A Statistical Portrait of Well-Being in Early Adulthood. CrossCurrents. Issue 2. Publication # 2004-18.

In this data brief, we describe key characteristics of young adults in the United States at or around age 25. These characteristics include educational attainment and financial self-sufficiency, health behaviors, family formation, and civic involvement. In addition, we present separate descriptive portraits for the major racial groups and among Hispanics and immigrants. These portraits reveal very distinct patterns of well-being in early adulthood, and these patterns can inform future policies directed towards these groups as the nation seeks to reduce racial disparities and facilitate better long-term outcomes for all of America's children and youth, especially those who are at risk.