Massachusetts A Millennial Paradise; Ranked Best In U.S.

BOSTON — A thriving craft beer scene, legal weed, world-class colleges and beard-and-flannel weather. Indeed, Massachusetts is perfect for millennials. So perfect that it was ranked the best state in the country for the generation born 1981–1996. The Bay State topped WalletHub's 2019 Best & Worst States for Millennials survey.

The schools, job earning potential and overall quality of life in Massachusetts were ranked among the highest in the country. The survey was based on factors including unemployment, depression rates, earning potential and more.

It's expensive to live in Massachusetts — its affordability was ranked 24th.

Millennials are expected to become the country's largest generation this year.

"These early-20-to-early-30-somethings who are often depicted through negative stereotypes — entitled, parentally dependent, emotionally fragile — are responsible for 21 percent of all consumer discretionary spending in the U.S.," wrote WalletHub financial editor Adam McCann. "Yet despite millennials’ trillion-dollar purchasing power and higher educational attainment, they are economically worse off than their parents. Why? The financial crisis remains a big part of the reason. Millennials have come of age and entered the workforce in the shadow of the Great Recession, which has significantly reduced their job prospects and earning potential for decades to come. By one estimate, millennials today earn 20 percent less than Baby Boomers did at the same age."

Brookline may be one of the most millennial-friendly communities in the commonwealth. In recent weeks, a recreational marijuana dispensary opened and hundreds of e-scooters hit the streets for the summer.

West Virginia was ranked the worst state for millennials.

WalletHub: 2019 Best & Worst States for Millenials

1. Massachusetts
2. District of Columbia
3. Washington
4. Minnesota
5. Wisconsin
6. Colorado
7. Iowa
8. Utah
9. Pennsylvania
10. California