Given that the U.S. continues to make headlines in 2025 and celebrated its Independence Day last month, let’s reflect on how the country is truly performing in terms of the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With one year to go until the United States marks its 250th Anniversary, the U.S Social Progress Map tracks progress against the fundamental pillars of the American Dream.
1. While Massachusetts takes the top spot overall and ranks 1st on Advanced Education, the detailed data reveals a more complex picture. Massachusetts falls in the mid-range among the 50 states when it comes to Shelter and Water and Sanitation. Additionally, Of the 12 components we measure, Access to Advanced Education ranks as the third worst-performing component in the entire Social Progress Index. Only Health and Wellness and Environmental Quality score lower across the U.S.
2. Maryland stands out for being the state with the most racial diversity in the top 5 ranking, with nearly half of its population identifying as Black, Hispanic, or other racial groups.
3. Finally, the U.S. Social Progress Map shows a nation of sharp contrasts:
To see how this data is being used, take Bellevue, WA, which is ranked in the top 10 U.S. cities for quality of life. Here's what their mayor had to say:
We are honored to rank in the top 10 U.S. cities for quality of life," said Mayor Lynne Robinson. "We appreciate the Social Progress Imperative using deeper data to reveal what leads to thriving communities. Seeing us perform well when those indicators are analyzed across the country affirms our commitment to creating equitable opportunities for everyone in Bellevue to have a high quality of life.”
What can your state leaders, city officials, or neighborhood advocates do to help people thrive? What can you do to advance social progress in your community?
Get more insights now! The U.S. Social Progress Map helps leaders like you move from data to impact faster, whether you're shaping policy, allocating funds, or designing programs that drive change.
Given that the U.S. continues to make headlines in 2025 and celebrated its Independence Day last month, let’s reflect on how the country is truly performing in terms of the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With one year to go until the United States marks its 250th Anniversary, the U.S Social Progress Map tracks progress against the fundamental pillars of the American Dream.
1. While Massachusetts takes the top spot overall and ranks 1st on Advanced Education, the detailed data reveals a more complex picture. Massachusetts falls in the mid-range among the 50 states when it comes to Shelter and Water and Sanitation. Additionally, Of the 12 components we measure, Access to Advanced Education ranks as the third worst-performing component in the entire Social Progress Index. Only Health and Wellness and Environmental Quality score lower across the U.S.
2. Maryland stands out for being the state with the most racial diversity in the top 5 ranking, with nearly half of its population identifying as Black, Hispanic, or other racial groups.
3. Finally, the U.S. Social Progress Map shows a nation of sharp contrasts:
To see how this data is being used, take Bellevue, WA, which is ranked in the top 10 U.S. cities for quality of life. Here's what their mayor had to say:
We are honored to rank in the top 10 U.S. cities for quality of life," said Mayor Lynne Robinson. "We appreciate the Social Progress Imperative using deeper data to reveal what leads to thriving communities. Seeing us perform well when those indicators are analyzed across the country affirms our commitment to creating equitable opportunities for everyone in Bellevue to have a high quality of life.”
What can your state leaders, city officials, or neighborhood advocates do to help people thrive? What can you do to advance social progress in your community?
Get more insights now! The U.S. Social Progress Map helps leaders like you move from data to impact faster, whether you're shaping policy, allocating funds, or designing programs that drive change.
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