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North Carolina Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2025 SCORE | 2025 RANK | 2024 RANK | 2025 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECONOMY | 322 | 3 | 4 | A- |
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 240 | 11 | 20 | B+ |
| WORKFORCE | 243 | 4 | 3 | A- |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 167 | 21 | 18 | B |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 195 | 4 | 2 | A |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 136 | 29 | 32 | C- |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 159 | 13 | 11 | B |
| EDUCATION | 70 | 6 | 10 | A- |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 49 | 8 | 10 | B+ |
| COST OF LIVING | 33 | 23 | 31 | C+ |
| OVERALL | 1614 | 1 | 2 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Josh Stein, Democrat
Population: 11,046,024
GDP growth (Q1 2025): 0.8%
Unemployment rate (May 2025): 3.7%
Top corporate tax rate: 2.5%
Top individual income tax rate: 4.25%
Gasoline tax: 59 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aaa, Stable/AAA, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, Energy Information Administration (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
