---
title: "The State Hamilton Index: Data Visualization"
summary: |-
  ITIF’s *State Hamilton Index* benchmarks all U.S. 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their relative specialization in 21 advanced industries. Use the data visualization to see how states perform.
date: "2025-05-05"
content_type: "Reports & Briefings"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2025/05/05/the-state-hamilton-index-dataviz/"
---

# The State Hamilton Index: Data Visualization

To assess states’ relative performance in strategically important industries, ITIF’s *[State Hamilton Index](https://itif.org/publications/2025/05/05/the-state-hamilton-index-most-states-underperform-in-advanced-industries/)* uses an analytical statistic known as a location quotient (LQ), which measures any region’s level of industrial specialization relative to a larger geographic unit—in this case, a state relative to the United States as a whole. States with LQs above 1.00 are over-performing the national average, while those with LQs below 1.00 are underperforming.

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*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2025/05/05/the-state-hamilton-index-dataviz/*