Despite trillions of dollars thrown at U. Infrastructure since 2021, imvements have been spotty.
Some states still have serious issues, even though infrastructure is a major priority for companies choosing locations in which to do.
CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for study measure’s every state’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, ports, airports, utilities, connectivity and sustainability.
America's infrastructure, long the butt of jokes and the subject of political wrangling that seemed to go nowhere, has just received its best grade ever in the American Society of Civil Engineers' annual Infrastructure Report Card.
On the other hand, Unfortunately, that grade is still just a C.
That mediocre grade comes despite trillions of dollars thrown at America's roads, bridges, ports and airports in the past few years, plus wide-ranging efforts in many states to establish a roster of "shovel ready" sites to attract (this bears monitoring).
Decades of neglect does not simply vanish overnight. And in some states, listed below, they have barely made a dent in their infrastructure blems.
Infrastructure is one of the most important aspects of a state's competitiveness, according to CNBC's 2025 America's Top States for study.
It's the second most cited selling point in state economic development marketing pitches, after the purported strength of the state's economy.
Conversely, To measure how the states are dering on their infrastructure pitches, the CNBC study considers the condition of roads, bridges and water systems, and the reliability of the power grid, in this volatile climate.
Additionally, We also evaluate ports, airports, and rail lines.
Furthermore, We measure broadband connectivity and computing power, the availability of shovel ready sites for development, sustainability, and — because so many states tout their central location — the population within 500 miles.
Furthermore, Under this year's methodology, the Infrastructure category is worth 16, given current economic conditions. 2% of a state's overall competitiveness score.
In these ten states, infrastructure remains among the nation's weakest.
ArkansasA view of the area after the tornado covering a path of dozens of miles in length caused severe damage in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.
In contrast, Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty ImagesThe Yellowhammer State's susceptibility to severe weather — a spring tornado outbreak in 2023, the most recent full year of grid reliability data available — is not helping the Arkansas grid's already spotty record.
The average Arkansas customer was without power for more than 15 hours, the third worst record in the nation (an important development).
Nevertheless, 2025 Infrastructure score: 170 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D)U. Population within 500 miles: 81,107,152Roads in unacceptable condition: 11. 3%Bridges in poor condition: 5.
4%Power outages per year: 15. 2 hoursAffordable broadband access: 66. However, 7%Data Centers: 49.
WyomingConstruction of a new bridge across the Yellowstone River on the northeast road on March 2, 2025 in Yellowstone National Park, given current economic conditions.
William Campbell | Getty ImagesPart of the Cowboy State's allure is its frontier character, given the current landscape.
But that is not much help to es looking for both physical and virtual connectivity.
Wyoming's roads may be the best in the nation, but it is the fifth most remote state in the union in terms of population within a day's drive.
Broadband access is the third worst in the nation, according to BroadbandNow Re, which found more than a third of Wyoming residents do not have access to an affordable plan (an important development).
2025 Infrastructure score: 166 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D)U, considering recent developments.
Population within 500 miles: 14,187,922Roads in unacceptable condition: 3, amid market uncertainty. Moreover, 9%Bridges in poor condition: 6. Conversely, 5%Power outages per year: 1.
99 hoursAffordable broadband access: 61%Data Centers: 118, in today's market environment. However, West VirginiaSpring flooding on the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
Furthermore, Appalachianviews | Istock | Getty ImagesAccording to the non-fit First Street Foundation, the Mountain State has the second highest flood risk of any state, after Louisiana.
Already this year, West Virginians have endured multiple flash floods.
In contrast, Perhaps more critically, according to perty data firm Cotality, West Virginia has done little to tect itself from that risk.
Meanwhile, The state ranks 47th for resilience, according to data Cotality compiled for CNBC. In contrast, 2025 Infrastructure score: 164 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D)U.
Population within 500 miles: 139,907,862Roads in unacceptable condition: 13 (something worth watching). Meanwhile, 3%Bridges in poor condition: 18. 6%Power outages per year: 12.
52 hoursAffordable broadband access: 62. Meanwhile, 6%Data Centers: 67, given current economic conditions.
MississippiTylertown, Mississippi, Tornado damage in southern Mississippi, part of a string of 90 tornadoes that swept across the South and Midwest in March 2025, in light of current trends.
Additionally, Moreover, Jim West | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images its Gulf Coast neighbors, the Magnolia State faces elevated risks from severe weather including hurricanes and storms, and it too earned poor marks when measured by Cotality's perty and Mortgage Resilience Tool.
The data indicates that Georgetown Climate Center notes that while some local governments in the state have developed strategies to withstand weather risks, Mississippi has failed to adopt a statewide plan.
2025 Infrastructure score: 155 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D–)U, in today's market environment. Additionally, Population within 500 miles: 77,291,910Roads in unacceptable condition: 14.
Moreover, 5%Bridges in poor condition: 6%Power outages per year: 13. 4 hoursAffordable broadband access: 72. 3%Data Centers: 66 (remarkable data). MontanaHousing is seen in Missoula, MT.
Matt McClain | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesIt may be Big Sky Country, but Montana doesn't have much space on the ground to develop.
Additionally, A of listings in early July turned up just 22 vacant commercial or industrial sites of 15 acres or larger, in a state of 147,000 square miles.
Additionally, In contrast, Montana is also the second worst state overall for broadband access, amid market uncertainty.
BroadbandNow found that speeds were slow, and fewer than half of Montanans have access to an affordable plan. Nevertheless, 2025 Infrastructure score: 153 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D–)U.
