Hometown Glory
Dallas soars above rest of U.S. as top city for recent college grads
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.
Dallas ranked No. 2 on the list, just behind Atlanta. According to the site, our 8.67 percent rental vacancy rate translates to more affordable rent than most other comparable metros; median price for a one-bedroom apartment is $900.
With a mean entry-level income of $38,000, young Dallasites can enjoy the finer things, i.e., sports. Homes.com was impressed with our plethora of professional sports teams, which create an “abundance of athletic events” to attend. The site also noted our 5.8 percent unemployment rate (better than Atlanta’s 6.9 percent) and 17 nearby colleges and universities.
Right on Dallas’ heels was Houston, with a 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.”
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.