2012 American Dream State Ranking Report

What is the American Dream?

According to James Truslow Adams, in his book entitled The Epic of America, it is “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with an opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement”.

It is the reason over 1 million immigrants a year leave their home country to journey to the United States.

But, how well do people in the United States feel they are living the American Dream?  And, based on the outlook of people who live there, which state is ranked #1 in the Nation for achieving the American Dream?

In collaboration with Xavier University, the Strengthening Brand America Project has published the first annual American Dream State Ranking Report.

Elected officials can use the data to evaluate short falls in state performance. And identify opportunities for improvement to enable more of the American Dream to be achieved by people living in their state.  CEOs can compare states to help determine where to establish business operations so their employees live in a state where the American Dream is more easily realized.

The Report ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their American Dream Composite Index™ (ADCI) score.

The ADCI is a unique and robust measure of American sentiment.  It reveals what people living in the USA do, strive for, work for, wish for, and ultimately hope for as they assume the multiple roles in their life.  It is the first measurement that quantifies the American Dream in its entirety.  It gauges the authenticity of the American Dream by assessing the extent to which people living in the USA are achieving it.

Find out where your state ranks