There are certain, conventional meccas for young people. New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco all spring to mind as glamorous, even cliched destinations for 20-somethings -- places where quirky characters in cramped lofts desperately search for careers, love, and happiness.
But MoneyRate.com wanted to consider the question "with an open mind." They looked at lifestyle and economic criteria like youth unemployment, the proportion of young people in a state's population, rental costs, high-speed internet availability, nightlife and fitness facilities, and created a list geared at "young people looking to get a strong start on their adult lives."
So, for those rational 20-somethings willing to consider the real-life data, rather than the Hollywood version, we present to you the top 10 states to set up shop:
1. North Dakota
2. South Dakota
3. Nebraska
4. Montana
5. Iowa
6. Hawaii
7. Oklahoma
8. Lousiana
9. Massachusetts 
10. Utah
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