50 Best Cities for New College Grads
Where should recent graduates head next as they exit the dorms and enter the real world?
Though a surprising number of West Coast cities ranked among the best for recent graduates in a new MoneyLion analysis, Midwestern cities maintained peak visibility. Arlington Heights, Illinois, received first-place honors, and five Midwest cities appeared in the top 10.
The analysis factored each location’s monthly rent, median household income and unemployment rate among ages 20 to 24 to ensure an ideal fit for young people.
Qualifying cities for this study were required to have median household incomes above the national average of $80,724, a total population of at least 50,000, an average rent cost lower than the statewide average rent cost, and an unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24 lower than the statewide average unemployment rate for that age range.
Key Findings
Arlington Heights snagged the top spot. The suburb of Chicago boasted the lowest unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24 at 0.8% and a substantial median household income of $116,723.
Close to two dozen California cities were named the best for recent grads, the most of any state. The cities are Rocklin (#3), Upland (#15), Hayward (#17), San Leandro (#23), Jurupa Valley (#24), Lodi (#25), Downey (#31), Clovis (#32), Redlands (#33), Fairfield (#34), Whittier (#35), Concord (#36), Salinas (#37), Lake Elsinore (#38), Citrus Heights (#39), Pico Rivera (#42), Sacramento (#43), Monterey Park (#45), Manteca (#46), Rancho Cordova (#47), Richmond (#49) and Long Beach (#50).
21 cities boast rent under $2,000 per month. The two cheapest cities for rent are in Utah: Murray ($1,346) and Orem ($1,453).
16 cities have median household incomes of $100,000+. Five of these cities also appeared in the top 10: Eagan, Minnesota ($108,690); Shoreline, Washington ($112,751); Methuen, Massachusetts ($113,310); Arlington Heights ($116,723) and Rocklin ($124,168).
These are the 50 best cities for new college graduates in 2026.
1. Arlington Heights, Illinois
Total population: 76,005
Median household income: $116,723
Average monthly rent: $1,867
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 0.8%
2. Eagan, Minnesota
Total population: 68,000
Median household income: $108,690
Average monthly rent: $1,622
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.6%
3. Rocklin, California
Total population: 73,327
Median household income: $124,168
Average monthly rent: $2,415
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 2.9%
4. Murray, Utah
Total population: 50,188
Median household income: $90,746
Average monthly rent: $1,346
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.5%
5. Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Total population: 63,468
Median household income: $88,251
Average monthly rent: $1,556
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4%
6. Joliet, Illinois
Total population: 150,445
Median household income: $92,201
Average monthly rent: $1,520
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 5.9%
7. Orem, Utah
Total population: 97,182
Median household income: $83,342
Average monthly rent: $1,453
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4%
8. Methuen, Massachusetts
Total population: 53,475
Median household income: $113,310
Average monthly rent: $2,419
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.5%
9. Shoreline, Washington
Total population: 61,431
Median household income: $112,751
Average monthly rent: $2,011
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8%
10. Waukesha, Wisconsin
Total population: 71,233
Median household income: $83,837
Average monthly rent: $1,510
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.4%
11. Lakewood, Colorado
Total population: 156,583
Median household income: $89,792
Average monthly rent: $1,760
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 5.9%
12. Oak Park, Illinois
Total population: 53,292
Median household income: $110,820
Average monthly rent: $2,032
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 9.9%
13. Elgin, Illinois
Total population: 114,934
Median household income: $90,282
Average monthly rent: $1,846
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.1%
14. Burien, Washington
Total population: 51,513
Median household income: $91,318
Average monthly rent: $1,777
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.2%
15. Upland, California
Total population: 79,257
Median household income: $105,830
Average monthly rent: $2,381
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.3%
16. Everett, Washington
Total population: 111,845
Median household income: $83,512
Average monthly rent: $1,885
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.6%
17. Hayward, California
Total population: 158,801
Median household income: $113,318
Average monthly rent: $2,571
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.7%
18. Suffolk, Virginia
Total population: 98,796
Median household income: $92,666
Average monthly rent: $1,915
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.5%
19. Glen Burnie, Maryland
Total population: 72,590
Median household income: $88,280
Average monthly rent: $1,674
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.4%
20. Framingham, Massachusetts
Total population: 72,399
Median household income: $107,419
Average monthly rent: $2,303
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.7%
21. Pasco, Washington
Total population: 79,575
Median household income: $85,586
Average monthly rent: $1,820
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.8%
22. Federal Way, Washington
Total population: 99,493
Median household income: $86,909
Average monthly rent: $1,876
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.7%
23. San Leandro, California
Total population: 87,826
Median household income: $101,420
Average monthly rent: $2,437
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6%
24. Jurupa Valley, California
Total population: 107,011
Median household income: $97,550
