Do folks in Ohio have high or low IQs on average? Here’s what new data shows

Ohio has earned yet another distinction among American states. The state is ranked as the 18th most intelligent state, so it seems Ohioans residents are a tad smarter than other US citizens.

According to North American Community Hub Statistics (NCH) Ohio’s average IQ score of 101.8 ranks 18th in the nation, which is higher than the national average, suggesting Ohio’s residents are fairly smart.

It’s important to note, however, the labels of “smart” or “dumb” are subjective and dependent on a diverse set of variables. To be fair, these labels mostly reflect the impact of opportunity, wealth, and access and not inherent ability.

Ohio intelligence, in context

Ohio residents have an average IQ score of 101.8, slightly higher than the U.S. average of 100.3. While this figure may seem modest, it reflects broader patterns tied to the state’s educational and economic landscape.

The lowered IQ averages and intelligence scores are a reflection of educational, economic and social disparities.

Despite its strong manufacturing base and growing tech corridors, Ohio continues to wrestle with uneven educational outcomes. Rural and lower-income regions often experience funding disparities, teacher shortages, and limited access to higher education.

These factors, along with social and economic inequality, contribute to variations in testing performance and overall educational attainment across the state.

IQ scores and classifications

Scores

IQ scores are built around a standard average of 100, and according to MedicineNet, are based on a combination of verbal and performance scales.

IQ tests focus on:

• Memory
• Mathematical skills
• Reasoning ability
• Processing speed
• Language, including vocabulary
• Visuospatial processing

Classifications

• Very superior: 130 and above
• Superior: 120-129
• High average: 110-119
• Average: 90-109 
• Low average: 80-89
• Borderline: 70-79
• Extremely low: 69 and below

How the rankings are calculated

The data that led to the rankings don’t really measure the actual intelligence of every citizen. Instead, it is a mix of factors that reflect things like education levels, test scores and learning performance.

The intelligence score

The rankings are based on a combined intelligence score and to keep the results balanced, IQ scores count twice as much as the other factors in the final score.

This overall score measures four key factors:

• Average IQ
• SAT scores
• ACT scores 
• Percentage of college graduates in each state

The comparison adjustment

The scores are compared to the national median with positive numbers indicating a state performs above average, while negative numbers show it falls below.

“Smartest” and “dumbest” states

States with the highest IQ scores

• Massachusetts: 104.3
• New Hampshire: 104.2
• North Dakota: 103. 8
• Vermont: 103.8
• Minnesota: 103.7
• Maine: 103.4
• Montana: 103.4
• Iowa: 103.2
• Connecticut: 103.1
• Wisconsin: 102.9

States with the lowest IQ scores

• Mississippi: 94.2
• Louisiana: 95.3
• California: 95.5
• Hawaii: 95.6
• New Mexico: 95.7
• Alabama: 95.7
• Nevada: 96.5
• Arizona: 97.4
• Arkansas: 97.5
• Tennessee: 97.7

For all the Ohio residents feeling upset over the rankings, it’s important to remember that the results are socioeconomic snapshots, not commentaries on people’s intelligence.

In the end, it is just a reminder that intelligence is less about geography and more about access. Do these rankings surprise you? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.