Which state has the highest Score?

Montana has the highest Score, at 59.72, followed by Kansas (58.78) and North Dakota (57.35).

Which state has the lowest Score?

Alaska has the lowest Score, at 36.13.

What is the median Score across US states?

The median is 48.95 across the 50 US states with data.

Where does this cattle ranching by state data come from?

Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: 2021’s Best States to Start a Farm or Ranch - LawnStarter; Cattle Statistics - USDA.

State rankings

Cattle Ranching by State

Name: Cattle Ranching by State
Creator: Rankodex

Montana has the highest Score (59.72), followed by Kansas (58.78) and North Dakota (57.35). Alaska has the lowest (36.13).

Agriculture50 states · 13 metricsUpdated Aug 31, 2026Original page

2 sources

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50 of 51 states

Compare this metric Add to combined ranking Open full map

Adjust wages and incomes for cost of living (2024 prices)Cost-of-living adjustmentConverts wages and incomes to what they would buy at average US prices, so $100k in a cheap state and $100k in an expensive one are not treated as equal.More in the glossary →

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

48.95

Middle half 45.26 – 53.15

Average

48.93

50 states

Highest

59.72

Montana

Lowest

36.13

Alaska

Data

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

50 states · # = rank by Score

#
1	Montana	59.72	1st
2	Kansas	58.78	2nd
3	North Dakota	57.35	3rd
4	Texas	57.32	4th
5	Oklahoma	57.04	5th
6	South Dakota	56.36	6th
7	Iowa	56.06	7th
8	Kentucky	55.07	8th
9	Colorado	54.48	9th
10	Wyoming	54.41	10th
11	Nebraska	54.34	11th
12	Arkansas	54.26	12th
13	New Mexico	53.17	13th
14	Oregon	53.08	14th
15	Tennessee	52.88	15th
16	Idaho	52.81	16th
17	Alabama	52.37	17th
18	Missouri	52.34	18th
19	Georgia	52.12	19th
20	Minnesota	51.93	20th
21	Washington	51.89	21st
22	Louisiana	50.84	22nd
23	Mississippi	50.39	23rd
24	Wisconsin	49.3	24th
25	Delaware	49.01	25th
26	South Carolina	48.89	26th
27	Virginia	47.86	27th
28	Arizona	47.83	28th
29	Ohio	47.69	29th
30	West Virginia	47.33	30th
31	Utah	47	31st
32	North Carolina	46.98	32nd
33	Illinois	46.97	33rd
34	Florida	46.56	34th
35	California	45.83	35th
36	New York	45.7	36th
37	Maryland	45.66	37th
38	Indiana	45.13	38th
39	Vermont	44.8	39th
40	Hawaii	44.38	40th
41	Michigan	43.68	41st
42	Nevada	42.43	42nd
43	New Hampshire	42.11	43rd
44	Pennsylvania	41.88	44th
45	Massachusetts	39.94	45th
46	Maine	39.59	46th
47	New Jersey	39.25	47th
48	Connecticut	38.08	48th
49	Rhode Island	37.57	49th
50	Alaska	36.13	50th

What correlates with Score?

Pearson r against 2,101 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states, 2 near-identical series hidden. 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 Score tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

Overall RankFarming-Friendly StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
r = −0.99 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Total Area Used for FarmlandStates with the Most Farmland
r = +0.77 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
# of HomesteadsBest States To Homestead
r = +0.76 · very strong · n = 30
Plot
Viability RankFarming-Friendly StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
r = −0.76 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Hay ProductionHay Production by State
r = +0.73 · very strong · n = 49
Plot
Personnel RankFarming-Friendly StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
r = −0.71 · very strong · n = 50
Plot

Opposite directions

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

Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)
r = −0.73 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)
r = −0.70 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Hourly Mean WageVeterinarian Salary by State
r = −0.68 · strong · n = 47
Plot
Annual Median WageVeterinarian Salary by State
r = −0.68 · strong · n = 47
Plot
State Highway Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State
r = −0.67 · strong · n = 46
Plot
HearseAverage Funeral Cost by State
r = −0.67 · strong · n = 50
Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Score?: Montana has the highest Score, at 59.72, followed by Kansas (58.78) and North Dakota (57.35).
Which state has the lowest Score?: Alaska has the lowest Score, at 36.13.
What is the median Score across US states?: The median is 48.95 across the 50 US states with data.
Where does this cattle ranching by state data come from?: Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: 2021’s Best States to Start a Farm or Ranch - LawnStarter; Cattle Statistics - USDA.