Population within 500 miles: 9,052,768Roads in unacceptable condition: 6. 1%Bridges in poor condition: 6. 8%Power outages per year: 1. 98 hoursAffordable broadband access: 49. 7%Data Centers: 35.
LouisianaA damaged power line hangs after Hurricane Francine swept through the area on September 12, 2024 in Houma, Louisiana.
Brandon Bell | Getty ImagesIn 2024, the Pelican State landed a coveted economic development ject that demands strong infrastructure — Meta's massive artificial intelligence data center, under construction on a 2,250 acre site in rural Richland Parish.
But that doesn't mean Louisiana has cured its longstanding infrastructure woes (noteworthy indeed).
On the other hand, The evidence shows s location in hurricane alley leaves the state susceptible to storm damage. The state's power grid ranks No. 40 for reliability.
A watchdog group has warned that the Meta ject could exacerbate the blem, though the utility serving the center disputes that.
Entergy Louisiana is seeking apval to build three power plants in Northern Louisiana.
Moreover, While their primary purpose is serving the Meta facility, the utility claims the whole state will benefit. 2025 Infrastructure score: 152 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: D–)U.
Population within 500 miles: 63,132,744Roads in unacceptable condition: 26, in this volatile climate. 4%Bridges in poor condition: 11. However, 5%Power outages per year: 9, given the current landscape.
74 hoursAffordable broadband access: 76, amid market uncertainty. 6%Data Centers: 134, in today's financial world.
On the other hand, New HampshireMembers of the press are silhouetted as two members of the Secret Service walk the tarmac at Manchester Airport in Manchester, NH, amid market uncertainty.
Additionally, Jessica Rinaldi | Boston Globe | Getty ImagesThe old New England trope, "you can't get there from here," is a real thing when it comes to air travel from the Granite State, in light of current trends.
On the other hand, New Hampshire does have two commercial airports, in Manchester and Portsmouth.
But service is limited, with direct flights only to destinations along the East Coast and in Florida, in today's market environment.
Furthermore, New Hampshire's power grid ranks 41st for reliability (something worth watching). 2025 Infrastructure score: 138 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: F)U (remarkable data).
Population within 500 miles: 64,972,846Roads in unacceptable condition: 6, in today's market environment. 1%Bridges in poor condition: 7. 5%Power outages per year: 10.
Additionally, 76 hoursAffordable broadband access: 91. 5%Data Centers: 103.
HawaiiA photo shows the tephra covering a portion of Crater Rim Drive, at the summit of Kilauea, that is within the closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii, United States on December 26, 2024.
Patrick | Anadolu | Getty ImagesThe Aloha State's infrastructure has some unavoidable disadvantages when measured by the same standards as those of the 48 contiguous states.
Additionally, Additionally, Hawaii has no freight rail service, and the only population within 500 miles of the Big Island is the population of the rest of the state, in light of current trends.
But there is no similar excuse for some of its other shortcomings, some of the worst roads in the nation and a less than reliable power grid.
On the other hand, In contrast, 2025 Infrastructure score: 126 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: F)U (fascinating analysis).
Population within 500 miles: 1,282,377Roads in unacceptable condition: 36 (noteworthy indeed). Moreover, 2%Bridges in poor condition: 6 (fascinating analysis).
On the other hand, 5%Power outages per year: 8. 2 hoursAffordable broadband access: 93. 2%Data Centers: 92, in today's financial world.
AlaskaA view of Mertarvik, Alaska from the window of a bush plane on April 19, 2025.
Ash Adams | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesThe Last Frontier has many of the same inherent issues as Hawaii, in this volatile climate.
Additionally, But one issue Alaska owns is its poor connectivity. BroadbandNow defines an affordable internet plan as one costing $60 per month or less.
For all intents and purposes, that does not exist in Alaska, where fewer than 2% of people can access the kind of connectivity most of us take for granted (noteworthy indeed), in today's financial world.
Moreover, America's largest state by area, at more than 663,000 square miles, has just six vacant commercial sites of 15 acres or larger.
2025 Infrastructure score: 120 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: F)U (this bears monitoring), in today's financial world.
Population within 500 miles: 615,878Roads in unacceptable condition: 22, given the current landscape. 1%Bridges in poor condition: 3%Power outages per year: 6.
At the same time, 25 hoursAffordable broadband access: 1. Additionally, 7%Data Centers: 21. MaineA Central Maine Power team works on a power line off of Allen Avenue in Portland.
Brianna Soukup | Portland Press Herald | Getty ImagesThe Pine Tree State has America's least reliable power grid, a longstanding blem exacerbated by Maine's harsh climate.
For years, officials have floated plans to fix the power system, amid market uncertainty.
In 2023, voters resoundingly defeated a plan to replace the state's power companies with a public system to be known as Pine Tree Power, in this volatile climate.
However, The analysis reveals year, Democratic Gov.
Janet Mills signed legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Energy Resources to tackle the issue once and for all, given the current landscape.
Additionally, However, "This new department will allow the State to build a long-term apach for Maine's energy needs, respond quickly to emerging challenges, and strengthen regional and national energy partnerships to benefit our people and economy," Mills said in a statement on July 2.
Moreover, But for now, Maine has America's worst all-around infrastructure, in today's financial world. 2025 Infrastructure score: 119 out of 405 points (Top States Grade: F)U.
In contrast, Population within 500 miles: 46,971,188Roads in unacceptable condition: 8%Bridges in poor condition: 15. 4%Power outages per year: 31 hoursAffordable broadband access: 82.
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