Where Should Gen Z Live? These Are the Best Cities for Young Adults

Updated: November 27, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Young adults are seizing new opportunities to shape their paths as they navigate a rapidly changing world. According to Ernst and Young, nearly a third of Gen Z already feels financially secure, and 39% earn income from both a job and a side hustle. Discovering the U.S. cities where young adults are experiencing the most success and well-being may help you capitalize on these wins and even inform where you choose to live.

MoneyGeek analyzed data for 138 cities with 100,000 or more residents on factors including income, homeownership rates, young adult population, student loan burdens and access to entertainment and dining to identify places where young adults can thrive. Our analysis found that the West is home to the most affordable cities for those under 25, while the Northeast and Midwest tend to offer more challenging environments.

KEY FINDINGS

Salt Lake City is the No. 1 city for young adults, with the lowest federal student loan debt per borrower at $11,062 and the eighth-lowest unemployment rate at 4.4%.
Eight of the 10 cities with the highest cost-of-living-adjusted median household incomes for young adults are in the South or West, with Bellevue, Washington, leading the list at $102,255 annually.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Pueblo, Colorado, have the lowest percentages of young adults burdened by rent (less than 20%).
The southern cities of Round Rock, Texas, and Alexandria, Virginia, had the largest growth in householders under 25 from 2012 to 2022, with increases of 160% and 106%, respectively.
The highest percentages of homeowners under 25 are in Tallahassee, Florida (21%), and Madison, Wisconsin (18%).

Overall Best Cities for Young Adults to Financially Thrive

Three of the top five cities where young adults can thrive are in the West, with Salt Lake City taking the top spot. Between 2012 and 2022, Salt Lake City saw 41% growth in its young adult population and holds the lowest federal student loan debt per borrower at $11,062.

Boise, Idaho, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, rank among the cities where young homeowners face the least financial burden when it comes to housing costs, including mortgages and utilities. Notably, the Las Cruces young adult population rose 44% in the same period, the highest among all cities. In the Midwest, Des Moines, Iowa, ranks third overall, with just 32% of young adults burdened by rent.

5 Best Cities for Young Adults to Flourish Financially

	City, State	Final Score
1.	Salt Lake City, UT	100.0
2.	Abilene, TX	84.7
3.	Des Moines, IA	84.2
4.	Boise, ID	82.3
5.	Las Cruces, NM	78.9

Best Cities Among the 10 Largest

Among the 10 most populous U.S. cities, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin rank in the top third of all cities analyzed. Phoenix — the highest-ranking of the most populous cities — places 27th overall out of 138. It has an annual cost-of-living-adjusted median household income of $53,484 for young adults and a federal student loan burden of $12,567 per borrower, ranking 10th in this category. This is followed by the four Texas cities — Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston rank among the lowest for federal student loans, with an average amount per borrower of $12,933.

10 Largest Cities: Best for Young Adults

	City	Region	Final Score	Annual Median Household Income - Under 25 (COLI Adjusted)	Federal Student Loans - Outstanding Per Borrower (State Level)
1.	Phoenix, Arizona	West	66	$53,484	$12,567
2.	Austin, Texas	South	60	$42,158	$12,933
3.	Dallas, Texas	South	59	$34,074	$12,933
4.	San Antonio, Texas	South	58	$40,003	$12,933
5.	Houston, Texas	South	56	$37,165	$12,933
6.	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Northeast	33	$34,975	$16,049
7.	Chicago, Illinois	Midwest	30	$39,325	$15,373
8.	San Diego, California	West	23	$27,377	$13,322
9.	Los Angeles, California	West	19	$30,807	$13,322
10.	New York, New York	Northeast	3	$32,068	$16,001

Young Adults Leaving the Northeast for the South and West

From 2012 to 2022, the Northeast's young adult population decreased by nearly 10%, with all 11 cities analyzed in the region experiencing a negative trend. New York City and Philadelphia had the most significant declines, each losing 15% of their young adult population.

The high cost of living may have influenced this decline in the Northeast. Although the median household income for those 25 and younger in the Northeast is $41,515, this number drops to $36,377 after adjusting for the cost of living, making it the lowest among all regions. The region also struggles with a high, 9% young adult unemployment rate.

In contrast, the South and West have experienced a 3% to 4% increase in their young adult populations. After adjusting for living costs, young adults in the South have a median household income of $40,462. In the West, it’s $43,219 — two of the highest in the nation.

Notably, eight of the 10 cities with the highest cost-of-living-adjusted median household incomes for young adults are in the South or West, with Bellevue, Washington, leading at $102,255 annually. The South also has a lower young adult unemployment rate of 8%, while the West has a higher unemployment rate of 9%.

