Virginia Climbs in CNBC’s 2026 Business Rankings

CNBC has released its 2026 America's Top States for Business rankings, with Virginia moving higher while Maryland and Delaware experienced modest declines.

The annual study evaluates all 50 states across 10 categories of competitiveness, including infrastructure, economy, workforce, quality of life, cost of doing business, cost of living, business friendliness, technology and innovation, education, and access to capital.

Ohio claimed the No. 1 position for the first time, rising from fifth place in 2025. The state ranked first in both infrastructure and cost of doing business.

Here's how our region ranked:

Virginia rose to No. 3, up from fourth place in 2025. The Commonwealth ranked second for infrastructure and fifth for education, although its economy ranking fell amid reductions in federal spending and employment.

Delaware ranked No. 32, down from No. 29 last year. The state continues to benefit from its strategic Mid-Atlantic location, access to major markets and established corporate legal framework, while the rankings point to opportunities to strengthen workforce development and overall competitiveness.

Maryland placed No. 36, slipping from No. 32 in 2025. Despite challenges related to affordability and business costs, the state remains well positioned in areas such as workforce, research, innovation and access to capital.