Shopify has released its first entrepreneurship index, which puts Delaware at the head of the pack in the impact of entrepreneurial activity.
The online site put the First State ahead of No. 2 Wyoming and third place California.
The United States ranked first among nations, followed by Lithuania and Romania. Eastern European nations are seeing more entrepreneurial activity than their Western Europe counterparts.
The Shopify Entrepreneurship Index assessed the economic impact of entrepreneurs in state and national economies, tracking the fastest growth and greatest contributions.
Delaware’s entrepreneurship rankings have often been in the middle of the pack, one example being a report from the University of Nebraska.
Despite more recent layoffs, California remains in the top tier, thanks to its tech industries, which continue to spin out start-ups.
Shopify provides an online platform and other services for businesses.
Click here for the Shopify report.
Delaware ranked as 4th most financially challenged state
One study has ranked Delaware as one of the five most financially challenged states
Uplift Legal Funding analyzed six factors relating to the personal finances of each state.
The factors analyzed within the index included: consumption of annual income as a percentage alongside the percentage of income saved; household debt-to-income ratios; annual personal bankruptcy rates, and the number of saving and debt-related Google searches per state.
Top 10 states
| Rank | State | Consumption as a % of Income | % of Income Saved | Household Debt-to-Income Ratio | Personal Bankruptcy Rate | Savings Searches per 100k | Debt Searches per 100k | Index Score |
| 1. | Montana | 94.9% | 5.1% | 1.72 | 59.2 | 301.8 | 548.6 | 25.6 |
| 2. | Maine | 96.6% | 3.4% | 1.60 | 47.7 | 321.9 | 521.2 | 27 |
| 3. | Missouri | 91.2% | 8.8% | 1.24 | 251.1 | 269 | 460.2 | 28.8 |
| 4. | Delaware | 97.4% | 2.6% | 1.50 | 166.1 | 372.2 | 340.7 | 31.6 |
| 5. | Alabama | 87.9% | 12.1% | 1.32 | 296.4 | 226.8 | 417.2 | 32 |
| 6. | Oregon | 89.2% | 10.8% | 1.72 | 112.4 | 290.6 | 497.6 | 34 |
| 7. | Utah | 86.9% | 13.1% | 1.72 | 167.1 | 304.4 | 494.9 | 34.7 |
| 8. | Florida | 92% | 8% | 1.60 | 144.8 | 241.6 | 361 | 35.9 |
| 9. | Arizona | 90.6% | 9.4% | 1.72 | 135.8 | 249.3 | 361.5 | 37.8 |
| 10. | South Carolina | 92.2% | 7.8% | 1.72 | 65 | 213.5 | 375.4 | 38 |
With a score of 31.6 out of 100, Delaware ranked fourth. Delaware ranked first for annual average income consumption, leaving residents with a meager 2.6% of disposable income for savings. The First State also has a high bankruptcy rate.
The low savings rate has been pointed out before, with some seeing Delaware’s credit card industry as an influence. The state has taken steps to deal with the issue, with the passage of legislation that requires nearly all employers to offer a savings plan, with a state plan for small employers. New workers will have to opt out of the plan rather than sign up.
Bear residents have highest monthly expenses
Bear residents have the highest average monthly bills, according to a report from DOXO, an online bill-paying service.
The report covered 16 communities in the state and showed Hockessin following closely behind Bear in monthly bill expenses. However, those bills accounted for a far lower percentage of household income than in Bear, due to higher incomes in the affluent Hockessin area.
Claymont and Laurel residents spent the highest percentage of their total incomes on monthly bills.
Click here for more details.
Delaware 10th state when it comes to being a fun place for seniors
Delaware squeaked into the top 10 as a fun place for the state’s growing population of seniors.
The Seniorly site reported Most & Least Fun States for Seniors used the most recent federal data from the CDC, BLS, Census Bureau, and other government agencies with Delaware placing 10th.
A total of 11 senior lifestyle factors were analyzed in all 50 states and D.C., including average weather, the cost of living, the number of restaurants and golf courses per capita, the size of the senior population, overall health, proximity to airports for family visits, and more.
Delaware’s ranking show seniors account for 20.1% of the population; the average weather is 57.6°F; there are 3.5 golf courses and 208 restaurants per 100,000 residents; and 10% of seniors report feeling lonely or isolated.
Florida topped the list with Kentucky ranking last. Obviously, the number of bourbon distilleries in the Bluegrass state was not part of the ranking.
