Looking for the best places to move to after college?
Look no more as this article reveals 25 of the best places and tips to help you decide to move!
Table of Contents
Why Best Places to Move after College?
Why not, right?
The strains of pomp and circumstance have drifted away and the tassles on the cap have been moved to the appropriate side, the parties have been enjoyed and you continually pinch yourself as you gaze upon diploma.
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Now a series of additional questions are being raised that are even harder than the ones that you answered when going through school.
These are all legitimate questions and most likely were addressed even prior to graduation but if not, they are now being asked or need to be followed through on.
Another important question is where am I going to move to or are there best places than others to move to know that I’ve graduated?
Substituting your graduation cap for your thinking cap let us look at opportunities or places that may be the best options to move following your graduation.
25 Best Tips & Places to Move After College
1. Goal
Being the goal oriented individual that you are, you have achieved a major milestone in your life.
Following high school, your goal was to go to college, study an additional four years, and major in a particular field of endeavor.
Each of those four individual years were successfully completed based on the reality that you set goals and achieved those goals.
Now, it is important to follow through on the continual goals that you have set for your life.
Those goals being where to move to, what sort of job you would be looking for, and most likely mapping out your life in increments of one, five, and 10 years.
Therefore, it is important to follow your goals that you have set for yourself and look at those best places to move in keeping with those goals that you have set for your life.
2. Budget
Another important factor as it relates to where you wish to move to after college is in keeping with your budget.
A budget is important because it outlines what financial resources you have available and therefore what financial resources you have to spend.
In considering where to move to after college it is important to keep that budget in mind as it relates to affordability, the cost of living, job prospects, etc.
This can be accomplished by searching online to find out what the various cost-of-living statistics are with a variety of cities as well as accessing a cost-of-living calculator.
Such a cost-of-living calculator can be found at www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator.
3. Strategy
Once you have a goal in mind and it is with in your budget either in the present moment or in the near future, it is important to develop a strategy.
That strategy may be a move that occurs within the next few weeks, or it can be a strategy that has a goal in mind of a year out or more.
It is important to remember that there is no rush or hurry, and it is just important to develop a strategy and stay within the confines of that strategy.
4. Home
Another option of the best place to move to after college is to return home.
There is no shame in exercising this option.
By returning home, it will give you a chance to take a respite from your successful hard work in earning your degree, take an opportunity to clear your heart and mind as it relates to your future, take a few moments to catch your breath and take it all in, save some money, etc.
5. Gainesville Florida
The demographics of Gainesville indicate that almost 30% of the population would be classified as young adults.
Additionally, it is estimated that almost 29% of those young adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Gainesville is a good spot to move to after graduation as the unemployment rate, recently, was registered at 5.1%.
Added to the mix is that the cost of living is less expensive than the national average and the average annual salary for a young adult is $20,000.
6. Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Nebraska is the capital city of Nebraska, and it is the location of the University of Nebraska.
As a good place to move to following college graduation is the fact that it has a low unemployment rate amongst young adults.
The percentage of the young adult population in Lincoln is 24.6% and young adults comprise the population at a percentage of 29.4%.
Added to the mix is the fact that Lincoln, Nebraska has a low unemployment rate and a cost-of-living percentage that is significantly less than the average city in America.
The average earnings for young adults are $28,000 a year.
7. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul combines to have a large percentage of young adults with degrees.
The young adult segment of the population in this large metropolitan complex is estimated to be at 36%.
Also, the unemployment rate is less than 5% and the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average.
The young adult average earnings per year is $32,000.
8. Burlington, Vermont
The University of Vermont is located in Burlington and has a significant ratio of young adults to other age demographics.
It is estimated that one out of every four adults is considered to be a young adult and the percentage of young people that have a bachelor’s degree or higher is estimated to be 33%.
The unemployment rate for the young adult population is less than 5% and the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average
The average salary for a young person living in this city in Vermont is $30,000.
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9. Midland, Texas
In West Texas, is the city of Midland, Texas.
Midland Texas is part of the Permian Basin and has extensive oil fields.
