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National Rankings

Colorado consistently ranks among the top states as a place to live and to succeed in business!

But you don't have to take our word for it.  Check out these recent national rankings and see what other people think about Colorado.

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Business Competitiveness, Climate and Performance Competitiveness of Existing Businesses (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)    1st  Best Growth Prospects (Source: Forbes)         1st High-technology Share of All Business Establishments (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)  1st Best Cities for Entrepreneurs (Denver) (Source: Entrepreneur Magazine)                    1st Business Vitality for Competitiveness and Entrepreneurial Energy (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)           A Development Capacity (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)            A Economic Freedom (Source: Simon Fraser Institute)        2nd New Business Starts per 100,000 Residents (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)        2nd Business Starts per Capita (Source: The Milken Institute)                 2nd Most Competitive Place to Do Business (Metro Denver) (Source: San Diego Regional EDC)  2nd Entrepreneurial Activity (Source: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)       2nd Technology Industry Employment (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)        2nd Largest Space Economy (by employment) (Source: Development Research Partners)    3rd Best States for Nanotechnology (Source: Lux Research)      3rd Technology and Science Assets (Source: Milken Institute)      3rd New Companies per 1,000 Workers (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)    3rd Venture Capital Investments (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)    3rd Number of Small Business Innovation Research Grants (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)   3rd Best Airport in the World (more than 25 million passengers annually) (Source: AETRA Passenger Survey)   3rd Total High-tech Exports (Source: AeA Cyberstates)        4th Least Number of Business Closings (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)           4th Overall Economic Competitiveness (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)    4th Inc. 500 Companies per 10,000 Businesses (Source: Inc.com)           5th Lowest Energy Expenditures per Capita (Source: U.S. DOE)         5th Best States for Business (Source: Forbes)            5th Venture Capital Investment (Q1 2006) (Source: National VC Association)         5th Busiest Airport in the U.S. (Source: U.S. DOT)                   5th Business-Friendly Tax Climate (Source: The Tax Foundation, 2006)     6th Manufacturing Investment (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)                   6th IPOs per 100 Companies ($ Value) (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)     6th Best Regulatory Climate (Source: Forbes)     8th Patents per 100,000 Inhabitants (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)    8th Lowest Average Monthly Electric Bills, Commercial (Source: U.S. DOE)         10th Lowest Energy Consumption per Capita (Source: U.S. DOE)     12th

Workforce Rankings Concentration of Technology Jobs (Source: AeA 'Cyberstates')         1st Best Labor Pool (Source: Forbes)                        2nd Most Highly Educated Workforce in the U.S. (U.S. Census)                2nd Technology Industry Employment (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)      2nd Labor Market Freedom (Source: Simon Fraser Institute)                     3rd Ratio of Employment to Population (Source: Morgan Quitno)                     3rd Scientists and Engineers as a Percentage of Labor Force (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)   3rd Highest Concentration of Scientists and Engineers (Source: National Science Board)    4th Graduate Students in Science and Engineering (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)  5th Science & Engineering Degrees Awarded per 100,000 Residents (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)       5th Workforce Development for Nanotechnology (Source: Small Times)       5th Long-term Employment Growth (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)       9th Average Annual Wages (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)     12th

Quality of Life Best Places to Live in the U.S. (Fort Collins, CO) (Source: Money Magazine)        1st Best Big City to Live in the U.S. (Colorado Springs, CO) (Source: Money Magazine)       1st Share of Total Ski Trips in the U.S.   (Source: Money Magazine)  1st Best Cities for Singles (Denver) (Source: Forbes)     1st Lowest Obesity Rate (CO Department of Public Health)       1st Thinnest State (Source: American Cancer Society)        1st Lowest Prevalence of Air Pollution (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)        1st America's Best States Source: National Policy Research Council)           2nd Best Places to Live (Denver) (Source: Sperlings)      2nd Largest Performing Arts Center (Denver Performing Arts Complex)      2nd Best Cities for Relocating Families (Denver) (Source: Sperling's Best Places)      3rd Most Preferred State to Live In (Source: The Harris Poll)      4th Shortest Commutes for Executives (Denver) (Source: TheLadders.com)     4th Percentage of Households with Computers (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)  5th Fittest City in America (Denver) (Source: Men's Fitness Magazine)     5th Least Toxic Release (Lbs per 1,000 sq. miles) (Source: Beacon Hill Institute)                        5th Percentage of Sunny Days (Source: Morgan Quitno)                        6th Parks and Recreation (Source: National Association of State Park Directors)       6th Cleanest Cities in America (Denver) (Source: Reader's Digest)     6th Best Market for Touring Broadway Shows (gross revenue) (Source: Performance Magazine)  7th Lowest Incidence of Bridge Deficiency (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)  7th Per Capita Income (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis)     8th Most Sustainable Cities (Denver) (Source: SustainLane.com)          9th Average Annual Pay (Source: Morgan Quitno)                      10th Urban Mass Transit (Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development)                      10th Best Places to Live in the U.S. (Westminster, CO ) (Source: Money Magazine)        24th Best Places to Live in the U.S. (Longmont, CO) (Source: Money Magazine)      61st