Massachusetts Tops U.S. Tech Index

The great state of Massachusetts remains the state best positioned to take advantage of the high-technology economy, according to The Milken Institute.

Massachusetts was the only state to score higher than 80 out of 100 and was well ahead of No. 2 California, while less than 1 point separated California from No. 4 Maryland.

Like the 2002 study before it, the new survey found a link between how well a state scores in the index and its per-capita income. Moreover, the researchers contend that the more a state invests in technology and develops technology businesses, the better off its citizens will be.

"If they don't become part of the knowledge economy, they risk some very large dislocations among their population," Ross DeVol, director of regional economics for the Milken Institute, told Reuters.

Massachusetts wasn't the only New England state that fared well: Connecticut was #10, Rhode Island was #11, New Hampshire was #12 and Vermont was #22. Rhode Island and Vermont made the biggest gains in the country over 2002, moving up 10 and 9 spots respectively.

Click HERE for the complete state rankings (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).