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Ha! #99 is where our son went after graduation and where he was married–just down a ways from the Augusta National Golf Club, beautiful area. He loved it, but if you’re not military or medical it might not be for you. He wasn’t sorry to leave the summer humidity, though.
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I know lots of young people who live in #99. They’re very happy living there. It’s a great place (other than the humidity), with good jobs and relatively affordable housing. I’m not sure why it is considered a bad place for young people. But I usually don’t understand these lists.
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The original study site actually does a decent job laying out the methodology and grades for each city based on 7 criteria (median rent, young people, population w/bachelors degree, single population, unemployment rate, median income, restaurants per capita)
I cringe when Minneapolis/Saint Paul area make top lists because it seems to just cue up the hate for it lol. Yes, we know about the weather. 
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Columbus, OH has been growing rapidly these past few years and it seems a lot of it has been driven by young people who love it. I’m not surprised to see it high on the list.
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Top of the list makes sense - but I’m surprised not to see Nashville on there.
Others may be surprised not to see the bay area.
But I think about where my son got offers (and he had multiple) - and it’s none of these - and I’m sure it’s industry specific, etc.
Maybe if I was unemployed, looking to start a new life and wondering where I should plant myself, I might look at a list like this…but otherwise, it’s of little use because the job you take will be where it will be… That may be Laredo for someone…or Minneapolis for another.
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The best city for new college graduates is where their best job offer wants them to work.
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Such lists are near useless since they don’t control for the individual. For example, San Francisco was ranked among the top 5 in spite of having some of the most expensive housing in the United States that would make it unaffordable for the overwhelming majority of new college grads. It’s ranked high because they assume a high salary. SF may be a great place to new grad to live, if it facilitates a $200k/year type tech job that would not be possible elsewhere. However, it’s not as desirable for a new grad earning $40k/year, who could find a comparable job in numerous other lower cost of living areas.
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To expand on the details provided by @KaylaMidwest, these were the criteria:
- Median 1-bedroom rent from Zumper.com
- Population of 18-34-year-olds (for highest concentration of ‘young people’) from American Community Survey 2019
- Population of 25-year-olds with Bachelor’s degrees from American Community Survey 2020
- Median income of 25-year-olds and younger from American Community Survey 2020
- Non-married population from American Community Survey 2020
- Restaurants per 100 thousand people from OpenStreetMap API
- Unemployment rate from American Community Survey 2020
Essentially, this survey is about where are there a lot of young people who are single with a college education and higher earnings with access to a lot of restaurants so they can hang out with the younger people, relative to the amount of rent they need to pay.
Basically, a list of the top places for college-educated young people to mix and mingle.
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deleted, wrong thread
How does NYC have a C for restaurants? There is a good chance dd19 ends up working in NYC after grad school, but live home in NJ for a couple of years, so she can have the salary without the rent.
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I’m not sure that their criteria makes sense - for SF - or anywhere else. Even though SF is expensive, its relatively easy to find a nice, affordable place, with roommates. Roommates make the transition to a new city so much easier.
Regarding restaurants, I’m not sure why that is even a criteria. It seems like the number of activity groups and ease of meeting people would be better.
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Not everyone wants roomies though.
My son will be in Irvine the next 6 months and is paying $2500 per (on an 18 month lease that you pay a 2 month penalty to get out of - but the company pays).
Yes, he could airbnb or do a furnished finder, etc. but he’s so adamant about:
a) Living alone
b) having an in unit Washer Dryer
So that’s the cost.
He could go cheaper…but is making the decision not to.
He’d likely look for another job than have yet another roommate.
So everyone’s situation is different in regards to finding lower cost.
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Is San Francisco not considered the bay area?
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I noticed that later. I skipped right over. Oops. I was maybe looking for San Jose but total oversight by me.
Thx for seeing.
My middle son also lives in San Francisco and likes living alone with his dog and he’s in a small (tiny, like 500’+) 1 bedroom, 1 bath but it overlooks the bay and costs just over $4k. But, he works from home 2 days a week and 1 of his 3 days in office he can walk to the San Francisco Google Office and work instead of his regular desk in Mountainview where he catches the shuttle to 2 days a week. He’s very happy with the walkability and restaurants around where he lives and he doesn’t see as much of the homelessness there but does see the locked up items in the grocery and drug stores - that still bothers him a bit. I don’t think he’ll ever come back to Atlanta. I’m thinking my husband and I have become comfortable here in Atlanta and that maybe counts for something.
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$4k??? 
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My 26 and 27 year olds pay $2000 each for central NJ.
Amazing. Portland Maine has gotten more expensive. My daughter pays $900 and she has three roommates.
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He’s on the 17th floor overlooking the bay - he thinks he got a deal!!!
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