ContestsEvents

LISTEN LIVE

North Carolina Ranks As One Of The Worst States For Millennials

Millennials we take a lot of heat. I know you’ve heard the stereotypes-entitled, parentally dependent, emotionally fragile. But it also hasn’t been easy, so you can’t place all the blame…

Millennials
Kar-Tr/Getty Images Plus

Millennials we take a lot of heat. I know you've heard the stereotypes-entitled, parentally dependent, emotionally fragile. But it also hasn't been easy, so you can't place all the blame on us. And if you're reading this in one of the Carolina's then it really hasn't been easy. In fact, North Carolina and South Carolina both rank in the bottom half of states for millennials. This is according to a new study by Wallethub.

Millennials are currently the largest generation, with a population of around 80 million. This means that millennials have a huge influence on American culture and consumption. But statistically, most are economically worse off than their parents.

The millennial experience is not the same everywhere. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine where this generation has thrived and struggled. They examined each state and DC across 34 key metrics to determine the best and worst states for millennials. Both Carolinas ranked in the bottom half making them two of the worst states.

Keep reading to see where North Carolina millennials ranked.

1. Washington

Seattle

Total Score: 67.45

Affordability: 6

Education & Health: 17

Quality of Life: 2

Economic Health: 3

Civic Engagement: 6

2. District of Columbia

Total Score: 65.34

Affordability: 27

Education & Health: 2

Quality of Life: 1

Economic Health: 26

Civic Engagement: 15

3. Massachusetts

Total Score: 63.72

Affordability: 25

Education & Health: 3

Quality of Life: 4

Economic Health: 17

Civic Engagement: 22

4. Utah

Total Score: 62.90

Affordability: 20

Education & Health: 7

Quality of Life: 9

Economic Health: 1

Civic Engagement: 30

5. Illinois

Illinois

Total Score: 60.28

Affordability: 2

Education & Health: 4

Quality of Life: 8

Economic Health: 46

Civic Engagement: 18

6. Minnesota

Total Score: 60.22

Affordability: 12

Education & Health: 16

Quality of Life: 6

Economic Health: 18

Civic Engagement: 27

7. Oregon

Total Score: 58.90

Affordability: 34

Education & Health: 14

Quality of Life: 16

Economic Health: 14

Civic Engagement: 2

8. Wisconsin

Total Score: 58.68

Affordability: 21

Education & Health: 24

Quality of Life: 12

Economic Health: 31

Civic Engagement: 1

9. Virginia

Total Score: 57.82

Affordability: 39

Education & Health: 15

Quality of Life: 10

Economic Health: 20

Civic Engagement: 3

10. Colorado

Denver Colorado

Total Score: 57.55

Affordability: 49

Education & Health: 23

Quality of Life: 5

Economic Health: 10

Civic Engagement: 9

11. Nebraska

Total Score: 57.09

Affordability: 32

Education & Health: 27

Quality of Life: 13

Economic Health: 12

Civic Engagement: 10

12. Iowa

Total Score: 56.59

Affordability: 5

Education & Health: 25

Quality of Life: 23

Economic Health: 29

Civic Engagement: 5

13. Pennsylvania

Total Score: 56.41

Affordability: 19

Education & Health: 21

Quality of Life: 17

Economic Health: 32

Civic Engagement: 7

14. California

Total Score: 56.19

Affordability: 40

Education & Health: 19

Quality of Life: 7

Economic Health: 22

Civic Engagement: 21

15. Vermont

Vermont

Total Score: 55.80

Affordability: 48

Education & Health: 10

Quality of Life: 18

Economic Health: 11

Civic Engagement: 14

16. South Dakota

Total Score: 55.50

Affordability: 7

Education & Health: 18

Quality of Life: 25

Economic Health: 6

Civic Engagement: 41

17. Maine

Total Score: 55.33

Affordability: 46

Education & Health: 11

Quality of Life: 30

Economic Health: 8

Civic Engagement: 4

18. New York

Total Score: 55.03

Affordability: 8

Education & Health: 12

Quality of Life: 3

Economic Health: 49

Civic Engagement: 47

19. New Hampshire

Total Score: 54.33

Affordability: 42

Education & Health: 13

Quality of Life: 22

Economic Health: 5

Civic Engagement: 37

20. Connecticut

Connecticut

Total Score: 53.79

Affordability: 35

Education & Health: 6

Quality of Life: 21

Economic Health: 45

Civic Engagement: 12

21. Ohio

Total Score: 53.68

Affordability: 4

Education & Health: 28

Quality of Life: 24

Economic Health: 40

