Texas is arguably one of the worst states in the US to live in (unless you're a high net worth individual), which doesn't bode well for a comparison against Canada.
Well, I took it for an example (and I am a little Fanboy concerning Texas, forgive me having chosen it). There exist regions for about any taste in the US, it's such a diverse country.
I'm not ignoring the size of the state. That doesn't change its fundamental deficiencies. If anything, its size gives it the advantage of scales of efficiencies it doesn't take advantage because of politics.