College graduates are turning their tassels and searching for cities with ample job opportunities as AI swipes white-collar roles. But popular hotspots like New York City and Los Angeles may not be their best bet—they may have better luck kick-starting their adult lives in less glitzy cities.
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. Washington, D.C., is ranked No. 1 for the budding professionals, according to a recent report from Glassdoor and Redfin; average annual early-career earnings in D.C. rest at $79,857, the median price of a starter home is $320,000, and monthly rent accounts for about 34% of income.
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. 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 just $195,000. Aside from more affordable homeownership, the report notes that Omaha is a hub for massive companies like Berkshire Hathaway, and offers better work-life balance than other fast-paced cities.
“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. “People move here from many different parts of the country because there’s a great community for the younger crowd … And with a lot of homes selling for under $300,000, young grads actually have a shot at purchasing a house.”
Boston came in third, thanks to having the list’s highest early-career earnings of $80,026 and ample job opportunities. And large cities in Texas are also prime hubs for young workers, with Dallas, Houston, and Austin earning a spot on this year’s list. As more Fortune 500 companies have been flooding to the southern tax-friendly state, they’re bringing junior-level jobs with them—and the cities have no shortage of entertainment for Gen Zers. Meanwhile, buzzy spots New York City and L.A. didn’t even place on this year’s list.
Why Gen Zers are flocking to Nebraska and Texas
The American Dream of landing a high-paying job out of college and settling down in a house has increasingly become out of reach—so some are uprooting their lives for greener pastures over concrete jungles.
The Midwest has risen in popularity thanks to its better affordability; living costs in the region can be at least 30% cheaper than in big coastal cities like New York City and L.A. As a matter of fact, seven of the 10 most accessible metros for young homeowners are in the Midwest, according to a 2025 ConsumerAffairs analysis of U.S. Census Bureau and Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) data.
Omaha was ranked among the highest for young homebuyers, with 18.2% of homeowners under 35 years old. Other cities include Grand Rapids (21.1%), Des Moines (19.8%), Wichita (18.4%), and Cincinnati (17%). And the trend largely stems from comparatively rock-bottom housing costs in the area. The median home costs around $200,000 to $275,000 in many Midwest cities, while the U.S. median is over $400,000, Danielle Andrews, a realtor with Realty One Group Next Generation, told Fortune last year.
States down south are also a growing bright spot for young graduates. Florida and Texas have become the new hubs for Gen Z talent right out of college, according to a 2025 study from JLL Research. And that’s largely because there’s been an explosion of major companies moving their operations to the states since 2020—in part owing to the regions’ business-friendly tax policies. And they’re bringing new jobs with them.
“Finance firms relocating to Miami or Dallas since the pandemic began are having a meaningful impact on the distribution of job availability,” Jacob Rowden, senior manager of U.S. office research at JLL, told Fortune last year. “Before the pandemic, Texas and Florida housed about 16.2% of financial services employment in the country, today that’s rapidly approaching 18%. That 2% shift reflects almost 2 million jobs, so it’s a robust and significant improvement in local labor markets.”
The top 10 best big cities for recent college graduates
Here are the best cities for recent college graduates in 2026, according to a recent report from Glassdoor and Redfin.
- Washington, D.C.
- Omaha
- Boston
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Houston
- St. Louis
- San Diego
- Miami
- Austin
