Maine Falls Behind: New Report Ranks It Among Least Innovative States

Maine is a lot of things… a lot of wonderful things.

It's beautiful, historic, delicious, wonderfully remote, and friendly—just to name a few.

One thing Maine isn’t, however, is innovative… at least according to a new report.

This report was published by the popular financial site WalletHub.com. The site took a look at which states are the most innovative in America, and Maine did not fare well. In fact, it finished behind the rest of New England by a wide margin.

Is Maine A State Known for Innovation?

Maine was ranked as the 35th most innovative state in the nation, a solid nine spots below the next lowest New England state, Vermont.

Maine's actual score in the report was 34.60 out of a possible 100 points. The scoring was based on two major categories: Human Capital Rank and Innovation Environment Rank. This was further broken down into 25 subcategories to get the most accurate score possible. You can read about the methodology here.

Maine had a ranking of 31st in human capital. This includes number of STEM professionals, overall scientific knowledge, and share of science & engineering graduates, just to name a few. Overall, it’s not a great sign for Maine. Clearly, the state is lacking in the STEM department.

However, even worse was the ranking in Innovation Environment. Maine finished with a horrendous 43rd-place ranking. This essentially means Maine is lacking in research & development, innovative patents, entrepreneurial activity, and share of tech companies. Obviously, Maine isn’t exactly knocking down the door of innovative technology at the moment.

Let’s be honest—Maine is likely never going to be high on this list. This is not a state that has a massive population or the resources to foster this type of tech growth. Sure, Greater Portland has its fair share of companies, as well as being the future home of Northeastern’s Roux Institute, which is essentially a startup hub for innovation. However, that’s just a blip on the tech radar.

And maybe it’s okay that Maine is not higher up on this list. We do love our laid-back lifestyle and chill attitude. Do we really need to be blown away by innovation, or are we fine with where we are?

What are the best States in New England for Innovation?

As for the rest of New England, well, they are way ahead. Here’s the rundown:

2. Massachusetts
12. New Hampshire
16. Connecticut
21. Rhode Island
26. Vermont

The number one state for innovation is California, which is not surprising at all, considering it’s the home of Silicon Valley.

READ MORE: 20 Must-Try Under-the-Radar Spots in Portland, Maine

Dead last is Louisiana—but who really cares? It’s the home of the greatest city in the world, New Orleans. What innovation do you need when you can just party in the streets?

Check out the entire list here.