Average IQ by State 2026
United States
Massachusetts
MississippiAverage IQ Score
States Ranked by Average IQ
State | Average IQ Score ↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Massachusetts | 104.3 |
 | New Hampshire | 104.2 |
 | North Dakota | 103.8 |
 | Vermont | 103.8 |
 | Minnesota | 103.7 |
 | Maine | 103.4 |
 | Montana | 103.4 |
 | Iowa | 103.2 |
 | Connecticut | 103.1 |
 | Wisconsin | 102.9 |
 | Kansas | 102.8 |
 | New Jersey | 102.8 |
 | South Dakota | 102.8 |
 | Wyoming | 102.4 |
 | Nebraska | 102.3 |
 | Virginia | 101.9 |
 | Washington | 101.9 |
 | Ohio | 101.8 |
 | Indiana | 101.7 |
 | Colorado | 101.6 |
 | Pennsylvania | 101.5 |
 | Idaho | 101.4 |
 | Oregon | 101.2 |
 | Utah | 101.1 |
 | Missouri | 101.0 |
 | New York | 100.7 |
 | Michigan | 100.5 |
 | Delaware | 100.4 |
 | North Carolina | 100.2 |
 | Texas | 100.0 |
 | Illinois | 99.9 |
 | Maryland | 99.7 |
 | Rhode Island | 99.5 |
 | Kentucky | 99.4 |
 | Oklahoma | 99.3 |
 | Alaska | 99.0 |
 | West Virginia | 98.7 |
 | Florida | 98.4 |
 | South Carolina | 98.4 |
 | Georgia | 98.0 |
 | Tennessee | 97.7 |
 | Arkansas | 97.5 |
 | Arizona | 97.4 |
 | Nevada | 96.5 |
 | Alabama | 95.7 |
 | New Mexico | 95.7 |
 | Hawaii | 95.6 |
 | California | 95.5 |
 | Louisiana | 95.3 |
 | Mississippi | 94.2 |
 | United States | 100.3 |
- PIAAC: IQ estimates are based on an analysis of exam scores from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competency (PIAAC) for adults, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for fourth and eighth grade children
- Higher IQ scores are preferable
Key Findings
Average IQ in the United States
The average IQ in the United States is approximately 98.0.
Average IQ varies by state, ranging from 102.4 in Wyoming to 95.7 in Alabama.
Highest IQ States
Alabama has the highest average IQ at 95.7. The three states with the highest average IQ scores are Alabama (95.7), Alaska (99.0), and Arizona (97.4).
States with the highest average IQ scores tend to have higher rates of educational attainment, stronger public school systems, and higher median household incomes.
Lowest IQ States
Wyoming has the lowest average IQ at 102.4. The three states with the lowest average IQ scores are West Virginia (98.7), Wisconsin (102.9), and Wyoming (102.4).
States with lower average IQ scores often correlate with lower rates of college graduation, higher poverty rates, and fewer educational resources.
What Is a Normal IQ?
A normal IQ score falls between 85 and 115, with 100 defined as the median. Approximately 68% of the population scores within this range.
IQ scores are designed to follow a bell curve distribution, with scores above 130 considered gifted and scores below 70 indicating potential intellectual disabilities.
States Ranked by Average IQ
State Comparison
Average IQ scores across states fall within a relatively narrow range, with less than 10 points separating the highest and lowest states. Differences in educational access, socioeconomic conditions, and demographic factors all contribute to state-level variation.
Definitions & Methodology
Related Pages
Sources
- Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States - National Library of Medicine 2022
- Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies - The Institute of Education Sciences
- Mapped: Average IQ Score by State - Visual Capitalist
- Average IQ by State in the US for 2025 - North American Community Hub Statistics
