A person's intelligence can be displayed in a number of ways—after all, we've all heard of the difference between street smarts and book smarts. Generally speaking, however, it's relatively common in the United States to associate intelligence with test scores and education credentials. So at Best Life, we looked at metrics on these subjects to determine the smartest state in America.
We started with 2021 data from World Population Review of the average IQ score in each state—for reference, the highest score possible, in theory, is 200, but a score of 140 or higher is considered genius-level intelligence. Then we consulted test-taking preparation sites Prep Scholar and On to College for each state's most recent average SAT and ACT scores, which have max scores of 1600 and 36, respectively. Finally, we used U.S. Census Bureau data, via the National Science Foundation, on the percentage of adults between 25 and 44 years of age in each state who have a bachelor's degree. We then gave each metric a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our Intelligence Index, where 100 is the most intelligent and 0 is the least.
Of course, it is important to acknowledge the sad truth that countless communities across the U.S. just don't have the same opportunities and access to a quality education that others do. This ranking is strictly based on the metrics explained above and does not account for socioeconomic disparity. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover the smartest state in America and to see where yours ranks in comparison. And to learn more about the places where you need to keep your wits about you, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.
50 | West Virginia
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 98.7
Average SAT score: 936
Average ACT score: 20.8
Percentage of college graduates: 24.6 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 0.01
49 | Oklahoma
Gau Meo / Shutterstock.comAverage IQ score: 99.3
Average SAT score: 971
Average ACT score: 18.9
Percentage of college graduates: 27.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 0.96
48 | New Mexico
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 95.7
Average SAT score: 1055
Average ACT score: 19.3
Percentage of college graduates: 25.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 2.25
47 | Nevada
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 96.5
Average SAT score: 1150
Average ACT score: 17.9
Percentage of college graduates: 24.8 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 4.30
46 | Mississippi
iStockAverage IQ score: 94.2
Average SAT score: 1203
Average ACT score: 18.4
Percentage of college graduates: 25.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 9.69
45 | South Carolina
iStockAverage IQ score: 98.4
Average SAT score: 1026
Average ACT score: 18.8
Percentage of college graduates: 30.8 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 11.89
44 | Alabama
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 95.7
Average SAT score: 1127
Average ACT score: 18.9
Percentage of college graduates: 27.9 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 12.22
43 | Louisiana
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 95.3
Average SAT score: 1170
Average ACT score: 18.8
Percentage of college graduates: 26.9 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 13.03
42 | Arkansas
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 97.5
Average SAT score: 1157
Average ACT score: 19.3
Percentage of college graduates: 25.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 13.84
41 | Florida
iStockAverage IQ score: 98.4
Average SAT score: 992
Average ACT score: 20.21
Percentage of college graduates: 32.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 17.43
And for the place where it pays to have street smarts, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America.
40 | Arizona
iStockAverage IQ score: 97.4
Average SAT score: 1139
Average ACT score: 19
Percentage of college graduates: 29.8 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 19.44
39 | Alaska
iStockAverage IQ score: 99
Average SAT score: 1098
Average ACT score: 20.1
Percentage of college graduates: 29.4 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 21.43
38 | Texas
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 100
Average SAT score: 1010
Average ACT score: 20.5
Percentage of college graduates: 32.1 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 22.18
37 | Idaho
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.4
Average SAT score: 984
Average ACT score: 22.5
Percentage of college graduates: 29.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 23.91
36 | Hawaii
iStockAverage IQ score: 95.6
Average SAT score: 1095
Average ACT score: 19
Percentage of college graduates: 35.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 25.20
35 | Tennessee
iStockAverage IQ score: 97.7
Average SAT score: 1186
Average ACT score: 19.4
Percentage of college graduates: 31.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 28.48
34 | Kentucky
iStockAverage IQ score: 99.4
Average SAT score: 1207
Average ACT score: 19.8
Percentage of college graduates: 29 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 29.22
33 | North Carolina
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 100.2
Average SAT score: 1096
Average ACT score: 19
Percentage of college graduates: 35.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 30.95
32 | Ohio
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.8
Average SAT score: 1070
Average ACT score: 20
Percentage of college graduates: 34 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 31.11
31 | Georgia
Shutterstock/Sean PavoneAverage IQ score: 98
Average SAT score: 1053
Average ACT score: 21.4
Percentage of college graduates: 34 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 31.65
30 | Delaware
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 100.4
Average SAT score: 978
Average ACT score: 24
Percentage of college graduates: 31.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 33.99
29 | Wyoming
iStockAverage IQ score: 102.4
Average SAT score: 1220
Average ACT score: 19.8
Percentage of college graduates: 29.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 34.12
28 | Indiana
iStockAverage IQ score: 101.7
Average SAT score: 1074
Average ACT score: 22.5
Percentage of college graduates: 31.5 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 36.85
27 | California
iStockAverage IQ score: 95.5
Average SAT score: 1049
Average ACT score: 22.6
Percentage of college graduates: 36.9 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 39.88
And for the least kind place in the country, This Is the Most Hateful State in America.
