Research · Fortune Technology
Gen Z graduates’ best shot at good pay and homeownership isn’t in New York or L.A.—it’s Omaha and Dallas
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College graduates are turning their tassels and searching for cities with ample job opportunities as AI swipes white-collar roles.
Key facts
- Other cities include Grand Rapids (21.1%), Des Moines (19.8%), Wichita (18.4%), and Cincinnati (17%)
- While the Midwest city’s average annual early-career earnings are a bit lower than others, $59,123, the average price of a starter home is $195,000
- Omaha was ranked among the highest for young homebuyers, with 18.2% of homeowners under 35 years old
- Before the pandemic, Texas and Florida housed about 16.2% of financial services employment in the country, today that’s rapidly approaching 18%
Summary
The top 10 best big U.S. cities for recent college graduates have dropped—based on starting salaries and housing metrics—and some of the flashiest metropolises didn’t make the cut. While housing costs are high in the U.S. capital, the study says it offers a strong entry-level job market and culture around every corner. Other cities that made the list may come as a surprise to some—namely, the fact that Omaha came in at second place. “I’m currently helping a young couple move from North Carolina to Omaha,” Justin Gomez, a Redfin Premier agent in Omaha, said in the report.