DemographicsSep 24, 2024

Which States Have the Highest Average IQ? 🧠

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the average IQ for the 50 U.S. states, based on data from a 2022 report by Pesta, Bryan J. “Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States”.

Methodology

IQ estimates are based on analysis of exam scores from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competency (PIAAC) for adults, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for fourth and eighth grade children.

The PIAAC is a large-scale international study of key cognitive and workplace skills of adults.

The NAEP is the largest nationally representative assessment of student capabilities in public and private schools in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

The average IQ across states ranges between 94.2 and 104.3 (considered “average” by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale)
The top 3 states by average IQ are Massachusetts (104.3), New Hampshire (104.2), and North Dakota (103.8)

Dataset

Rank	State	Average IQ
1	Alabama	95.7
2	Alaska	99.0
3	Arizona	97.4
4	Arkansas	97.5
5	California	95.5
6	Colorado	101.6
7	Connecticut	103.1
8	Delaware	100.4
9	Florida	98.4
10	Georgia	98.0
11	Hawaii	95.6
12	Idaho	101.4
13	Illinois	99.9
14	Indiana	101.7
15	Iowa	103.2
16	Kansas	102.8
17	Kentucky	99.4
18	Louisiana	95.3
19	Maine	103.4
20	Maryland	99.7
21	Massachusetts	104.3
22	Michigan	100.5
23	Minnesota	103.7
24	Mississippi	94.2
25	Missouri	101.0
26	Montana	103.4
27	Nebraska	102.3
28	Nevada	96.5
29	New Hampshire	104.2
30	New Jersey	102.8
31	New Mexico	95.7
32	New York	100.7
33	North Carolina	100.2
34	North Dakota	103.8
35	Ohio	101.8
36	Oklahoma	99.3
37	Oregon	101.2
38	Pennsylvania	101.5
39	Rhode Island	99.5
40	South Carolina	98.4
41	South Dakota	102.8
42	Tennessee	97.7
43	Texas	100.0
44	Utah	101.1
45	Vermont	103.8
46	Virginia	101.9
47	Washington	101.9
48	West Virginia	98.7
49	Wisconsin	102.9
50	Wyoming	102.4