State rankings

Average IQ by State

Massachusetts has the highest Average IQ Score (104.3), followed by New Hampshire (104.2) and North Dakota (103.8). Mississippi has the lowest (94.2).

Education50 states · 1 metricUpdated Oct 28, 2026Original page
4 sources
Average IQ ScoreBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
50 of 51 states
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Average IQ Score

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
100.9
Middle half 98.5 – 102.7
Average
100.3
50 states
Highest
104.3
Massachusetts
Lowest
94.2
Mississippi

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Average IQ Score
#
1Massachusetts104.3
2New Hampshire104.2
3North Dakota103.8
3Vermont103.8
5Minnesota103.7
6Maine103.4
6Montana103.4
8Iowa103.2
9Connecticut103.1
10Wisconsin102.9
11New Jersey102.8
11Kansas102.8
11South Dakota102.8
14Wyoming102.4
15Nebraska102.3
16Virginia101.9
16Washington101.9
18Ohio101.8
19Indiana101.7
20Colorado101.6
21Pennsylvania101.5
22Idaho101.4
23Oregon101.2
24Utah101.1
25Missouri101.0
26New York100.7
27Michigan100.5
28Delaware100.4
29North Carolina100.2
30Texas100.0
31Illinois99.9
32Maryland99.7
33Rhode Island99.5
34Kentucky99.4
35Oklahoma99.3
36Alaska99.0
37West Virginia98.7
38Florida98.4
38South Carolina98.4
40Georgia98.0
41Tennessee97.7
42Arkansas97.5
43Arizona97.4
44Nevada96.5
45Alabama95.7
45New Mexico95.7
47Hawaii95.6
48California95.5
49Louisiana95.3
50Mississippi94.2

What correlates with Average IQ Score?

Pearson r against 2,113 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Average IQ Score tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Most & Least Intelligent States Index (Guru99)Dumbest States in the United States
    r = +0.91 · very strong · n = 30
    Plot
  2. Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
    r = +0.80 · very strong · n = 48
    Plot
  3. Total ScoreBest States to Raise a Family
    r = +0.76 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Overall Best (WalletHub)Best States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.75 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Education and Child CareBest States to Raise a FamilyA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.75 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Smartest / Dumbest States Index (Penn Stakes)Dumbest States in the United States
    r = +0.75 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Average IQ Score tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. WeatherPension-Friendly States
    r = −0.80 · very strong · n = 49
    Plot
  2. Min. SEER Rating - Split System AC < 45k btu/hSEER Requirements by State
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Min. SEER2 Rating - Split System AC ≥ 45k btu/hSEER Requirements by State
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Min. SEER Rating - Split System AC ≥ 45k btu/h (SSACover 45)SEER Requirements by State
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Min. SEER2 Rating - Split System AC < 45k btu/hSEER Requirements by State
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Indoor Allergy Rainfall ScoreAllergy-Friendly States
    r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 49
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Average IQ Score?
Massachusetts has the highest Average IQ Score, at 104.3, followed by New Hampshire (104.2) and North Dakota (103.8).
Which state has the lowest Average IQ Score?
Mississippi has the lowest Average IQ Score, at 94.2.
What is the median Average IQ Score across US states?
The median is 100.9 across the 50 US states with data.
Where does this average iq by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States - National Library of Medicine 2022; Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies - The Institute of Education Sciences; Mapped: Average IQ Score by State - Visual Capitalist; Average IQ by State in the US for 2025 - North American Community Hub Statistics. Last updated 2026-10-28.