The apartment search platform Zumper has come out with a national list of best cities for new graduates. Their recent report analyzed 260 cities across the US, using the latest Census numbers and Zumper’s own rental data, which is comprised of millions of listings.
In the Southeast region, Baton Rouge ranked #2 and Lafayette ranked #3, beating out Baltimore, MD and Virginia Beach, VA, and falling closely behind Washington, D.C. New Orleans and Shreveport were also ranked in the national study. Full Louisiana rankings are below:
- Baton Rouge – #26 nationally, received an “A” grade in the study. Scored in the top 20% of cities for amenities and single population. Also strong in total millennial population and low rent burden (income vs. rent prices).
- Lafayette – #27 nationally, received an “A” grade. Top 20% in country for low rent burden. Ranked well for almost every other factor – millennial population, young professional income, amenities, and dating.
- Shreveport – #114 nationally, received a “B” grade. Strong single population, low rent burden. Fell short on young professional income.
- New Orleans – #116 nationally, received a “B” grade. Top 10% in country for amenities, and top 15% for young single population. High rent burden as incomes were undersized compared with rent prices.
“As millions of students finish college and enter the workforce this year, many will be faced with the difficult decision of where to live,” says Zumper. “Every city is unique from job prospects to rent prices, leaving grads pondering about the optimal place to settle down.”
Zumper analyzed each city by six criteria, including:
- Millennial population
- Young professional income
- Amenities, nightlife, restaurant and bars
- Employment rate
- Population single/never married
- Rent prices
The top five cities on the national list are Madison, WI, Austin, TX, Columbus, OH, Salt Lake City, UT, and Boston, MA.
Read the full report and rankings here.