Average monthly rent: $2,500
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.6%
25. Lodi, California
Total population: 67,607
Median household income: $88,530
Average monthly rent: $2,031
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.1%
26. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Total population: 456,349
Median household income: $92,968
Average monthly rent: $1,973
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8%
27. Haverhill, Massachusetts
Total population: 67,698
Median household income: $88,326
Average monthly rent: $2,270
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 4.4%
28. Manchester, New Hampshire
Total population: 115,643
Median household income: $81,007
Average monthly rent: $1,996
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 5.1%
29. Lacey, Washington
Total population: 57,737
Median household income: $90,625
Average monthly rent: $1,996
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.8%
30. Vancouver, Washington
Total population: 195,300
Median household income: $81,338
Average monthly rent: $1,770
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.7%
31. Downey, California
Total population: 110,939
Median household income: $90,699
Average monthly rent: $2,241
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.4%
32. Clovis, California
Total population: 124,725
Median household income: $99,241
Average monthly rent: $2,302
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.7%
33. Redlands, California
Total population: 73,375
Median household income: $105,041
Average monthly rent: $2,369
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 10.1%
34. Fairfield, California
Total population: 120,785
Median household income: $101,895
Average monthly rent: $2,425
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 9.2%
35. Whittier, California
Total population: 86,165
Median household income: $97,201
Average monthly rent: $2,370
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.4%
36. Concord, California
Total population: 124,035
Median household income: $108,709
Average monthly rent: $2,512
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 10.9%
37. Salinas, California
Total population: 161,761
Median household income: $91,908
Average monthly rent: $2,543
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.1%
38. Lake Elsinore, California
Total population: 72,461
Median household income: $101,888
Average monthly rent: $2,559
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.8%
39. Citrus Heights, California
Total population: 86,995
Median household income: $82,314
Average monthly rent: $1,854
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 9.6%
40. Malden, Massachusetts
Total population: 65,906
Median household income: $100,606
Average monthly rent: $2,602
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.5%
41. Washington, D.C.
Total population: 681,294
Median household income: $109,870
Average monthly rent: $2,436
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 12.9%
42. Pico Rivera, California
Total population: 60,272
Median household income: $88,201
Average monthly rent: $2,321
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 8.1%
43. Sacramento, California
Total population: 528,706
Median household income: $87,321
Average monthly rent: $1,995
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 10.7%
44. Peabody, Massachusetts
Total population: 54,695
Median household income: $96,657
Average monthly rent: $2,766
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.2%
45. Monterey Park, California
Total population: 59,132
Median household income: $81,855
Average monthly rent: $2,393
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 6.5%
46. Manteca, California
Total population: 89,043
Median household income: $97,055
Average monthly rent: $2,539
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 9.7%
47. Rancho Cordova, California
Total population: 81,849
Median household income: $89,585
Average monthly rent: $2,170
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 10.8%
48. Bayonne, New Jersey
Total population: 71,553
Median household income: $83,887
Average monthly rent: $2,389
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 7.5%
49. Richmond, California
Total population: 115,505
Median household income: $95,391
Average monthly rent: $2,568
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 9.2%
50. Long Beach, California
Total population: 455,548
Median household income: $87,430
Average monthly rent: $2,277
City unemployment rate (ages 20-24): 10.1%
Methodology: MoneyLion analyzed cities across the United States to find the best cities for college grads. First MoneyLion isolated cities with at least 50,000 total population, as sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 ACS. For each city, the total population, total households, unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24, as well as the statewide average unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24, were sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 ACS. The average rent for each city was sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index. The statewide average rent cost was sourced from RentCafe. To qualify for this study, the city must have a median household income above the national average median household income of $80,724, a total population of at least 50,000, an average cost of rent lower than the statewide average rent cost, and the unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24 lower than the statewide average unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24. The unemployment rate for ages 20 to 24 was scored and weighted at 1.00, the median household income was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the average cost of rent was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best places to live for college grads. All data is up to date as of April 22, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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