Hometown Glory
The real young people's city: Houston third in U.S. on young professionals best cities list, Austin left out
Now’s the time when recent college graduates must decide where to plant roots so they can begin the next phase of their lives. To help ease that transition, Homes.com and sister site ForRentUniversity.com determined the 10 most desirable cities in the United States for these budding young professionals.
Houston ranks third in the entire country on this young professionals best cities list. This is thanks in large part to the Bayou City's mean entry-level income of $41,000 — one of the highest in the nation. H-Town boasts a 5.7 unemployment rate and a median one-bedroom apartment price of $800. In part due to its 24 Fortune 500 companies, Houston has a “promising job market.”
Dallas ranked No. 2 on the list, just behind Atlanta. According to the site, its 8.67 percent rental vacancy rate translates to more affordable rent than most other comparable metros. The median price for a one-bedroom apartment is $900 in Dallas.
With a mean entry-level income of $38,000, young Dallasites come in behind Houston in earning power, but still high on the list. The rankings also note Dallas' 5.8 percent unemployment rate (better than Atlanta’s 6.9 percent) and 17 nearby colleges and universities.
In shocking news, Austin was not anywhere on this list. Oh snap.
To determine the 10 best cities for recent college grads, Homes.com and ForRentUniversity.com looked at mean entry-level income, average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, proximity to postgraduate institutions and social opportunities. Researchers also analyzed unemployment rates and the percentage of the population ages 25 to 34.
Here’s the complete list:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Dallas, Texas
- Houston, Texas
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Denver, Colorado
- Seattle, Washington
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Washington, D.C.