Graduating from college is a significant achievement and a major milestone. While graduation day is a celebratory occasion, the days and months leading up to and following the ceremony can cause plenty of anxiety. Between cramming for finals, trying to line up a job, and figuring out where to live, there are numerous reasons for recent grads to feel overwhelmed.
However, there is still room for new grads to breathe. Luckily, numerous cities across the country offer appealing conditions that make post-grad life rewarding. We’ve evaluated the largest 100 cities nationwide based on their lifestyle benefits, job opportunities, and affordability to discover the best cities for new graduates this year.
Top 10 Cities for New Grads in 2025
1. Arlington, VA
Alrington is the best city for new college grads in 2025. Arlington boasts the highest lifestyle and job rankings, where residents will appreciate a median yearly salary of $98,781. There is a high population of degree-holders in the city, where 78% of people ages 18 to 34 have their Bachelor’s. While the city is expensive, with a median two-bedroom rent of $4,077, the high earnings can offset the cost of living.
2. Seattle, WA
Seattle is the second-best city for college grads in 2025. While the cost of living is higher in this area than in most on our list, it offers plenty of job opportunities and lifestyle benefits. The city boasts a low unemployment rate, and nearly a third of the jobs offer the option to work from home. While the median two-bedroom apartment rents for a relatively high price of $2,795/month, those with a Bachelor’s degree in the city earn a median of $93,101 yearly.
3. Madison, WI
Madison is also an appealing city for new grads this year. Renters in this area can expect to spend $1,815 monthly on a two-bedroom apartment. The city offers low unemployment rates, and many people live near work, spending under 20 minutes on their commute. Additionally, the city boasts a high concentration of residents between the ages of 18 and 34, providing ample opportunities for newcomers to make friends and date.
4. Denver, CO
Denver comes in fourth on our list this year. While it has advantageous lifestyle conditions, it also includes a healthy job market. Career-focused graduates can earn a median of $77,213 in this city, and more than half of the residents between the ages of 18 and 34 hold a Bachelor’s degree. The city also offers lower rent, where a two-bedroom apartment goes for a median of $1,895.
5. San Francisco
San Francisco is a desirable city for new graduates due to strong job prospects and positive lifestyle benefits. The city has the second-highest job ranking nationwide, and those with Bachelor’s degrees can expect to earn $109,016 yearly. However, rent can be pricey in this area, with a median monthly rent of $4,558 for a two-bedroom apartment.
6. Fremont
Fremont is the second California city to make its way onto the Top 10 List. In this city, renters can expect to spend $3,000 on a two-bedroom apartment. Similar to San Francisco, Fremont offers an appealing lifestyle and job opportunities. Over 30% of jobs offer work-from-home arrangements. However, the city has a drastic difference in unemployment between the sexes, where the male unemployment rate is 3.7%, compared to the female rate of 5%.
7. Austin, TX
Austin is the seventh-best city for new graduates in 2025. This city is appealing for its lifestyle benefits and job market, but it is pricier than other cities on our Top 10 List. Renters can expect to spend $2,187 monthly on a two-bedroom apartment. There are numerous opportunities for residents to find work-from-home jobs, and those who do commute spend under 25 minutes getting to work.
8. Scottsdale, AZ
New graduates can consider moving to Scottsdale to take advantage of the high lifestyle appeal and strong job prospects. Those with a Bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $83,397 yearly in this city, and those who work in person have a short commute time of 21 minutes. However, the city has a more expensive housing market, where renters spend $3,200 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment.
9. Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert comes in ninth on our Top 10 List, where those with a Bachelor’s degree earn a median of $81,596 yearly. The city offers an appealing lifestyle and strong job opportunities, with unemployment rates of 2.2% for men and 2.7% for women. Those looking to rent an apartment can spend $2,195 monthly on a two-bedroom unit.
10. Chandler, AZ
Chandler rounds out the Top 10 List this year, and is the third Arizona city in the top rankings. Apartments in this city offer a lower rent price compared to others on the list, where renters will spend $2,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. There are plenty of dating opportunities for singles, and those with a Bachelor’s degree can earn a median of $77,068 yearly.
New York City is the Worst for New Graduates
Newark is the worst city for new graduates in 2025 due to its low lifestyle and job rankings. The city features a higher unemployment rate than most, with 9.2% and 11.4% for males and females, respectively. Additionally, there are limited work-from-home opportunities, and those who work in the office spend 33 minutes getting to work. However, Newark does offer opportunities for renters to work in New York City, offering the chance to increase their earnings.
Unfortunately, New York City’s high cost of living makes it a difficult city for new graduates. Those with a Bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $76,537 yearly. However, the median two-bedroom rent throughout the city is $5,500, making it the most expensive rental market nationwide. While the city has a large population of people between the ages of 18 and 34, it doesn’t offer strong dating prospects.
New Grads Still Flock to Low-Ranking Cities
Despite a high cost of living, many graduates take the plunge and move to New York City each year. New graduates can offset some of the high costs of living by choosing to rent with roommates or live in less popular neighborhoods.
Many popular cities offer competitive environments that can make it difficult for new residents to find their footing. Los Angeles (#92 in the rankings) and Chicago (#61 in the rankings) also feature high rents, and those with a Bachelor’s degree will not make as much as they could in high-earning cities like Fremont, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Top 10 Cities by Lifestyle Score
The following chart shows the rankings for the top ten cities for new grads based on their lifestyle and benefits scores.
Top 10 Cities by Job Market
The following chart shows the rankings for the top ten cities for new grads based on their job market.
Methodology
To find the best cities for newly college graduates, the RentHop team compared the top 100 most populated cities in the U.S. based on (1) jobs market, (2) lifestyle & benefits, and (3) housing. The index covers the following metrics:
Jobs Market (40 points)
- Percentage with a Bachelor’s Degree among the population aged 18 to 34 (12 points)
- Local unemployment rate(14 points)
- Median earnings of the city’s population aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree (14 points)
Lifestyle & Benefits (40 points)
- Percentage of population working from home, WFH (10 points)
- Average commuting time to work (10 points)
- Percentage of population insured through employer-based insurance (10 points)
- Concentration of food establishments (5 points)
- Dating opportunities, based on RentHop’s best cities for single young professionals index (5 points)
Housing Cost (20 points)
- Median two-bedroom rent (20 points)
