Nashville, Tennessee
Malcolm MacGregor | Flickr | Getty Images
Category Score 2013 Rank 2012 Rank
Cost of Doing Business2891427
Workforce220511
Quality of Life744948
Infrastructure & Transportation23324
Economy263912
Education544541
Technology & Innovation1502525
Business Friendliness132186
Cost of Living4922
Access to Capital122729
Overall14761316

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Governor: Bill Haslam (R) 

Population: 6,456,243

GDP growth: 3.3 percent

 Unemployment rate (May 2013): 8.3 percent

Top corporate rate: 6.5 percent

Top individual tax rate: 6.0 percent

Gasoline tax: 21.4 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/Stable

Major private employers: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Eastman Chemical Co., Nissan North America Inc., GM Spring Hill Plant, M. Modal Inc., Carlisle Companies, Gaylord Opryland Resort, St. Thomas Hospital, University of Tennessee, Covenant Transportation Group

Economic profile sources: American Petroleum Institute (April 2013), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2012), Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2013 release), CareerOneStop, Moody's Investors Service (senior-most tax-backed ratings), National Governors Association, Tax Foundation (2013), U.S. Census Bureau (2012 estimate)