July 9, 2026
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 9, 2026—CNBC today unveiled the results of the 2026 America’s Top States for Business, with Ohio taking the number one position.
CNBC Special Correspondent Scott Cohn reported today live from Columbus, Ohio and counted down the top five states during CNBC’s “Squawk Box” (M-F, 6AM-9AM ET) and on CNBC.com. Coverage of America’s Top States for Business continues today across CNBC’s Business Day programming and digital platforms.
The Buckeye State claims America’s strongest Infrastructure at a time when infrastructure matters more than ever. Few states can match its access: more than 143 million people are within a one-day drive and the state provides abundant shovel-ready sites as well as substantial data power capacity. It also offers the lowest Cost of Doing Business, supported by some of the nation’s most affordable rents and insurance costs. Still, Ohio has its challenges as the state’s Workforce ranks 34th, weighed down by limited population growth, weaker educational attainment, and lagging productivity. Although Ohio has never previously been named a Top State, it has been steadily climbing the rankings and, in 2025, entered the top five for the first time.
“Today’s competitive landscape plays to Ohio’s strengths, including its infrastructure, low costs, and a regulatory regime that is increasingly business friendly,” Cohn said. “When we launched our Top States rankings 20 years ago, Ohio finished 30th. This would seem to confirm that the state has once and for all shrugged off its Rust Belt past.”
CNBC Digital offers a detailed analysis of how Ohio claimed the number one position, including a complete economic snapshot (employment, budget, tax, and housing data). The rankings for all 50 states are available at cnbc.com/topstates.
Follow @CNBC and take part in the social conversation surrounding CNBC’s Top States coverage using the hashtag #TopStates.
CNBC’s exclusive study scores all 50 states on 138 metrics across ten categories of competitiveness. The methodology grades the states based on factors companies consider each year when making site selection decisions, and the states pitch in their efforts to win business. Then, the economic development marketing pitches of every state are analyzed to determine the appropriate weight for each category. The more weight a category carries, the more metrics it includes.
America’s Top 5 States for Business:
1. Ohio
2. North Carolina
3. Virginia
4. Texas
5. Minnesota
For more information contact:
Erin Kitzie
CNBC
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