• Massachusetts is the creative capital of the US, with an overall creativity score of 76.94
• There are 23.46 creative job listings for every 100,000 people in Massachusetts, and the state boasts 129.9 creative businesses per 100,000 people
• The top five creative states are Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and California

A new study has revealed the most creative states in America, highlighting regions where creative careers are flourishing.

With the demand for skilled creative professionals on the rise, these states offer abundant opportunities for those looking to enter or advance in the creative industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 87,900 job openings in arts and design fields are projected each year through to 2033, making now a prime time to grow a creative career.

Experts from Piktochart, an AI visual design tool, analyzed three different factors: the number of creative job listings, performing and visual arts classes, and creative businesses per 100,000 people.

Each factor was given a score out of 10 before a final score out of 100 was awarded to each state to create the ranking.

The top 10 most creative states in America

Rank	State	Final score out of 100
1	Massachusetts	76.94
2	New York	66.82
3	Vermont	66.22
4	New Hampshire	66.08
5	California	65.21
6	Colorado	64.33
7	Illinois	61.04
8	Connecticut	60.25
9	Maine	58.77
10	Maryland	58.49

Massachusetts is crowned the creative capital of the US, with a final score of 76.94. 

With 23.46 creative job listings for every 100,000 people, Massachusetts receives the top score of 10 for this category. This is a 500% increase compared to Mississippi, which has 3.91 per 100,000 citizens and ranks last for this category.  

The state also has the fifth highest number of creative businesses at 129.90 for every 100,000 people, earning a score of 6.74. With 1.74 performing and visual arts classes per 100,000 people, Massachusetts earns a further respectable score of 6.34.  

New York is second, with a final score of 66.82.  

Just behind Massachusetts, New York has the second highest number of creative job listings for every 100,000 citizens at 23.04, resulting in a high score of 9.79.  

The Big Apple has the fourth highest number of performing and visual arts classes in the top 10 at 2.37 for every 100,000 people, leading to a score of 7.32. However, the state struggles with the number of creative businesses, with just 88.61 for every 100,000 residents, earning a poor score of 2.94 and costing it the ‘most creative state’ title in this study.  

In third is Vermont, with a final score of 66.22.  

In contrast to New York, Vermont has the highest number of creative businesses per 100,000 people at 165.31, awarding the top score of 10.  

The state does fairly well for the other two categories, receiving a score of 5.42 for creative job listings at 14.50 for every 100,000 residents, and a score of 4.45 for the number of performing and visual arts classes at 0.93 for every 100,000 residents. 

New Hampshire ranks fourth, with a final score of 66.08. 

New Hampshire has the second highest number of creative businesses per 100,000 people at 149.11, resulting in a high score of 8.51. The Granite State also has the second highest number of performing and visual arts classes at 2.48, receiving a score of 7.47.  

Fifth is California, with a final score of 65.21.  

California has the third highest number of creative job listings at 19.10 per 100,000 residents, earning a respectable score of 7.77. Additionally, the state receives a score of 6.36 for the 1.75 performing and visual arts classes available for every 100,000 Californians.  

Colorado is sixth, with a final score of 64.33. The state has the third highest number of performing and visual art classes in the US at 2.47 for every 100,000 people, leading to a score of 7.45.  

In seventh is Illinois, with a final score of 61.04. Illinois receives a score of 6.85 for the number of creative job listings at 17.30 for every 100,000 residents.  

Connecticut ranks eighth, with a final score of 60.25. There are 139.51 creative businesses per 100,000 people in Connecticut, the third highest across the states, resulting in a score of 7.62.  

Ninth is Maine, with a final score of 58.77. Maine has the highest number of performing and visual arts classes in America at 5.77 for every 100,000 residents, earning the top score of 10.  

Maryland rounds out the top 10, with a final score of 58.49. The state receives a score of 7.47 for the 18.52 creative job listings available per 100,000 citizens.  

Commenting on the results, Ai Ching Goh, Co-Founder of Piktochart said,  

“Creativity is hard to define, but when we usually think of states that meet this description, our minds are drawn to giants like New York, California, or Florida.  

“Massachusetts taking the title is a real surprise, but perhaps creatives should give the state a better chance, as it is evident that there are abundant opportunities for them here.”