Best And Worst States For Young Adults: Full 50-State List

Best and Worst States for Young Adults – Full 50-State List

Deciding where to live in your late teens and twenties can shape your career, your finances, and your lifestyle for years to come. Some states offer strong job markets, affordable education, and plenty of things to do, while others make it harder for young people to get traction. This guide looks at the best and worst states for young adults, summarizing how all 50 states and the District of Columbia stack up.

Why This Ranking Matters for Young Adults

Where you live affects how easily you can find work, how much student debt you might need, and how far your paycheck will go. State-level differences in economic conditions, housing markets, and infrastructure can be dramatic, even between neighboring states. For example, the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds can differ by more than a factor of four between the strongest and weakest states in some years. These gaps mean that relocating can significantly change your opportunities as a young adult.

Why MoneyRates Is a Trusted Source

MoneyRates and similar research-driven financial publishers regularly analyze public data to help consumers make smarter decisions about where to live and how to manage money. Their rankings typically draw on large, neutral data sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which publish standardized statistics on employment, earnings, and demographics across all states. Because the methodology is transparent and based on objective measures, these rankings can serve as a useful starting point for deciding where to move after high school or college.

Key Takeaways from the 50-State Ranking

• North Dakota ranked as the best overall state for young adults in the period this analysis examined, reflecting strong youth employment, relatively low costs, and favorable lifestyle metrics.
• New Hampshire ranked as the worst state for young adults in that same analysis, largely due to a mix of cost and accessibility factors that made life more challenging for younger residents.
• Eight of the top ten states for young adults were located in the western United States, highlighting a regional advantage for certain Mountain and Plains states in terms of both affordability and opportunity.
• The Midwest and Mountain West stood out for solid job markets and relatively low living costs, while some coastal states lagged due to higher housing and tuition costs.

How the States Were Ranked

The full 50-state ranking is built on multiple data points grouped into three broad themes: job market strength, affordability and access, and lifestyle. Each state receives a score in each category, and then these are combined into an overall ranking.

Core Ranking Criteria

According to MoneyRates, the following factors were used to evaluate each state’s appeal to young adults:

• Youth employment – How easily people roughly between ages 16 and 24 can find work, based on youth unemployment rates from federal labor statistics.
• Youthfulness of the population – The percentage of the state’s residents who are in the young adult age range (often measured around ages 16–24 or 20–24). A higher share of young people can signal more peer networks, social opportunities, and youth-focused services.
• In-state college tuition affordability – Average in-state tuition and required fees at public colleges and universities, typically drawn from the U.S. Department of Education or state higher-ed systems. Lower tuition reduces the need for student borrowing.
• Rental availability – Rental vacancy rates, which indicate how easy it is to find an apartment or other rental housing. Higher vacancy usually means more choice and less competition for units.
• Rental costs – Median gross rent relative to income. States with more affordable rents make it easier for young adults to move out, live independently, and save.
• High-speed broadband access – The share of households with access to high-speed internet, often using FCC or similar data. Broadband is essential for remote work, online learning, and modern social life.
• Bar and nightclub concentration – Bars and clubs per capita, used as one indicator of nightlife and social activity for young adults.
• Fitness club concentration – Health and fitness facilities per capita, which reflect access to active-lifestyle amenities and wellness options.

States are scored on each variable, then averaged into an overall index. A state that performs reasonably well across all categories can outrank a state that is excellent in one factor but poor in others.

The 10 Best States for Young Adults

While the full list covers all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the top tier is dominated by states in the Midwest and Mountain West. These states combine decent job prospects with manageable costs and improving lifestyle infrastructure.

Although each of these states has unique characteristics, they share some themes:

• Relatively low youth unemployment, which reduces the risk of prolonged job searches after graduation.
• Manageable housing costs, particularly for renters, making it easier to establish an independent household.
• Growing or stable economies in sectors that employ younger workers, such as services, energy, agriculture, or technology.
• Enough social and recreational outlets—bars, clubs, and fitness facilities—to support a balanced lifestyle.

