The states where the American Dream could become a reality, ranked from most likely to least

US News created a list of every state ranked by opportunity, as measured by economic opportunity, equality, and affordability.
States from southern America were low on the list and four of the top six states border Canada.
California, Texas, and New York — the three largest states by population — all ranked in the bottom 10, meaning the American Dream is not as strong there.

The American Dream is dead. Or maybe it's thriving.

It probably depends who you ask and where they live.

In some states, the American Dream is much more alive than in others. At least, that is the conclusion reached by US News ranking of states by opportunity with data from McKinsey & Company.

Opportunity is one of the eight factors that went into figuring out US News rankings for best states. In fact, survey participants considered opportunity the fourth most important measurement in the methodology of the rankings.

To determine the ranking, each state was measured on numerous metrics that matched three criteria: economic opportunity, equality, and affordability. The latter two were both given a 40% weight, while affordability was weighed at 20%.

50. Louisiana

Economic opportunity: 49

Equality: 42

Affordability: 19

49. Mississippi

Economic opportunity: 50

Equality: 27

Affordability: 13

48. Alabama

Economic opportunity: 48

Equality: 39

Affordability: 17

47. Texas

Economic opportunity: 37

Equality: 45

Affordability: 24

46. California

Economic opportunity: 30

Equality: 22

Affordability: 49

45. Arizona

Economic opportunity: 38

Equality: 37

Affordability: 34

44. New Mexico

Economic opportunity: 46

Equality: 17

Affordability: 27

43. New York

Economic opportunity: 35

Equality: 5

Affordability: 48

42. Idaho

Economic opportunity: 28

Equality: 48

Affordability: 25

41. Arkansas

Economic opportunity: 47

Equality: 19

Affordability: 12

40. North Carolina

Economic opportunity: 43

Equality: 24

Affordability: 23

39. South Carolina

Economic opportunity: 36

Equality: 28

Affordability: 26

38. Oklahoma

Economic opportunity: 39

Equality: 44

Affordability: 6

37. Montana

Economic opportunity: 31

Equality: 41

Affordability: 32

36. Florida

Economic opportunity: 40

Equality: 8

Affordability: 37

35. Utah

Economic opportunity: 7

Equality: 50

Affordability: 30

34. Rhode Island

Economic opportunity: 23

Equality: 30

Affordability: 42

33. Georgia

Economic opportunity: 42

Equality: 13

Affordability: 16

32. Oregon

Economic opportunity: 24

Equality: 20

Affordability: 45

31. Tennessee

Economic opportunity: 41

Equality: 11

Affordability: 21

30. Kentucky

Economic opportunity: 45

Equality: 6

Affordability: 8

29. Connecticut

Economic opportunity: 19

Equality: 34

Affordability: 41

28. Colorado

Economic opportunity: 12

Equality: 38

Affordability: 43

27. Washington

Economic opportunity: 16

Equality: 32

Affordability: 44

26. Maine

Economic opportunity: 25

Equality: 16

Affordability: 36

25. Ohio

Economic opportunity: 34

Equality: 29

Affordability: 1

24. South Dakota

Economic opportunity: 20

Equality: 46

Affordability: 11

23. West Virginia

Economic opportunity: 44

Equality: 4

Affordability: 9

22. Illinois

Economic opportunity: 22

Equality: 31

Affordability: 22

21. Missouri

Economic opportunity: 32

Equality: 23

Affordability: 10

20. Michigan

Economic opportunity: 33

Equality: 21

Affordability: 4

19. Nevada

Economic opportunity: 27

Equality: 7

Affordability: 38

18. Hawaii

Economic opportunity: 4

Equality: 10

Affordability: 50

17. North Dakota

Economic opportunity: 5

Equality: 49

Affordability: 15

16. Pennsylvania

Economic opportunity: 26

Equality: 26

Affordability: 18

15. Wyoming

Economic opportunity: 9

Equality: 43

Affordability: 29

14. Massachusetts

Economic opportunity: 8

Equality: 15

Affordability: 47

13. Nebraska

Economic opportunity: 17

Equality: 47

Affordability: 5

12. Kansas

Economic opportunity: 21

Equality: 40

Affordability: 7

11. Indiana

Economic opportunity: 29

Equality: 35

Affordability: 2

10. New Jersey

Economic opportunity: 10

Equality: 25

Affordability: 40

9. Virginia

Economic opportunity: 13

Equality: 12

Affordability: 31

8. Wisconsin

Economic opportunity: 11

Equality: 33

Affordability: 14

7. Delaware

Economic opportunity: 14

Equality: 9

Affordability: 28

6. Vermont

Economic opportunity: 18

Equality: 2

Affordability: 33

5. Alaska

Economic opportunity: 2

Equality: 18

Affordability: 46

4. Iowa

Economic opportunity: 15

Equality: 36

Affordability: 3

3. Minnesota

Economic opportunity: 6

Equality: 14

Affordability: 20

2. Maryland

Economic opportunity: 3

Equality: 3

Affordability: 39

1. New Hampshire

Economic opportunity: 1

Equality: 1

Affordability: 35

The states where the American Dream could become a reality, ranked from most likely to least

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!