Federal research funding is one of the most concentrated forms of government spending. A handful of counties — those hosting major research universities and federal laboratories — receive billions in NIH, NSF, DOE, and DOD research grants annually.
We analyzed USASpending.gov FY2024 data to identify the counties that serve as the nation's research funding hubs. These communities are the engines of American scientific and technological innovation.
Top Research-Funding Counties
Counties with the highest federal grant obligations, which correlate strongly with research university and federal laboratory presence.
| Rank | County | State | Grant Obligations | Per-Capita |
|---|
Major Sources of Research Funding
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Medical and biological research grants to universities and hospitals.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Fundamental research across science, engineering, and education.
- Department of Energy (DOE): Energy research, nuclear science, and high-performance computing.
- Department of Defense (DOD): Defense-related research in materials, electronics, and aerospace.
Methodology
Data from USASpending.gov, U.S. Department of the Treasury, FY2024. Counties were selected based on high grant obligations and population size. Grant obligations are used as a proxy for research funding, as most federal research support flows through grant mechanisms.
Data source: USASpending.gov, U.S. Department of the Treasury, FY2024 (Oct 2023 – Sep 2024). All figures are estimates based on federal obligation data and may not reflect current spending.