The 10 Worst States for Young Adults

At the other end of the spectrum are states where one or more key factors create an uphill battle for young residents. While the specific order may vary slightly by year, the lowest-ranked states typically share several traits:

• Higher youth unemployment than the national average, extending the time it takes to find stable work.
• Above-average housing costs, especially in large coastal states where rents consume a large share of entry-level paychecks.
• Less affordable in-state tuition at public colleges, leading to higher student borrowing needs.
• Lower rental availability, which can make it hard for young adults to move out or find suitable housing near work or school.

In this particular MoneyRates analysis, New Hampshire ranked as the single worst state for young adults, reflecting a combination of these challenges. Some other states near the bottom of the list include higher-cost coastal states and states with sluggish youth job markets.

Full 50-State and D.C. Ranking Overview

While the full numeric ranking is presented as a list in the original MoneyRates article, the general pattern is clear:

• The Mountain West and Upper Midwest dominate the top half of the ranking, thanks to strong job markets and reasonable costs.
• Many southern and interior states fall in the middle, offering mixed but improving opportunities for young adults.
• Some Northeastern and West Coast states rank lower, not because they lack jobs or amenities, but because high rents and tuition costs erode their appeal for younger residents.
• The District of Columbia is included as its own entry, offering exceptional access to professional jobs but also very high housing costs.

If you are considering a move, the ranking can help you narrow down a short list of states where you are more likely to find a combination of employment, affordability, and lifestyle that fits your goals.

How to Use This 50-State List in Your Own Planning

The ranking is a starting point, not a final verdict. Your ideal state will depend on your career field, your education plans, and your personal preferences. Here is how to use the data effectively:

• Focus on your top priorities. If you are still in school or plan to attend college, emphasize states with lower in-state tuition and good youth employment around campus. If you are already working, prioritize states with strong job growth in your industry.
• Look beyond a single number. A state ranked 20th overall might be top 5 in rental affordability or youth employment. Pay attention to the underlying factors that matter most to you.
• Compare metro areas within states. State averages can hide major differences between cities and rural areas. Labor statistics show that unemployment rates and average earnings can vary widely within the same state.
• Balance cost and opportunity. A very cheap state with few jobs may not help your career, while a very expensive state with great jobs can strain your budget. Aim for a balanced profile that fits your risk tolerance and long-term plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the single best state for young adults according to this list?

A: In the MoneyRates analysis underlying this article, North Dakota ranked as the best state for young adults, due to low youth unemployment, relatively affordable living costs, and a surprisingly active social scene for its size.

Q: Why does New Hampshire rank as one of the worst states for young adults?

A: New Hampshire landed at the bottom of the overall ranking because multiple factors—such as costs, youth employment, and limited advantages in nightlife or fitness access—combined to make the state less favorable for younger residents compared with peers. Individually, some metrics may be fine, but the overall package is less competitive for young adults.

Q: Are big coastal states like California and New York always bad for young adults?

A: No. These states often have strong job markets and high wages, especially in certain industries, but their very high housing and living costs can push them lower in rankings that emphasize affordability for young people. For some career paths, their opportunities still justify the higher costs.

Q: How often do rankings of the best states for young adults change?

A: Rankings typically change as economies, tuition levels, and housing markets shift. For example, MoneyRates has published similar lists in multiple years, and while some states like North Dakota and Nebraska frequently appear near the top, others move up or down as conditions evolve. Checking recent data is important when planning a move.

Q: What data sources support these rankings?

A: The methodology generally relies on public datasets such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (for youth employment), the U.S. Census Bureau (for population, rent, and housing statistics), and higher-education data from federal or state agencies for tuition costs. These sources provide consistent, comparable numbers across all states.

This article is general information, not personal financial advice. Consider your own situation, or speak with a licensed adviser, before acting on it.