10 Year Shifts in Young Adult Populations Per Region

Region	Average 10 year Change- Young Adult Population [2012-2022]	Average of Median Household Income	Average of Median Household Income Adjusted for Cost of Living
Northeast	-9.6%	$41,515	$36,377
Midwest	-1.1%	$34,173	$36,678
South	3.4%	$39,254	$40,462
West	4.4%	$53,497	$43,219

Methodology

To determine the best cities in the U.S. where young adults can thrive, MoneyGeek analyzed 138 cities with populations over 100,000, focusing on topics such as economic opportunity and quality of life for adults under 25. Each metric was assigned a weight, which was used to calculate the final ranking. The metrics analyzed include:

Percentage of Total Householders Under 25: The percentage of total householders in the city under the age of 25. Data comes from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) and is for 2022 (full weight).
10-Year Change in the Number of Under 25 Householders (2012-2022): The change in the number of young adult householders from 2012 to 2022. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (half weight).
Percentage of Young Adults Cost Burdened by Rent: The percentage of young adult renters whose gross rent is 30% or more of their household income. Data is from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (half weight).
Percentage of Total Population Under 25: The percentage of the city’s total population under the age of 25. Data comes from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (full weight).
10-Year Change in Young Adult Population (2012-2022): The change in the number of young adults from 2012 to 2022. Data is from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (half weight).
Unemployment Rate for Ages 16 to 24 (2023): The state-level unemployment rate for individuals aged 16 to 24. Data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2023 (full weight).
Median Household Income for Householders Under 25 (Adjusted for Cost of Living): The median income for householders under 25, adjusted for the cost of living using the Council for Community and Economic Research’s (C2ER) 2024 cost of living index. Income data is from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (full weight).
Percentage of Young Adults Cost Burdened by Homeownership Costs: The percentage of young adult homeowners whose monthly ownership costs exceed 30% of household income. Data is from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (half weight).
Federal Student Loans – Dollars Outstanding Per Borrower: The average amount of federal student loan debt per borrower at the state level. Data is from the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office (full weight).
Food and Drink Establishments per 1,000 Population: The number of arts, entertainment, restaurants and drinking establishments per capita at the county level. Data is from the U.S. Census one-year American Community Survey(ACS) (half weight).

Full Dataset

Our data highlights the best cities for young adults. It examines factors like young adult income, the housing environment, living costs and student loan debt, as well as population and access to entertainment and dining. Explore the data that shaped our story below.

