Find out how well your child will fare financially at age 26, based on where you live


There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding where to raise your children, assuming you have a choice. According to new research from Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren, your location has a sizable, measurable impact on how much your child will earn as an adult — and if they're right, that's great news for children in the western suburbs of Chicago and northern suburbs of Seattle, but bad news for kids in Baltimore and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Chetty and Hendren lay out their methodology, data, and rankings at their Equality of Opportunity site, but The New York Times has compiled it into a very handy interactive map. If you visit the story, and don't use a private-browsing page, The Times will take you directly to your county and show you an article based on where you live (you can change location by clicking on a map or searching for a different city.) You can control for income bracket and gender.
Because of the criteria they used, the upper middle part of the country, from Utah to Minnesota, looks pretty good, while the South (minus Texas and Oklahoma) looks pretty bad:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Check out your county at The New York Times.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Can Starmer sell himself as the 'tough on immigration' PM?
Today's Big Question Former human rights lawyer 'now needs to own the change – not just mouth the slogans' to win over a sceptical public
-
UK-India trade deal: how the social security arrangements will work
The Explainer A National Insurance exemption in the UK-India trade deal is causing concern but should British workers worry?
-
Man arrested after 'suspicious' fires at properties linked to Keir Starmer
Speed Read Prime minister thanks emergency services after fire at his former family home in north London
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read