Created by Maven Mapping in collaboration with The World in Maps, the visualisation claims to show how the average cognitive scores of residents vary across the country, but experts urge caution before drawing sweeping conclusions.

According to the map, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont lead the nation with averages above 103, while Mississippi, Louisiana, and California sit at the lower end, with averages ranging from 94 to 96. The broader trend suggests higher IQ averages in the Northeast and Midwest, and lower scores in parts of the South and West.

These numbers echo similar findings from other sources, such as DataPandas and Zippia , which both identify Massachusetts as the top-ranking state and Mississippi as the lowest.

However, researchers emphasise that IQ maps are not direct reflections of innate intelligence . Instead, they are typically derived from proxies like standardised test results (SAT, ACT), education levels, and adult competency assessments rather than statewide IQ testing.

Studies such as McDaniel (2006) and more recent updates by Pesta et al. (2022), available via ERIC , acknowledge that older datasets may no longer represent current demographics or education systems.

IQ itself is a complex construct, measuring specific cognitive abilities such as reasoning and problem-solving, not overall potential or worth. A few points of difference between states may reflect factors like school funding, healthcare access, childhood nutrition, or even migration patterns, rather than raw intellectual ability.

As The New York Post reported in a 2024 analysis, wealthier states with better-funded schools tend to perform higher on intelligence proxies, reinforcing the link between socioeconomic advantage and cognitive development.

The broader picture is more concerning: several studies suggest that average IQ scores in the U.S. may actually be declining for the first time in decades, a reversal of the long-observed “Flynn effect.”

Analysts cited by Yahoo Tech warn that shifts in education quality, digital distraction, and changing learning habits could be contributing factors. Similar declines have been reported in parts of Europe, including the UK and Norway, indicating a possible global trend.