Best States for Young Professionals (2026)
Rankings weighted toward job market strength, economic growth, affordable living, transportation, and vibrant community life — the factors that attract ambitious young professionals.
Top 10 States for Young Professionals
All 50 States Ranked for Young Professionals
| Rank | State | Grade | Young Professionals Score | Overall | 💰 Economy | 📈 Growth | 🎭 Livability | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | A+ | 64.9 | 80.2 | 70.3 | 63.4 | 54.3 | Midwest |
| 2 | New Hampshire | A+ | 64.3 | 86.6 | 84.5 | 52.9 | 56.2 | Northeast |
| 3 | Utah | A+ | 62.4 | 81.5 | 68.7 | 61.0 | 22.6 | West |
| 4 | North Dakota | A | 62.1 | 77.1 | 67.7 | 53.7 | 47.3 | Midwest |
| 5 | Idaho | B+ | 60.4 | 69.2 | 49.8 | 76.0 | 42.6 | West |
| 6 | Nebraska | A | 59.4 | 74.5 | 60.0 | 46.9 | 41.3 | Midwest |
| 7 | Montana | B+ | 58.7 | 70.8 | 46.1 | 62.7 | 70.1 | West |
| 8 | Minnesota | A+ | 58.5 | 77.1 | 63.6 | 42.0 | 44.6 | Midwest |
| 9 | Virginia | A | 58.4 | 74.3 | 72.2 | 50.4 | 31.4 | South |
| 10 | Maine | A | 57.2 | 76.8 | 49.7 | 48.8 | 61.8 | Northeast |
| 11 | Vermont | A+ | 56.2 | 77.5 | 62.9 | 30.2 | 55.9 | Northeast |
| 12 | Maryland | B+ | 55.8 | 66.9 | 83.6 | 42.2 | 22.9 | Northeast |
| 13 | Iowa | B+ | 55.7 | 68.7 | 56.1 | 41.5 | 34.9 | Midwest |
| 14 | Wyoming | B+ | 55.2 | 68.2 | 48.4 | 44.3 | 57.2 | West |
| 15 | Colorado | B+ | 54.9 | 67.4 | 63.6 | 49.8 | 45.3 | West |
| 16 | Wisconsin | B | 53.9 | 63.7 | 56.2 | 43.7 | 39.5 | Midwest |
| 17 | Connecticut | A | 53.2 | 73.5 | 59.8 | 37.0 | 40.7 | Northeast |
| 18 | North Carolina | C+ | 53.0 | 53.5 | 43.5 | 65.7 | 37.4 | South |
| 19 | Rhode Island | B+ | 50.7 | 69.3 | 46.9 | 33.6 | 59.6 | Northeast |
| 20 | South Carolina | C | 50.7 | 43.2 | 38.6 | 78.3 | 46.3 | South |
| 21 | Georgia | C+ | 50.2 | 51.3 | 47.9 | 57.9 | 30.1 | South |
| 22 | Hawaii | B | 49.8 | 64.8 | 90.0 | 27.0 | 38.3 | West |
| 23 | Tennessee | C | 49.7 | 45.3 | 43.5 | 62.2 | 51.3 | South |
| 24 | Kansas | B | 49.6 | 59.5 | 49.2 | 38.4 | 27.8 | Midwest |
| 25 | Washington | B | 49.1 | 63.2 | 46.9 | 39.1 | 39.0 | West |
| 26 | Massachusetts | B+ | 49.0 | 70.3 | 57.9 | 29.8 | 43.2 | Northeast |
| 27 | Arizona | C | 48.6 | 44.3 | 39.7 | 65.2 | 27.5 | West |
| 28 | Missouri | C+ | 48.3 | 48.7 | 45.7 | 45.6 | 36.0 | Midwest |
| 29 | Texas | C | 48.1 | 45.9 | 39.6 | 60.8 | 27.7 | South |
| 30 | New Jersey | B | 48.0 | 65.1 | 55.1 | 27.2 | 30.2 | Northeast |
| 31 | Delaware | C+ | 48.0 | 52.4 | 32.1 | 45.4 | 56.9 | Northeast |
| 32 | Florida | C+ | 47.3 | 51.7 | 36.7 | 65.3 | 34.1 | South |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | B | 47.0 | 58.2 | 41.8 | 30.5 | 41.5 | Northeast |
| 34 | Indiana | C+ | 46.8 | 49.6 | 42.4 | 42.7 | 35.0 | Midwest |
| 35 | Oklahoma | C | 46.5 | 41.8 | 40.0 | 49.3 | 30.5 | South |
| 36 | Alabama | C | 46.3 | 39.4 | 47.6 | 56.5 | 26.2 | South |
| 37 | Oregon | B | 44.9 | 60.0 | 27.1 | 25.8 | 53.9 | West |
| 38 | New York | B | 44.9 | 56.8 | 43.7 | 19.9 | 55.1 | Northeast |
| 39 | Ohio | C+ | 44.2 | 49.1 | 31.7 | 30.0 | 33.9 | Midwest |
| 40 | Nevada | D | 43.2 | 39.2 | 18.4 | 52.5 | 53.5 | West |
| 41 | Illinois | C+ | 43.0 | 50.5 | 39.2 | 20.5 | 36.8 | Midwest |
