WalletHub Study Identifies States with the Most At-Risk Youth in 2025

A recent study by WalletHub has pinpointed the states with the most at-risk youth in 2025, shedding light on the challenges faced by young Americans who are neither employed nor enrolled in school. The study, which compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key indicators, including the share of disconnected youth and youth poverty rates, aims to identify areas where young people are most vulnerable to poverty and violence.

Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico top the list of states with the most at-risk youth, while Iowa, North Carolina, and North Dakota are among those with the least. The study reveals significant disparities, such as Louisiana's share of disconnected youth being 2.9 times higher than New Hampshire's, and New Mexico's rate of youth without a high school diploma doubling that of Hawaii's.

Health-related issues also vary widely, with Alabama reporting the highest share of overweight or obese youth, 1.5 times more than Colorado. Vermont leads in youth drug use, 2.5 times the rate of Utah, and the District of Columbia has a homeless youth rate 34 times that of Mississippi.

This study underscores the importance of addressing the multifaceted challenges facing at-risk youth, from education and employment to health and housing, to mitigate the long-term effects of poverty and violence.