State rankings

U.S. Literacy Rates by State

Massachusetts has the highest Average Literacy Score in 2024 (225), followed by New Jersey (222) and Wyoming (222). New Mexico has the lowest (201).

EducationPopulation51 states · 5 metricsUpdated Mar 11, 2025Original page
3 sources
Year 202451 of 51 states
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Average Literacy Score, 2024

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

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All 51 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
215
Middle half 212 – 216
Average
214
51 states
Highest
225
Massachusetts
Lowest
201
New Mexico

Data

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

51 states · # = rank by Average Literacy Score
#
1Massachusetts225
2New Jersey222
2Wyoming222
4Colorado221
4New Hampshire221
6Indiana220
7Connecticut219
7Utah219
7Mississippi219
10Florida218
10Kentucky218
12Montana217
13Pennsylvania216
13Ohio216
13Washington216
13Maryland216
13Louisiana216
13Idaho216
13Hawaii216
13Rhode Island216
13North Dakota216
22New York215
22Tennessee215
22Wisconsin215
22South Carolina215
22Iowa215
27Illinois214
27Georgia214
27Virginia214
27Minnesota214
27South Dakota214
32North Carolina213
32Alabama213
32Nevada213
32Kansas213
32Vermont213
37California212
37Texas212
37Missouri212
37Nebraska212
41Arkansas210
41Maine210
41Delaware210
44Michigan209
44District of Columbia209
46Arizona208
47Oregon207
47Oklahoma207
49West Virginia206
50Alaska202
51New Mexico201

What correlates with Average Literacy Score (2024)?

Pearson r against 2,095 other state metrics sharing at least 31 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 Literacy Score tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Best Education Rank (USNews)Best States for EducationA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.69 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. Education RankWorst States to Live inA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = +0.69 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. EducationBest States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.67 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  4. NAEP Math ScoresBest States for Education
    r = +0.67 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. K-12 PerformancePublic School Rankings by StateA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.62 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Total Score (WalletHub)Best States to Live In
    r = +0.59 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

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

  1. Per Capita Balance of PaymentsFederal Aid by State
    r = −0.55 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  3. Per Capita Balance of Payments without COVIDFederal Aid by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Police Killings Rate 2013-2026Police Killings by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  5. VC 2023Safest Cities by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 35
    Plot
  6. Violent Crime Rate US NewsSafest States in the US
    r = −0.52 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Average Literacy Score?
Massachusetts has the highest Average Literacy Score in 2024, at 225, followed by New Jersey (222) and Wyoming (222).
Which state has the lowest Average Literacy Score?
New Mexico has the lowest Average Literacy Score in 2024, at 201.
What is the median Average Literacy Score across US states?
The median is 215 across the 51 US states with data in 2024.
Where does this u.s. literacy rates by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Adult Literacy State Cards 2019 - Barbara Bush; National Reading Proficiency Map 2022 - Reading is Fundamental; Literacy Statistics by US State - RIF.org.

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