City, State	Final Score	Rank: % Households Under 25 (2022)	Rank: 10-Year Change in Households Under 25 (2012-2022)	Rank: Percent of Young Adults Cost Burdened By Rent (2022)	Rank: Population Under 25 (2022)	Rank: 10-Year Young Adult Population Change (2012-2022)	Rank: 16-24 Unemployment Rate (2023)	Rank: Median Income Under 25 Adjusted By Cost of Living (2022)	Rank: Percent of Young Adults Cost Burdened By Homeowner Costs (2022)	Rank: Federal Student Loans- Dollars Outstanding Per Borrower	Rank: Food & Drink Establishments per capita (2022)
Salt Lake City, UT	100	10	8	64	12	3	8	23	96	1	100
Abilene, TX	85	9	23	46	19	29	84	20	99	15	80
Des Moines, IA	84	21	12	4	33	9	34	27	71	90	72
Boise, ID	82	77	125	29	58	43	18	14	1	5	60
Las Cruces, NM	79	20	11	111	15	1	24	131	1	2	136
Amarillo, TX	78	49	95	34	54	51	84	11	28	15	21
Baton Rouge, LA	78	16	98	33	6	91	44	37	26	69	69
Lincoln, NE	78	15	56	75	16	19	1	61	118	67	73
Murfreesboro, TN	77	22	25	26	17	4	37	43	45	100	130
Springfield, MO	77	7	79	68	13	62	8	79	21	94	41
Round Rock, TX	76	37	1	122	35	18	84	36	1	15	125
Oklahoma City, OK	74	51	29	38	79	10	57	81	24	13	38
Fargo, ND	74	8	84	14	14	30	14	88	123	77	53
Waco, TX	74	3	46	42	5	20	84	114	47	15	112
Corpus Christi, TX	72	52	70	24	60	81	84	21	32	15	64
Omaha, NE	71	50	48	69	64	22	1	77	61	67	27
Chandler, AZ	71	101	18	10	87	23	69	5	31	10	119
Madison, WI	68	2	10	118	4	15	22	123	121	88	39
Brownsville, TX	68	86	5	74	21	13	84	73	1	15	133
Durham, NC	67	58	75	11	49	11	61	7	22	116	89
Tulsa, OK	67	40	83	51	80	69	57	50	64	13	45
Wichita, KS	67	43	65	15	46	37	14	76	90	64	99
Minneapolis, MN	67	17	42	127	27	45	6	98	35	98	54
Lubbock, TX	67	6	58	120	7	41	84	112	40	15	90
Kansas City, KS	66	84	82	12	76	47	14	3	43	64	135
Columbia, MO	66	4	85	70	3	52	8	132	38	94	75
Phoenix, AZ	66	88	71	27	61	46	69	17	51	10	119
Knoxville, TN	65	11	67	99	9	5	37	95	58	100	81
Tampa, FL	65	53	43	87	42	27	24	41	59	78	123
Topeka, KS	65	19	7	45	65	58	14	106	42	64	128
Kent, WA	65	98	36	80	69	32	109	16	1	36	14
Midland, TX	64	23	4	16	105	82	84	40	129	15	61
Arlington, TX	64	71	88	66	28	34	84	68	1	15	106
Arlington, VA	64	48	17	56	126	12	19	6	78	122	28
Tallahassee, FL	64	1	76	132	1	64	24	120	49	78	67
Charlotte, NC	63	63	19	55	70	16	61	25	48	116	33
Huntsville, AL	63	57	15	28	43	7	3	93	92	105	102
Atlanta, GA	63	42	60	63	32	59	51	28	105	91	76
Savannah, GA	62	26	80	22	26	96	51	127	1	91	11
Killeen, TX	61	61	127	57	38	44	84	18	73	15	131
Austin, TX	60	25	52	76	81	79	84	59	122	15	25
Dallas, TX	59	39	50	81	56	36	84	97	67	15	78
Indianapolis, IN	59	34	49	50	82	73	51	54	56	74	82
St. Paul, MN	58	38	89	91	52	104	6	46	54	98	85
Berkeley, CA	58	5	57	134	2	57	116	138	1	49	35
San Antonio, TX	58	54	44	100	44	56	84	67	60	15	118
Chattanooga, TN	58	70	61	6	111	105	37	8	23	100	66
Seattle, WA	57	31	16	72	112	25	109	60	91	36	14
Kansas City, MO	57	62	63	30	91	35	8	53	81	94	92
Fort Wayne, IN	57	67	41	25	78	53	51	49	52	74	116
Aurora, CO	56	105	81	88	72	14	77	22	20	44	87
Winston-Salem, NC	56	83	115	9	30	31	61	33	34	116	95
Lafayette, LA	56	18	28	82	68	134	44	91	88	69	22
Lexington, KY	56	14	35	131	24	66	57	115	84	86	26
Houston, TX	56	56	20	73	67	48	84	84	77	15	105
Plano, TX	55	124	92	7	124	72	84	2	1	15	74
Sunnyvale, CA	55	120	9	13	131	17	116	12	1	49	49
Reno, NV	54	36	54	95	74	78	131	64	62	6	47
Billings, MT	54	85	86	23	103	24	43	110	119	9	10
Raleigh, NC	53	47	97	67	31	38	61	47	94	116	71
Cincinnati, OH	52	12	34	104	20	39	72	101	132	108	42
Milwaukee, WI	52	41	108	41	29	108	22	100	72	88	88
Denver, CO	52	80	64	53	125	55	77	26	93	44	9
Eugene, OR	52	13	109	137	11	68	107	135	1	42	48
Little Rock, AR	52	55	51	8	77	101	50	133	1	63	62
Anaheim, CA	52	118	24	112	53	65	116	44	1	49	18
Jacksonville, FL	52	90	30	40	107	60	24	32	87	78	101
Richmond, VA	52	27	55	121	34	95	19	103	89	122	13
Chula Vista, CA	51	113	59	65	47	54	116	10	101	49	43
Birmingham, AL	51	30	33	107	50	100	3	111	63	105	97
Pueblo, CO	51	81	87	2	97	84	77	30	41	44	129
Fort Worth, TX	50	95	66	93	73	8	84	48	110	15	106
Beaumont, TX	50	24	22	78	84	128	84	128	1	15	115
