State economy performances

1st :: Wyoming
Debt per capita: $4,310 (2nd)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (8th)
Home price change (2006-2009): 23.6% (1st)
Median household income: $52,664 (19th)

Wyoming comes in first, with the highest high school completion rate, sixth lowest debt per capita and second lowest poverty rate. But there are blemishes. Wyoming ranks 19th in median income and 32 second health coverage. With just over half a million residents, it is the least populous state.



2nd :: North Dakota
Debt per capita: $5,651 (10th)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1st)
Home price change (2006-2009): 17.2% (4th)
Median household Income: $48,827 (27th)

North Dakota owes much of its success to a well-managed state economy. It is one of only two states in the country with a budget surplus, and in 2008 its economy grew 7.3% -- double that of any state other than Wyoming. The state also has the tenth lowest debt per capita and the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S




   
3rd :: Iowa
Debt per capita: $5,138 (6th)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (8th)
Home price change (2006-2009): 8.3% (22nd)
Median household income: $48,044 (26th)

Iowa ranks 7th in education, with more than 90% of 25-year-olds having completed high school or the state equivalent. It is also sixth lowest in debt per capita and has the third lowest rate of citizens without health insurance, at 8.6%. While the Hawkeye State may be known for its corn fields, its economy is meaningfully supported by The University of Iowa, which accounts for one in every 30 jobs in the state. Today, the state ranks eighth lowest in the U.S. for unemployment.



4th :: Vermont
Debt per capita: $6,983 (23rd)
Unemployment rate: 6% (5th)
Home price change (2006-2009): 12.1% (12th)
Median household Income: $51,618 (20th)

Vermont, the second smallest state in the union, has the third smallest debt, due in part to its tendency to budget conservatively. The state also boasts the third smallest percentage of people without health insurance and the second lowest rate of violent crime: only 137.5 reported cases per 100,000 people



1st :: Wyoming
5th :: Minnesota
Debt per capita: $7,909 (32nd)
Unemployment rate: 7% (10th)
Home price change (2006-2009): -3.7% (41st)
Median household income: $55,616 (12th)

Recently run by a former professional wrestler, Minnesota maintains a well governed economy. It ranks in the top ten in GDP per capita, health insurance coverage, and high school completion. It also has the tenth best unemployment rate, 7%. The notably low unemployment rate is due in part to the government's use of funds from the recovery bill to restore 200,000 of the jobs lost during the recession.



1st :: Wyoming
43rd :: Illinois
Debt per capita: $9,617 (42nd)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (41st)
Home price change (2006-2009): 1% (35th)
Median household income: $53,966 (17th)

Illinois finds itself with such a low ranking in part due to its high unemployment (10.1%) and in part due to its high debt per capita ($9,613.) The state also suffers from poor fiscal governance, however, and received a credit rating of A+, the second worst S&P rating granted to all the states.


1st :: Wyoming
47th :: Michigan
Debt per capita: $7,547 (28th)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (49th)
Home price change (2006-2009): -13.8% (46th)
Median household income: $45,255 (34th)

Michigan, the home to America's devastated auto industry, has the second worst unemployment rate in the country, at 13.8%. The state is one of only six to be rated by S&P as having a credit rating of AA- or worse, likely due to the state's unemployment crisis, as well as high crime rates and one of the worst drops in occupied home values in the country.


1st :: Wyoming
49th :: California
Debt per capita: $9,228 (39th)
Unemployment rate: 12.4% (48th)
Home price change (2006-2009): -28.3% (49th)
Median household income: $58,931 (9th)

While it does not quite rank as the worst state on our list, California stands out as being among the most poorly governed. America's most populous state has been mired in debt and political unrest for nearly a decade. It bears the unique honor of being the only state considered economically unstable enough to have its debts rated at an A- by S&P. It ranks 42nd in the country in health insurance coverage, despite having a state-sponsored health insurance program. The Golden State also ranks 48th in high school completion. Between 2006 and 2009, California experienced the second worst household value decline, with occupied homes losing an average of nearly 30% percent of their value.