Top States For Business 2012

Governor: Christine Gregoire (D)

Population: 6,830,038

GDP (per capita): $45,520

Number of S&P 500 companies: 8

Top corporate tax rate: None but a there is a gross receipts tax with rates not strictly comparable to corporate income tax rates

Top individual tax rate: None

Gasoline taxes/fees: 37.5 cents

Bond Rating/Outlook: Aa1/Negative

SAT scores (average): 1560/2400

Degree Granting Institutions (colleges/universities): 85

Sources: Census Bureau (2011), Standard & Poor's (2012), Tax Foundation (2012), American Petroleum Institute (2012), Bureau Labor Statistics (2011), National Center For Education Statistics (2011), Moody's (2012), CNBC