Millennials end up in headlines quite a bit, and the latest one offers some guidance on where they might be able to live their best lives. WalletHub examined this demographic—generally defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, making them between 25 and 40 in 2021—and where they've done well and struggled across the US. To determine the best places to live for this cohort, the site looked at all 50 states and the District of Columbia, using nearly three dozen metrics in five main categories: affordability, education and health, quality of life, economic health, and civic engagement. Washington state holds the most allure for the millennial set, while West Virginia falls at the bottom of the list. See where other states fell in WalletHub's ranking:
Best States
- Washington (No. 1 in "Affordability" category)
- District of Columbia (No. 1 in "Education & Health," "Quality of Life" categories)
- Utah (No. 1 in "Economic Health" category)
- Massachusetts
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Colorado
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
Worst States - Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Nevada
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- West Virginia
See where other states fall
here. (Millennials are flocking to
these cities.)