Study Names Ann Arbor, Lincoln, Des Moines as Best Cities for New College Grads

A new report ranks Ann Arbor as the top mid-sized city for recent graduates, based on findings released RentCafe. The study checked 122 areas with populations above 300,000, measuring young adult presence, work opportunities, and living standards.

Lincoln and Des Moines took silver and bronze. Ann Arbor scored a perfect 100, with Gen Z making up around 10% of adults. The city's job market grew 2.01% last year.

"A lot of the top-ranking cities are either college towns or they are close to major universities, meaning there is a steady influx of young people joining their demographics," said RentCafe researcher Mihaela Buzec.

Young workers now buck the trend of moving to major cities. Data from the University of Virginia shows a striking shift - 63% of rural areas gained residents aged 25 to 44 between 2020 and 2023. That's up from just 27% in 2010-2013.

Lincoln stands out with its 10.4% Gen Z population - the highest among top cities. Jobs there grew 2.23%. The typical house price sits at $295,000.

Des Moines wins on cost. Houses there run about $222,000. The city saw jobs jump 2.95%, while Gen Z makes up 7.31% of adults.

Boston and Portland, Maine round out the top five. Boston shines with its 30-plus colleges. Portland draws praise for its coastal charm and growing work scene.

"We cannot disregard the familiarity factor," Buzec noted. "Fresh graduates who moved to college towns for university likely feel a sense of belonging to the community they called home during the college years."

Spots six through ten went to Fayetteville, Albany, Washington D.C., Huntsville, and Seattle. Each city brings unique perks - from strong job markets to rich activities to fair prices.

Home costs swing wildly across top cities. Des Moines starts at $222,000. Seattle tops the list at $880,000. This spread shows cost wasn't the only factor that mattered.