| 42 | Michigan | C | 39.2 | 45.0 | 25.1 | 25.0 | 26.9 | Midwest |
| 43 | Kentucky | D | 39.1 | 38.0 | 22.7 | 32.1 | 19.7 | South |
| 44 | Arkansas | F | 38.5 | 29.9 | 22.9 | 42.8 | 24.8 | South |
| 45 | Alaska | D | 37.0 | 39.3 | 35.0 | 14.4 | 48.4 | West |
| 46 | New Mexico | D | 37.0 | 32.6 | 26.9 | 35.0 | 25.7 | West |
| 47 | Mississippi | D | 37.0 | 31.4 | 26.7 | 28.4 | 15.3 | South |
| 48 | West Virginia | D | 36.8 | 32.5 | 13.9 | 27.3 | 33.9 | South |
| 49 | California | C | 33.7 | 42.9 | 41.3 | 10.1 | 37.5 | West |
| 50 | Louisiana | F | 32.9 | 25.2 | 20.6 | 22.1 | 23.2 | South |
Best States for Young Professionals in 2026: What the Data Shows
South Dakota leads our rankings for young professionals with a score of 64.9 out of 100. Close behind are New Hampshire (64.3) and Utah (62.4). These top-ranked states consistently score well across the categories that matter most to young professionals: economy, growth, livability.
Key Findings
The gap between the #1 and #50 state is 32.0 points — a substantial difference that translates to real quality-of-life differences. The median state scores 49.1/100, meaning the top half of states cluster in the 49-65 range.
For young professionals, the most important category is Economy (22% weight), followed by Growth (18%) and Affordability (15%). States that score above 70 in these top categories almost always place in the top 15.
Regional Patterns
For young professionals, Northeastern states lead with an average persona score of 52.2, followed by the Midwest (52.1), West (48.8), and South (45.3).
Surprise Rankings
South Carolina jumps from #39 overall to #20 for young professionals — a gain of 19 spots. Meanwhile, Oregon drops from #23 to #37, losing 14 spots when young professionals priorities are applied.
States Facing Challenges
At the bottom of the list, Louisiana (32.9), California (33.7), and West Virginia (36.8) face the biggest challenges for young professionals. Lower scores in economy and growth are the primary drivers.
Methodology
These rankings use the same real government data as our overall state rankings — from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and America's Health Rankings — but re-weighted to reflect the priorities of young professionals. The top-weighted categories are Economy (22%), Growth (18%), Affordability (15%). Categories with 0% weight are not included in the calculation. See our full methodology for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for young professionals in 2026?
South Dakota ranks #1 for young professionals with a persona-weighted score of 64.9/100. The top 3 are South Dakota, New Hampshire, Utah.
What are the worst states for young professionals?
The lowest-ranked states for young professionals are Louisiana, California, West Virginia. These states score lower on the categories most important to young professionals.
How are "best for young professionals" rankings calculated?
We re-weight the 11 scoring categories based on what matters most to young professionals. Rankings weighted toward job market strength, economic growth, affordable living, transportation, and vibrant community life — the factors that attract ambitious young professionals.