Mesa, AZ	50	108	93	97	83	26	69	51	37	10	119
Columbus, OH	49	32	69	90	48	50	72	62	85	108	83
Nashville, TN	48	46	26	129	108	86	37	71	65	100	6
Bellevue, WA	48	131	110	5	132	40	109	1	50	36	14
Anchorage, AK	47	89	91	77	100	126	116	24	36	4	46
Colorado Springs, CO	47	44	32	136	86	93	77	55	69	44	104
Irvine, CA	47	92	31	85	25	2	116	116	117	49	18
Pittsburgh, PA	46	29	107	101	18	109	34	124	33	135	29
Tyler, TX	46	35	130	114	22	67	84	96	134	15	110
Spokane, WA	46	75	123	39	96	71	109	31	39	36	98
Las Vegas, NV	45	121	96	36	99	42	131	19	115	6	31
McAllen, TX	45	111	27	43	71	61	84	122	1	15	137
Orlando, FL	44	99	122	44	116	33	24	56	27	78	114
Alexandria, VA	42	106	2	32	138	70	19	29	134	122	37
Albuquerque, NM	42	87	118	86	88	94	24	99	114	2	91
Fort Lauderdale, FL	42	138	131	1	129	88	24	9	74	78	55
Irving, TX	42	103	101	113	102	28	84	52	75	15	78
Santa Ana, CA	42	116	14	108	37	132	116	66	68	49	18
San Jose, CA	42	126	38	19	94	77	116	39	79	49	49
Manchester, NH	42	102	53	3	113	114	13	4	125	128	96
Augusta, GA	42	76	74	103	39	75	51	58	103	91	127
Boston, MA	41	45	90	115	23	113	37	118	66	137	12
Grand Rapids, MI	40	28	106	49	45	117	77	57	111	114	103
Vancouver, WA	40	112	113	17	93	21	109	15	120	36	132
Louisville, KY	40	94	45	62	104	80	57	63	57	86	86
El Paso, TX	39	107	72	135	51	98	84	78	55	15	113
Rochester, NY	38	74	111	21	40	99	134	45	1	131	84
Rockford, IL	37	73	6	84	98	102	61	92	1	125	77
Syracuse, NY	35	33	103	98	10	85	134	119	1	131	56
Tacoma, WA	35	60	13	124	118	97	109	74	46	36	126
Clearwater, FL	33	110	105	138	119	6	24	89	104	78	23
Memphis, TN	33	68	78	96	95	129	37	82	30	100	122
Montgomery, AL	33	119	136	47	62	110	3	108	25	105	111
Philadelphia, PA	33	78	39	54	85	120	34	90	108	135	59
Miami, FL	33	123	40	61	128	49	24	85	131	78	70
Providence, RI	32	59	129	125	8	89	115	69	134	113	30
Evansville, IN	32	64	128	133	122	133	51	70	44	74	40
Lakewood, CO	31	104	124	128	114	92	77	13	134	44	63
Portland, OR	31	109	62	105	127	63	107	72	102	42	7
Chicago, IL	30	82	47	94	92	106	61	75	86	125	52
Cleveland, OH	29	65	73	31	89	130	72	121	76	108	57
Toledo, OH	26	66	119	35	75	131	72	113	97	108	58
Shreveport, LA	26	93	116	52	115	127	44	94	98	69	93
Charleston, SC	25	69	104	102	41	74	49	129	83	121	138
St. Petersburg, FL	25	136	138	92	130	124	24	38	133	78	23
St. Louis, MO	24	91	120	60	120	137	8	83	128	94	94
Long Beach, CA	24	114	112	117	59	111	116	105	107	49	3
New Orleans, LA	24	133	133	58	109	112	44	125	70	69	5
Baltimore, MD	23	117	99	18	106	135	61	34	100	120	117
San Diego, CA	23	96	94	116	57	107	116	117	116	49	43
Springfield, IL	23	132	132	20	117	90	61	109	1	125	17
Bakersfield, CA	23	130	134	37	55	76	116	87	95	49	134
Buffalo, NY	22	72	117	48	66	118	134	86	29	131	68
Henderson, NV	19	137	100	79	135	103	131	104	53	6	31
Los Angeles, CA	19	115	102	123	101	116	116	107	82	49	3
Jersey City, NJ	17	100	21	109	134	115	105	35	113	129	65
Oakland, CA	16	135	114	89	133	123	116	42	126	49	35
San Francisco, CA	16	125	121	83	136	125	116	65	127	49	2
Santa Clara, CA	16	97	3	130	123	83	116	136	134	49	49
Washington, D.C.	12	79	37	119	110	119	138	80	109	138	8
Metairie, LA	9	134	137	59	137	136	44	137	112	69	34
Dayton, OH	5	129	135	126	36	122	72	130	130	108	109
New York, NY	3	127	68	71	121	121	134	102	106	131	1
Newark, NJ	1	128	77	106	63	87	105	134	124	129	108
Detroit, MI	0	122	126	110	90	138	77	126	80	114	124

About Andre Pardillo

Andre Pardillo is a data journalist with several years of experience in the investment industry. He has worked as a financial and advisory data analyst for companies including Nasdaq and CTS Global, and has contributed to various data journalism projects, covering topics such as personal finance, mental health and human rights violations.

Pardillo holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Read Full Bio »

sources

Ernst and Young, LLP. "Financial Worry Is a Top Driver of Anxiety Among Gen Z, New EY Study Finds." Accessed November 27, 2024.
Education Data Initiative. "Average Student Loan Debt." Accessed November 27, 2024.