Key Facts

• The index scores 33,772 U.S. ZIP codes from 0 to 100 based on six factors: economic mobility, job quality, education, housing access, new business creation, and cost of living.
• It focuses on mobility, meaning how easy it is for average people to improve their lives, not just how rich a place already is.
• North Dakota ranks first among states, with Utah and Minnesota following. Massachusetts ranks fourth because high housing costs lower its score.
• Some small farm counties in South Dakota and Kansas rank very high, showing strong jobs, affordability, and mobility.
• Big cities like San Francisco and Brooklyn score well on opportunity but poorly on housing affordability.
• The index offers interactive tools where people can enter any ZIP code to see its score and how it compares with other areas.
• The American Dream is still alive but has shifted to different places than often expected, often thriving in less well-known areas.
• The Deep South generally ranks lower on the index, showing challenges for opportunity in that region.