We scored all 50 states on 51 measures of competitiveness developed with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers and the Council on Competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, we separated those metrics into ten broad categories, weighting the categories based on how frequently they are cited in state economic development marketing materials. That way, our study ranks the states based on the criteria they use to sell themselves.

• Brilliant people doing all sorts of great things from the South Silicon Valley to San Francisco in the North
• Some of the best windsurfing weather and conditions in the World.  I think only Maui in the US has better windsurfing.  I've been there many, many times for windsurfing and surfing, but I get "Island Fever" quickly and always look forward to my return home
• Beautiful Napa Valley about one hour and fifteen minutes to the North and the Beautiful Monterey Peninsula about one hour and fifteen minutes away in the other direction.  Yosemite Valley less than four hours to the East and the Pacific Ocean surfing  and fishing at Santa Cruz to Ocean Beach in San Francisco less than an hour away.