Ihor Chopovskyi | Istock | Getty Images
North Carolina Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 254 | 13 | 11 | B- |
| ECONOMY | 317 | 1 | 3 | A+ |
| WORKFORCE | 258 | 3 | 4 | A |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 134 | 34 | 29 | C- |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 161 | 20 | 21 | B |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 160 | 8 | 13 | B+ |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 158 | 8 | 4 | B+ |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 90 | 5 | 8 | A- |
| EDUCATION | 62 | 12 | 6 | B |
| COST OF LIVING | 20 | 35 | 23 | C- |
| OVERALL | 1614 | 2 | 1 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Josh Stein, Democrat
Population: 11,197,968
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 3.20%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 3.70%
Top corporate tax rate: 2.00%
Top individual income tax rate: 3.99%
Gasoline tax: 59.65 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, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
