IQ isn’t everything. It’s a flawed, biased, and context-blind metric that gets tossed around like it’s gospel.
But it is the data people keep pointing to when they want to crown “the dumbest states in America.”
The truth? These numbers say less about innate intelligence and more about poverty, underfunded schools, and systemic neglect. Still, if we’re playing this game, here’s the scoreboard — and it’s not pretty.
Massachusetts: The Gold Standard
With an average IQ of 104.3, Massachusetts tops the charts, flexing its education system and tech-heavy economy like a brainy overachiever.
New Hampshire: Right on Their Heels
An average IQ of 104.2 keeps New Hampshire in striking distance, proving small states can think big.
North Dakota & Vermont: Rural and Ready
Both posting 103.8, these states prove rural America can hold its own when it comes to brainpower.
Minnesota: Northern Efficiency
At 103.7, Minnesota blends strong schools with a culture that values education — and it shows.
Maine & Montana: Coast and Mountain Smart
Both clock in at 103.4, far above average, despite wildly different geographies.
Iowa: Steady and Smart
At 103.2, Iowa quietly outperforms many coastal states without breaking a sweat.
Middle of the Pack
States like Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia sit in the 101–102 range — not embarrassing themselves, not topping the list.
California: The Big Surprise
Despite Silicon Valley, California lands at 95.5, dragged down by population size and severe education gaps.
Mississippi: The Bottom
With 94.2, Mississippi ranks last. It’s not about people being “dumb” — it’s about chronic underinvestment and broken systems.
Louisiana: Just Above
At 95.3, Louisiana barely edges out last place, held back by decades of educational neglect and entrenched poverty.
In Closing
These rankings don’t tell the whole story — but they do tell a story. Intelligence isn’t genetic destiny. It’s built, supported, and nurtured by the world you grow up in. The “dumbest” states aren’t proof of inferior people; they’re proof of leaders who’ve failed their own citizens for generations.
