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

Updated: October 11, 2024

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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.

Rank
City
Difference in Middle-Income Households (2017–22)
Middle-Income Households (2022)
Middle Income Floor (2022)
Middle Income Ceiling (2022)
Population (2022)

1

Springdale, AR

-12.0%

43.2%

$39,351

$118,054

85844

2

Carmel, IN

-10.7%

41.0%

$86,888

$260,664

101286

3

Rockville, MD

-9.7%

37.2%

$70,892

$212,676

66915

4

Yorba Linda, CA

-9.3%

42.0%

$101,023

$303,068

67077

5

The Woodlands, TX

-9.2%

35.0%

$91,557

$274,670

117970

6

Union City, CA

-8.8%

38.4%

$98,973

$296,920

67049

7

Bellflower, CA

-8.6%

37.5%

$49,421

$148,262

76405

8

Castro Valley, CA

-8.2%

38.0%

$88,857

$266,570

66506

About Andre Pardillo


Andre Pardillo headshot

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.


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