Texas ranks low on creative states list despite $6.1B industry impact

DALLAS (KDAF) — A new study from visual design platform Piktochart has revealed the most creative states in America. Texas lands at #27, a surprisingly modest spot for a state known for its bold ideas and booming arts scene.

How the Rankings Were Calculated

Researchers scored each state based on:

• Creative job listings per 100,000 people
• Performing and visual arts events per capita
• Creative businesses per 100,000 residents

Each category was rated out of 10, then combined into a final score out of 100.

Texas by the Numbers

• 14.8 creative job listings per 100K – competitive with higher-ranked states
• 80.5 creative businesses per 100K – below the national average
• 0.89 arts events per 100K – limited access to cultural programming

While these per capita figures placed Texas in the middle of the pack, they don’t tell the full story.

A Creative Powerhouse in Scale

According to the Texas Cultural Trust, the state’s creative industries generate $6.1 billion annually and support over 880,000 jobs. That’s a massive footprint—one that rivals or exceeds many of the top-ranked states in total impact.

So while Texas may not lead in density, it certainly leads in scale. Don’t worry, creativity is alive and well in the Lone Star State!

Want to see where the rest of the states land on the creativity charts? Look at the full ranking below.

Rank	State	Final score
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
11	Florida	58.44
12	Washington	56.23
13	Pennsylvania	55.12
14	Georgia	52.79
15	Minnesota	51.81
16	Virginia	51.04
17	Nevada	48.84
18	Rhode Island	47.69
19	New Jersey	47.43
20	North Dakota	46.65
21	Ohio	46.39
22	North Carolina	45.42
23	Wisconsin	45.21
24	Oregon	44.91
25	Michigan	43.90
26	Delaware	41.78
27	Texas	40.21
28	Missouri	39.69
29	Utah	39.40
30	Tennessee	38.12
31	Alaska	36.01
32	Hawaii	35.03
33	Arizona	34.19
34	Indiana	31.94
35	Wyoming	31.39
36	South Carolina	29.57
37	Nebraska	27.38
38	Iowa	25.52
39	South Dakota	24.61
40	Kansas	24.57
41	New Mexico	23.15
42	Idaho	22.75
43	Montana	21.68
44	Kentucky	21.28
45	West Virginia	19.86
46	Oklahoma	18.70
47	Louisiana	17.88
48	Arkansas	14.91
49	Alabama	12.33
50	Mississippi	9.68