11 states represented in this shortlist.
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Ranking
Best Cities for New College Graduates
A young-professional ranking for 22-25 year old college graduates using population momentum, ACS rent/income/education/commute context where available, BLS state unemployment, city scale, career tags, schooling access, cost pressure, and lifestyle fit. Rankings are transparent research aids. Verify rent, wages, school programs, crime, commute, taxes, and neighborhood details before making a relocation decision.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota is first under this page's stated ordering.
Median transparent recent-grad fit score across the displayed cities.
$1,386 median rent among covered rows.
How to use this shortlist
A young-professional ranking for 22-25 year old college graduates using population momentum, ACS rent/income/education/commute context where available, BLS state unemployment, city scale, career tags, schooling access, cost pressure, and lifestyle fit. The order is a research screen, not a promise that the first city fits every household. Open a city profile, run the affordability calculator, and verify current housing, salary, neighborhood safety, school boundaries, taxes, insurance, and commute details before deciding.
| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | State starter | 87/100 | $1,035 | $75,970 | 213,748 | 2.5% | +10.90% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Tea, South Dakota | 2025 population #3741 | 87/100 | $1,220 | $120,139 | 8,019 | 2.0% | +42.74% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Eagle, Idaho | 2025 population #1202 | 86/100 | $1,765 | $122,894 | 34,658 | 2.0% | +11.19% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Spearfish, South Dakota | South Dakota coverage | 86/100 | $963 | $65,688 | 14,154 | 2.2% | +15.91% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Harrisburg, South Dakota | 2025 population #3125 | 86/100 | $1,362 | $108,724 | 10,405 | 1.0% | +54.47% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Providence, Utah | 2025 population #3313 | 86/100 | $1,560 | $118,072 | 9,539 | 1.1% | +15.81% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Hyde Park, Utah | 2025 population #4523 | 86/100 | $1,273 | $113,102 | 5,786 | 5.0% | +10.44% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Lehi, Utah | Utah coverage | 85/100 | $1,964 | $131,299 | 95,313 | 4.0% | +25.56% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Madison, Alabama | Alabama coverage | 85/100 | $1,453 | $134,655 | 67,968 | 2.2% | +19.43% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Bentonville, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 85/100 | $1,344 | $112,792 | 63,057 | 3.1% | +16.31% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Waukee, Iowa | 2025 population #1192 | 85/100 | $1,383 | $101,029 | 34,890 | 3.5% | +45.73% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Highland, Utah | 2025 population #1818 | 85/100 | $2,166 | $186,075 | 21,571 | 3.9% | +11.31% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Powell, Ohio | 2025 population #2085 | 85/100 | $2,194 | $195,495 | 18,269 | 2.0% | +28.14% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Grimes, Iowa | 2025 population #2168 | 85/100 | $1,251 | $120,037 | 17,405 | 1.9% | +12.17% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Verona, Wisconsin | 2025 population #2227 | 85/100 | $1,605 | $119,606 | 16,821 | 1.6% | +20.78% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Mapleton, Utah | 2025 population #2287 | 85/100 | $1,386 | $133,142 | 16,275 | 2.3% | +43.27% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Hobart, Wisconsin | 2025 population #2884 | 85/100 | $1,278 | $103,440 | 11,674 | 0.5% | +14.18% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Grandview Heights, Ohio | 2025 population #3437 | 85/100 | $1,750 | $117,672 | 9,112 | 1.2% | +12.67% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Rigby, Idaho | 2025 population #4531 | 85/100 | $1,180 | $85,056 | 5,757 | 2.2% | +14.25% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Fargo, North Dakota | State starter | 84/100 | $946 | $66,998 | 136,275 | 3.8% | +8.20% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Apex, North Carolina | 2025 population #463 | 84/100 | $1,902 | $144,135 | 80,419 | 3.8% | +24.94% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Ankeny, Iowa | Iowa coverage | 84/100 | $1,319 | $108,198 | 77,833 | 1.9% | +14.29% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Westfield, Indiana | 2025 population #599 | 84/100 | $1,667 | $122,789 | 66,258 | 2.8% | +42.66% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Spanish Fork, Utah | 2025 population #847 | 84/100 | $1,489 | $104,844 | 48,837 | 2.3% | +14.59% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Zionsville, Indiana | 2025 population #1240 | 84/100 | $1,792 | $172,024 | 33,624 | 2.8% | +10.05% | competitive | rent-friendly |