Hometown Glory
Generation Y paradise: Houston fourth on Great Cities for Young Adults list
With endless stories on Houston's relatively robust economy, it seems like the national business media has clued in that H-town is a great place to work. But Kiplinger's has run the numbers and listed Houston as one of the best places to live — especially for those under 35.
Houston came in fourth on the list of Great Cities for Young Adults, behind Chicago, Charlotte and No. 1-ranked Austin.
The rankings were judged on issues like unemployment and a growing economy, but also cost of living, rental prices and percentage of Gen Y residents.
Kiplinger doesn't shy away from Houston's so-called plagues — traffic, heat, humidity and pollution — but also mentions Houston's incredible dining scene, nightlife and nearby beaches.
"Like its rival Austin, Houston offers great job prospects and exciting big-city amenities at a price so low, even struggling grads can afford it. Diversity is one of its unsung strengths. More than a million of Houston’s inhabitants were born outside of the U.S. H-Town’s economy is varied as well: The city has strong energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, transportation and healthcare sectors, and 25 Fortune 500 companies have headquarters here."