The states were compared on 85 different factors grouped into 10 different categories. The breakdown for the different categories’ weights:

• Cost of Doing Business – 400 points
• Infrastructure – 375 points
• Life, Health and Inclusion (formerly Quality of Life) – 375 points
• Workforce – 325 points
• Economy – 250 points
• Business Friendliness – 200 points
• Access to Capital – 175 points
• Technology and Innovation – 175 points
• Education – 150 points
• Cost of Living – 75 points

Virginia was strongest in categories related to education and workforce, with CNBC noting that nearly 39% of the state’s workers have bachelors degrees or higher, and state has the nation’s third highest concentration of STEM workers.

Neighbor North Carolina is second in this year’s study and Maryland placed 12th.