Full Breakdown
CNBC Unveils 2026 Top States for Business Rankings
7/10/2026, 9:40:29 PM
Evolution of the Rankings Since 2007
The rankings began in 2007 amid a booming yet volatile housing market, aiming to explain why some states consistently attract more business. Over two decades, states such as Virginia, Texas and North Carolina have rarely fallen outside the top 10, while Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island and West Virginia have often ranked near the bottom. CNBC re-weights categories each year to mirror market dynamics; in 2026 infrastructure outranked economy, which fell to second place behind workforce considerations.
State Performances: North Carolina, Texas, and Others
North Carolina placed second overall, just nine points behind Ohio, after topping the economy category. The state has finished first or second for six consecutive years. However, its cost-of-living rank (35th) and quality-of-life rank (34th) pulled it down the list. Texas remained in the top 5, scoring 12 in infrastructure, 2 in economy, 1 in workforce, 49 in quality of life, 5 in cost of business, 3 in technology & innovation, 23 in business friendliness, 2 in access to capital, 32 in education and 30 in cost of living. Texas’ population stands at 31,709,821 with Q1 2026 GDP growth of 0.90 %. Major corporations headquartered there include Tesla, Chevron, Caterpillar, Charles Schwab, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Fisher Investments, H-E-B and SpaceX.
Official Reactions
Governor Stein praised North Carolina’s continued high ranking, describing the state as “growing and thriving” and urging investment in people and lower living costs to build a “safer, stronger, and more prosperous” future.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The biggest change in 2026: Infrastructure is our top-weighted category, as companies pursue strategic locations close to transport hubs, top utilities, access to fresh water, and abundant energy to power things like advanced manufacturing and data centers.” — CNBC methodology
- “For the first time in 2026, we are factoring ease of permitting into our rankings.” — CNBC methodology
- “North Carolina is growing and thriving, and remaining in the top two is just another reminder of all our state has to offer. Let’s keep building our success story by investing in people and lowering the cost of living so that we can build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous North Carolina.” — Governor Stein
- “Texas’ extensive transportation network includes major ports, international airports, rail systems, and highway infrastructure that continue to make it one of the country’s leading logistics and trade hubs.” — Graham Watson, Getty Images (cited by Majic 945)
