#3 Utah
Utah grew at 5.5% last year. It has the highest birth rate of any state in the country and has a diversified economy with a hub in Salt Lake City. The state has a large tourism sector due to its gorgeous lakes and mountains. However, Utah companies also excel in manufacturing, construction, technology, education and various natural resources. Chemical giant Huntsman corporation is based in the state for example. It also boasts a number of well-known universities including BYU and University of Utah.