Civic Engagement: 11

22. Texas

Total Score: 52.92

Affordability: 9

Education & Health: 51

Quality of Life: 11

Economic Health: 16

Civic Engagement: 26

23. North Dakota

Total Score: 52.69

Affordability: 13

Education & Health: 36

Quality of Life: 15

Economic Health: 13

Civic Engagement: 39

24. Michigan

Total Score: 52.38

Affordability: 3

Education & Health: 20

Quality of Life: 35

Economic Health: 42

Civic Engagement: 13

25. Arizona

Arizona

Total Score: 52.35

Affordability: 26

Education & Health: 37

Quality of Life: 32

Economic Health: 4

Civic Engagement: 19

26. Rhode Island

Total Score: 52.34

Affordability: 47

Education & Health: 5

Quality of Life: 19

Economic Health: 9

Civic Engagement: 46

27. Idaho

Total Score: 52.15

Affordability: 31

Education & Health: 22

Quality of Life: 42

Economic Health: 2

Civic Engagement: 35

28. North Carolina

Total Score: 51.63

Affordability: 17

Education & Health: 29

Quality of Life: 33

Economic Health: 23

Civic Engagement: 20

29. New Jersey

Total Score: 51.33

Affordability: 36

Education & Health: 8

Quality of Life: 14

Economic Health: 39

Civic Engagement: 42

30. Tennessee

TennesseeGetty Images

Total Score: 50.68

Affordability: 11

Education & Health: 33

Quality of Life: 39

Economic Health: 19

Civic Engagement: 23

31. Maryland

Total Score: 50.67

Affordability: 44

Education & Health: 9

Quality of Life: 20

Economic Health: 34

Civic Engagement: 38

32. Kansas

Total Score: 50.41

Affordability: 29

Education & Health: 30

Quality of Life: 36

Economic Health: 25

Civic Engagement: 8

33. Hawaii

Total Score: 49.78

Affordability: 51

Education & Health: 1

Quality of Life: 31

Economic Health: 27

Civic Engagement: 29

34. Montana

Total Score: 49.55

Affordability: 38

Education & Health: 32

Quality of Life: 29

Economic Health: 7

Civic Engagement: 36

35. Missouri

Missouri

Total Score: 49.14

Affordability: 1

Education & Health: 44

Quality of Life: 26

Economic Health: 21

Civic Engagement: 43

36. Indiana

Total Score: 48.25

Affordability: 16

Education & Health: 35

Quality of Life: 38

Economic Health: 33

Civic Engagement: 24

37. Florida

Total Score: 47.70

Affordability: 37

Education & Health: 41

Quality of Life: 28

Economic Health: 15

Civic Engagement: 33

38. Georgia

Total Score: 46.42

Affordability: 15

Education & Health: 43

Quality of Life: 40

Economic Health: 37

Civic Engagement: 28

39. Delaware

Total Score: 45.46

Affordability: 28

Education & Health: 26

Quality of Life: 41

Economic Health: 24

Civic Engagement: 45

40. Wyoming

Wyoming

Total Score: 43.44

Affordability: 41

Education & Health: 34

Quality of Life: 37

Economic Health: 35

Civic Engagement: 40

41. Alabama

Total Score: 42.02

Affordability: 14

Education & Health: 48

Quality of Life: 49

Economic Health: 38

Civic Engagement: 25

42. Kentucky

Total Score: 41.94

Affordability: 10

Education & Health: 39

Quality of Life: 45

Economic Health: 36

Civic Engagement: 44

43. Oklahoma

Total Score: 41.63

Affordability: 23

Education & Health: 50

Quality of Life: 44

Economic Health: 41

Civic Engagement: 31

44. Alaska

Total Score: 41.57

Affordability: 50

Education & Health: 40

Quality of Life: 27

Economic Health: 48

Civic Engagement: 16

45. South Carolina

South Carolina

Total Score: 40.76

Affordability: 18

Education & Health: 31

Quality of Life: 48

Economic Health: 28

Civic Engagement: 51

46. Nevada

Total Score: 39.86

Affordability: 45

Education & Health: 46

Quality of Life: 34

Economic Health: 30

Civic Engagement: 49

47. Louisiana

Total Score: 45

Affordability: 22

Education & Health: 45

Quality of Life: 43

Economic Health: 50

Civic Engagement: 32

48. Arkansas

Total Score: 37.40

Affordability: 32

Education & Health: 49

Quality of Life: 47

Economic Health: 47

Civic Engagement: 34

49. New Mexico

Total Score: 36.28

Affordability: 43

Education & Health: 42

Quality of Life: 46

Economic Health: 44

Civic Engagement: 48

50. West Virginia

West Virginia

Total Score: 35.53

Affordability: 24

Education & Health: 38

Quality of Life: 51

Economic Health: 43

Civic Engagement: 49

51. Mississippi

Total Score: 34.94

Affordability: 30

Education & Health: 47

Quality of Life: 50

Economic Health: 51

Civic Engagement: 17

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.