In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Newsweek has taken steps to evaluate and map the status of the American Dream across the nation. This assessment is based on 33,772 U.S. ZIP codes, each scored between 0 and 100. The scoring considers six key aspects: economic mobility, employment quality, education and skills, housing access, new business formation, and cost of living.
The focus is on determining whether ordinary individuals can still advance economically. While a single score may not fully encapsulate a person’s life, the combined scores aim to spark discussions about how and where America’s promise is being fulfilled.
The American Dream is fundamentally about progress and opportunity, suggesting one’s starting point should not determine their endpoint. However, this promise is not evenly fulfilled across all areas.
According to the Index, the regions with the highest scores are not necessarily the wealthiest. Places like North Dakota, Utah, and the agricultural counties of the Great Plains rank high, alongside affluent suburbs in Washington and Denver. In contrast, some of the nation’s richest cities struggle due to their high cost of living.
This analysis offers a realistic view of opportunity 250 years on. It highlights not only areas where the American Dream is flourishing but also regions facing challenges. Additionally, it identifies places such as Huntsville, Bentonville, and lesser-known oil towns where the Dream is being reimagined and rebuilt.