest state.
Top 10: Smartest States
State
Business and Professional Indicators (/100)
Educational Attainment and Achievement (/100)
Average IQ
Lifelong Learning and Intellectual Engagement (/100)
STEM Focus and Innovation (/100)
Standardized Test Performance (/100)
Overall (/100)
Massachusetts
60.18
82.54
104.3
61.82
88.66
87.70
82.52
Connecticut
61.43
72.30
103.1
64.91
55.69
75.29
70.80
Washington
42.87
54.53
101.9
67.42
96.12
68.17
66.67
Vermont
54.54
72.63
103.8
52.12
47.87
64.76
66.04
Virginia
54.95
74.65
101.9
34.31
60.19
71.44
66.01
New Jersey
59.32
69.61
102.8
35.41
51.07
71.81
65.68
New Hampshire
31.79
63.72
104.2
46.67
61.59
71.01
64.53
Maryland
64.36
79.93
99.7
50.12
68.37
58.49
64.37
Colorado
56.43
66.87
101.6
52.46
66.98
62.68
64.13
Minnesota
47.02
56.63
103.7
58.55
55.26
56.03
60.54
Massachusetts is the smartest state, with an overall score of 82.52. The state boasts the highest average IQ (104.3) and the highest high school graduation rate (90.1%). Massachusetts also has the largest share of residents over age 25 with graduate degrees (22.4%) and with a bachelor’s degree or higher (46.63%). The state ranks second in STEM focus, reflecting strong investment in technology and innovation, and sixth in business indicators, highlighting a robust professional landscape.
Connecticut ranks second with an overall score of 70.80. The state has an average IQ of 103.1, the second highest in the nation, and Grade 8 NAEP scores above the national average for both reading (263.81) and math (276.49). Connecticut ranks fifth in business indicators, reflecting its strength in skilled fields like finance and healthcare, and ninth in STEM focus, underscoring its commitment to technical education.
Washington is the third-smartest state, with a score of 66.67. The state surpasses national averages in SAT scores, with 549 in reading and writing and 532 in math. Washington has the highest percentage of residents employed in STEM fields (9.5%) and ranks first in STEM focus, indicating a strong emphasis on tech and research. It also ranks fourth in lifelong learning, demonstrating high engagement in educational resources.
Vermont ranks as the fourth-smartest state with a score of 66.04. Vermont's average IQ is 103.8, the third-highest in America, and its SAT scores exceed national averages (563 in reading and writing, 536 in math). The state also has high educational attainment, with 44.37% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, and ranks 12th in business indicators, showing strengths in fields like education and healthcare.
Virginia ranks fifth with a score of 66.01. Virginia has strong SAT scores (569 in reading and writing, 544 in math) and ranks fourth for gifted student programs (12.29%) and second in STEM employment (8.9%). With an eighth-place rank in STEM focus, Virginia shows a commitment to science and technology fields, complemented by an 11th-place rank in business indicators.
New Jersey is the sixth-smartest state, with a score of 65.68. The state has the lowest dropout rate among students aged 16 to 24 (3.25%), ranks fifth in Grade 8 NAEP math scores (280.89), and has the highest reading score across all states (269.78). New Jersey’s average IQ is 102.8, and it ranks seventh in business indicators and 13th in STEM focus, reflecting a balanced focus on finance, healthcare, and technical education.
New Hampshire ranks seventh with a score of 64.53. The state has the second-highest average IQ (104.2) and an above-average percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree (41.08%). New Hampshire also ranks eighth in educational attainment, seventh in STEM focus, and 21st in lifelong learning, highlighting strong participation in community education resources.
Maryland ranks eighth with a score of 64.37. The state has a high percentage of students in gifted programs (12.5%) and ranks fourth in STEM-related bachelor’s degrees (49.3%). Maryland is third in business indicators, driven by its concentration of professionals in healthcare and technology, and ranks fourth in STEM focus, with strong participation in intellectual and technical fields.
Colorado ranks ninth with a score of 64.13. Colorado exceeds national ACT scores across all subjects, with a composite score of 24.5, and ranks second for residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher (45.9%). The state also ranks 10th in business indicators and fifth in STEM focus, with particular strengths in environmental and space sciences.
Minnesota rounds out the top ten with a score of 60.54. Minnesota has an above-average IQ (103.7) and high school graduation rate (94.24%). The state ranks 10th in STEM focus, supporting a strong commitment to science and technical education, and 12th in lifelong learning, showing high engagement in educational resources.
Davide Vicini, CEO of Freename commented, “Education in America varies widely from state to state, creating a landscape where some regions consistently outperform others in academic achievement and resources. States often ranked as the 'smartest,' like Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington benefit from a combination of well-funded school systems, highly qualified teachers, and a strong emphasis on higher education access. These states tend to have higher graduation rates, standardized test scores, and college enrolment numbers.”
photo: Getty