26 | Montana
iStockAverage IQ score: 103.4
Average SAT score: 1185
Average ACT score: 19.8
Percentage of college graduates: 34.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 42.35
25 | Michigan
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 100.5
Average SAT score: 998
Average ACT score: 24.4
Percentage of college graduates: 34.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 42.97
24 | Oregon
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.2
Average SAT score: 1104
Average ACT score: 21.2
Percentage of college graduates: 36.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 44.22
23 | Missouri
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101
Average SAT score: 1212
Average ACT score: 20.8
Percentage of college graduates: 34.6 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 47.30
22 | Utah
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.1
Average SAT score: 1204
Average ACT score: 20.3
Percentage of college graduates: 36.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 47.91
21 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 99.5
Average SAT score: 990
Average ACT score: 24.7
Percentage of college graduates: 37.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 48.78
20 | Maine
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 103.4
Average SAT score: 995
Average ACT score: 24.3
Percentage of college graduates: 36.1 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 49.08
19 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 102.9
Average SAT score: 1243
Average ACT score: 20.3
Percentage of college graduates: 35.5 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 51.73
18 | Washington
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.9
Average SAT score: 1073
Average ACT score: 22.1
Percentage of college graduates: 40.1 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 53.21
17 | South Dakota
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 102.8
Average SAT score: 1218
Average ACT score: 21.6
Percentage of college graduates: 34.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 53.55
16 | North Dakota
iStockAverage IQ score: 103.8
Average SAT score: 1231
Average ACT score: 19.9
Percentage of college graduates: 37.9 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 54.92
15 | Iowa
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 103.2
Average SAT score: 1220
Average ACT score: 21.6
Percentage of college graduates: 35.4 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 55.41
14 | Maryland
iStockAverage IQ score: 99.7 percent
Average SAT score: 1029
Average ACT score: 22.3
Percentage of college graduates: 43.9 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 55.86
13 | Nebraska
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 102.3
Average SAT score: 1229
Average ACT score: 20
Percentage of college graduates: 39.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 56.52
12 | Illinois
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 99.9
Average SAT score: 1007
Average ACT score: 24.3
Percentage of college graduates: 41.4 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 57.52
11 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.5
Average SAT score: 1078
Average ACT score: 23.6
Percentage of college graduates: 39.4 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 58.20
10 | Kansas
iStockAverage IQ score: 102.8
Average SAT score: 1237
Average ACT score: 21.2
Percentage of college graduates: 37.3 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 58.72
9 | Colorado
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 101.6
Average SAT score: 1012
Average ACT score: 23.8
Percentage of college graduates: 43.5 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 61.97
8 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 104.2
Average SAT score: 1055
Average ACT score: 25
Percentage of college graduates: 40 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 66.28
7 | New York
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 100.7
Average SAT score: 1058
Average ACT score: 24.5
Percentage of college graduates: 45 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 71.17
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6 | Virginia
iStockAverage IQ score: 101.9
Average SAT score: 1116
Average ACT score: 24
Percentage of college graduates: 43.2 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 71.57
5 | Minnesota
iStockAverage IQ score: 103.7
Average SAT score: 1257
Average ACT score: 21.4
Percentage of college graduates: 42.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 73.53
4 | Connecticut
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 103.1
Average SAT score: 1039
Average ACT score: 25.5
Percentage of college graduates: 44.6 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 75.48
3 | Vermont
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 103.8
Average SAT score: 1103
Average ACT score: 24.1
Percentage of college graduates: 44.7 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 75.99
2 | New Jersey
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 102.8
Average SAT score: 1081
Average ACT score: 24.2
Percentage of college graduates: 47.5 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 79.30
1 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockAverage IQ score: 104.3
Average SAT score: 1119
Average ACT score: 25.5
Percentage of college graduates: 52.4 percent
Intelligence Index Score: 99.98
And for the place where people are green with envy, This Is the Most Jealous State in America.