The young adult percentage of the demographics of the residents of Midland is 24% and 22% of the young adults have a have earned a bachelor’s degree.
The young adult unemployment rate is estimated to be 6% and the cost of living is barely above the national average.
The median income for a young adult in Midland, Texas, is $45,000.
10. Columbia, Missouri
The city of Columbia, Missouri is home to the University of Missouri and as such has a large young adult population.
In fact, the percentage of young adults to the other age demographics is at 30%.
Young adults in this city have earned a bachelor’s degree and represent 32% of the population.
The unemployment rate was recently listed as 7% and the cost of living is significantly less than the national average
A young adult earns, on the average, $22,000 per year.
11. Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The demographics of this southern city indicate that a high proportion of young adults have a bachelor’s degree.
Specifically, young adults who have a bachelor’s degree are close to 40%.
Overall, the young adult population comprises 20% of the total adult base of the city.
The unemployment rate amongst young adults is fairly low and is at 4% and the cost of living for the residents of this city is close to 4% less expensive than the average nationally.
It is estimated that the median earnings for a young adult hovers around $31,000.
12. Washington, DC
The exciting city of Washington, DC, home of our nation’s government, is particularly beneficial to young adults.
The average median earnings for a young adult is $39,000.
However, one must quickly realize that the cost of living is significantly higher in this city.
The young adult population is estimated to be 21% and over 41% of the young adults have a bachelor’s degree.
The unemployment rate of the young adult population in the nation’s capital is 6% and the average cost of living is almost 19% higher than the national average.
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13. Seattle, Washington
In the great Northwest of our continental United States lies the state of Washington.
Specifically, the city of Seattle is headquarters to major technology companies such as Microsoft and Amazon.
As one would expect, the Seattle area has a large number of young adults who have earned a bachelor’s degree.
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That percentage is at roughly 36%.
The percentage of young people in Seattle is estimated to be 23% and the young adult unemployment rate is 5.3%.
The cost of living is higher and settles in at 12% above the national average.
The average young adult annual salary is $38,000.
14. Des Moines, Iowa
The combination of a low unemployment rate and high annual salary for young adults makes Des Moines, Iowa an ideal place to relocate after college.
Specifically, the young adult population for Des Moines is at 21%, those young adults with a bachelor’s degree are estimated to be 34% and the unemployment rate amongst young adults is 3.2%.
The cost of living for this city in Iowa is 6.5% less than the national average and the young adult earnings is, on average, $35,000.
15. Austin, Texas
The capital of the state of Texas is Austin and is home to the University of Texas.
The percentage of young people in this high-energy city is 24.2% and 35% of the young adults have earned a bachelor’s degree.
The unemployment rate for those classified as young adults is 4% and the cost of living is a half a percentage above the national average.
The average earnings for young adults in the city of Austin are $31,800.
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16. Denver, Colorado
Denver Colorado is a magnet for millennials, especially those looking to relocate from California and from the eastern seaboard.
The young adult population of the mile high city is 22.4% and young adults within the community have a bachelor’s degree representing 37% of the young adult population.
The unemployment rate for young adults is at 4% and the cost of living is 6% higher than the national average.
The average median earnings for young adults per year is $35,000.
17. Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas as a young adult demographic comprises 32.2% of the population of this Western city.
Those young adults that have earned a bachelor’s degree comprise 28.7% of the young adults and the unemployment rate is slightly below 5%.
The cost of living for Lawrence Kansas is over 8% higher than the national average and the average annual salary for young adult is $22,000.
18. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Massachusetts is a haven for educated young adults.
It is estimated that the young adults in the community who have a bachelor’s degree is represented at 43%.
The young adult population of the community is at 22% and the unemployment rate for this metid is a little over 5%.
The cost of living is considerably higher in Boston and is reflected at almost 12% over the national average.
The average earnings per year for young adults is $36,000
19. Ann Arbor, Michigan
The University of Michigan resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the young adult population percentage in comparison to other demographics is at 27%.
Young adults who have a bachelor’s degree is reflected in by a 38% figure and the young adult unemployment rate is at 4%.
The cost of living is a little less than 2% over the national average and the average earnings for young adults on a yearly basis is $26,000.
