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Massachusetts Ranks Second Best in U.S. for Youth Well-Being, WalletHub Finds
Massachusetts has been ranked the state with the second-lowest level of at-risk youth in the nation, according to a new 2026 study from personal finance website WalletHub. The report, which…
Published Jul 22, 2026 9:45 AM EDT
Massachusetts has been ranked the state with the second-lowest level of at-risk youth in the nation, according to a new 2026 study from personal finance website WalletHub
The report, which examined all 50 states and the District of Columbia, measured youth risk using 15 indicators, including educational attainment, employment, poverty, homelessness and <a href="https://healthylife7.com/ou-health-expert-advises-parents-on-back-to/” title=”OU Health expert advises parents on back-to”>health outcomes among young people
Massachusetts finished 50th overall on WalletHub’s at-risk youth scale, where a lower-risk ranking translates to a higher numerical placement. Only one state performed better, placing the Commonwealth second nationally for youth well-being
The study comes as roughly 13% of young Americans are neither employed nor enrolled in school, a group often referred to as “disconnected youth.” WalletHub analysts said states with large numbers of disconnected young adults face long-term economic and social challenges if investments in education, workforce development and youth services fall short
Several of Massachusetts’ rankings stood out in the report
The state ranked 48th for the percentage of disconnected youth, meaning it has one of the lowest shares in the country. It also ranked 46th for the percentage of youth without a high school diploma and finished 51st, including the District of Columbia, for the percentage of overweight and obese youth, making it the nation’s best-performing jurisdiction in that category
Massachusetts posted a 43rd-place ranking for youth poverty, indicating a relatively low poverty rate among young residents compared with other states. The Commonwealth landed in the middle of the pack for youth labor force participation, ranking 19th, and ranked 24th for the percentage of homeless youth
In commentary accompanying the study, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said states with high levels of disconnected youth and related challenges risk undermining their future workforce and economic growth
“A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future,” Lupo said. “States that are most impacted by this problem, as well as related issues like high youth poverty rates, widespread drug use and low test scores, need a wake-up call to invest more into improving conditions for young residents.”
While Massachusetts ranked among the nation’s best, Louisiana was identified as the state with the most at-risk youth. WalletHub cited high rates of disconnected young adults, youth poverty, lower educational attainment and teen births as key factors driving Louisiana’s ranking
The findings reinforce Massachusetts’ reputation for strong educational outcomes and youth support systems, while also highlighting areas where challenges remain, including workforce participation and youth homelessness
Massachusetts
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