20. San Francisco, California
The city by the Bay, and one in which a number of individuals leave their heart, is also synonymous with the heart of Silicon Valley.
It will come as no surprise for you to know that San Francisco has the second highest share of young adults that have earned their bachelor’s degree.
Also, conversely, the Bay Area has the second highest cost of living.
The young adults comprise 22% of the young adult population and almost 45% of the young adults living in this area have earned their bachelor’s degree.
The unemployment rate hovers around 5% and the cost of living is 28% more than the national average.
However, the average median salary for a young adult is $40,000 per year.
21. Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota, in addition to severe winter weather, has the two extremes as it relates to unemployment and median earnings.
Specifically, the unemployment rate for Bismarck, North Dakota is 2.6% and the median earnings for the young adult is at $38,000 per year.
The young adults comprise 21.3% of the adult population, young adults that have earned a bachelor’s degree is at 34%.
22. Iowa City, Iowa
The young adult population of the city of Iowa City, Iowa is at almost 30%.
The young adults that have a bachelor’s degree is at 36% and the young adult unemployment rate is at 5%.
The average cost of living is below the national average by almost 6% with the young adult average earnings per year being $25,000.
23. Ithaca, New York
Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York.
The young adult population is at 30% of the resident population of Ithaca and young adults with a bachelor’s degree is at 38%.
The unemployment rate for a young adult living in this city is at 3.7% and the cost of living is 7.0% higher than the national average.
The average wage earned for a young adult is at $25,000 per year.
24. San Jose, California
San Jose California is synonymous with the Silicon Valley.
It comes as no surprise that the city of San Jose has the highest share of young adults that have earned a bachelor’s degree and is rated as the second highest in median income earned yearly.
Specifically, the young adult population of the residents of San Jose is at 22% and those that have a bachelor’s degree is at 47%.
The unemployment rate for the young adult in the city of San Jose is at 4.8% and the cost of living is almost 31% higher than the national average.
As it relates to wages, the average young adult can expect to earn $43,700 per annum.
25. Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin is the state capital of America’s Dairyland state and is the hub of significant college activities.
Madison is known for its beauty, being sandwiched between two lakes, significant recreational opportunities and a vibrant college campus.
The average median income for a young person under the age of 25 is $26,073.
Personal Story
My wife has two daughters.
They are as different as night and day.
Neither good nor bad…just different.
The oldest put herself through school by working, and receiving a number of grants but it seemed as if she always had a direction, purpose, and was goal oriented
Therefore, when my wife told me that when her oldest daughter graduated from college it was roughly 2 or three days later from the commencement ceremonies that she had packed up all of her belonging, rented a trailer, attached it to her car and off she went east to the Dallas Metroplex.
She had a goal, was driven, knew where she wanted to be, and never looked back.
Best Places to Live after College FAQs
What Are the Advantages of Moving Back Home After Graduation?
The primary advantage of a college graduate moving back home is financial.
Often, a college graduate has been living on a shoestring budget and to return home to the friendly environment of one’s parents is not only comforting but also can help the graduate to get financial footing.
Another advantage in moving back home is to further solidify the parental relationship and brings the added dimension of an adult child living with adult parents.
What is the Downside of Moving Back Home After Graduation?
The downside might be the potential adjustment that needs to happen after being out on your own for the last four years and now coming back to the home environment.
With that move may come a loss of privacy and the feeling of being independent.
Also, one cannot help but think about what others may be saying about the member of the family going off to school, getting their education and then once that’s been completed give the impression that they are getting back to the home environment as quick as they can.
Conclusion
You may have been living at home and going to school or you may have been living in a dormitory while completing your degree.
Up until this point, your life, it seems, has been one major decision after another.
Now, another decision looms before you.
That decision that needs to be made is where to live now that you have finished college?
Most likely you didn’t take a course on how to choose what place to live that meets your needs as an individual, pursuing a career path, provided a decent salary and a place that offers the quality of life that you are looking for.
There are not many classes that can prepare an individual to make such decisions.
However, your education continues, and the red carpet is rolled out to you to leave your college campus and enter into the classroom of life.
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