The 10 Best Cities For Recent Grads

Newly graduated and ready for a change of scenery? According to CareerRookie and Apartments.com, the best city for recent grads is Hartford-New Haven, Conn.

On its heels are Cleveland, Boston and Denver.

CareerRookie and Apartments.com ranked the best cities for young professionals based on each city's population of young adults between the ages of 20 and 24, number of jobs stipulating less than a year of experience and the average rent of a one-bedroom apartment.

Do you agree with this list? Can you vouch for a different city? Let us know in the comments section.

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Comments

[Nickfrancis]

07:05 PM on 09/17/2011

cleveland holler! go browns!

[ricchh]

10:52 AM on 09/16/2011

This is a joke. There are no jobs in Connecticut, especially Hartford.

[Talia Sukol]

03:51 PM on 09/15/2011

Cleveland is a great city to live in post-college. There's art, music, farmers' markets, parks, and good people. There's a bar scene and good food. I moved back to Cleveland after college and can attest to all it has to offer.

[Ameera Primm]

11:04 AM on 09/15/2011

Why is Boston on this list? Almost $1700 for rent every month? Pfft. Unless your major is Picking Money off Trees i don't think students will be living there right after graduation when that student loan deferment comes in.

[Michael Hagesfeld]

10:51 AM on 09/15/2011

Glad to see Cleveland make the list. I know it definitely takes its hits, but the cost of living makes all my friends green, and there are top notch dining and entertainment options, all at prices that make a recent grad's first paychecks go far. Check out http://www.CoolCleveland.com to see all the awesome stuff that is going on (and when you're in town make sure to catch a show at http://www.somethingdada.com).

[veritas88]

07:23 PM on 09/14/2011

New Haven?!? Outside of Yale, this place is depressing.

[Zach Lubarsky]

02:35 PM on 09/13/2011

LOL. No NYC? wrong-o.

[menschmaschine5]

05:11 PM on 09/14/2011

I'm guessing NYC would have been a shoe-in if it weren't for one thing: unless you're willing to settle for a studio way out in Queens with 3 roommates, rent is very, very expensive.

[rryan55233]

01:26 PM on 09/13/2011

Are they all moving to these cities to hide from paying student loans.Nothing else in them!

[heelsstore]

12:14 PM on 09/13/2011

For the different cities have different views, can not comment.

[Reikoku Jaken]

09:31 AM on 09/13/2011

Someone should check their geography and ancillary statistics. Hartford is almost an hour away from New Haven, and also happens to be ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country in regards to property crime.

[menschmaschine5]

05:12 PM on 09/14/2011

Actually, many of these cities are ranked among the most dangerous. That doesn't mean they aren't perfectly livable, though.

[Reikoku Jaken]

12:37 AM on 09/15/2011

I see your point, but mine was such that there is no such thing as "Hartford-New Haven" far as cities go. They are an hour away. Therefore it is either or; on top of that you get the crime stats.

[Christine Stuart]

09:02 PM on 09/12/2011

Don't be hating on Hartford. Love it here. Just wish I wasn't the only one who did. And I really hope the people here know Hartford and New Haven are two different cities about 30 miles a part from each other.

[John Crane]

04:00 PM on 09/12/2011

I would not live in any of these places. Cleveland? Boston? Minneapolis? Get real! When I lived in S.F in the 80's, average rent for a 1 BR apt was $600. And, when you say "best", what criteria do you use? Just cheap rent? How about the best places for a recent grad to get a job. I'm surprised that no city in Texas made the list. There are a lot of jobs down here. Not as many as there used to be, but there are jobs.

[paid troll]

05:47 PM on 09/12/2011

texa$$ ? ha!

[Jcray]

06:28 PM on 09/12/2011

I would never want to live in Texas, please. And, what kind of jobs? Minneapolis has real jobs and in a great place to live.

[gutenmorgen]

03:55 PM on 09/12/2011

I live in Houston. People ride to work on horses because they cannot afford cars given the low-paying jobs here. Should I have a heart attack I will be in deep trouble because there are no hospitals here that can do any surgery at all. The few little universities in town are not worth mentioning. Should you see a postcard with tall buildings rest assured that it is a P.R. fake by the city government because there are no buildings here taller than five stories. And that the major oil companies of the world have their headquarters here is a vile myth. Please do not come here. We have already 2.6 million people living in decaying slums.

[peggykel]

09:46 AM on 09/13/2011

Yes. And the same is true of Austin. You wouldn't want to come....

[JBloor]

03:29 PM on 09/12/2011

Actually; I think the avg. rent for a 1-bedroom in Cleveland is closer to $600/mo; especially on the westside. Whatever; I'm glad to see Cleveland made the list. After 14 yrs in L.A., and 10 in Ft. Lauderdale, I remain amazed and grateful for the low cost of living here. Cleveland is especially lucrative for those with any sort of health career, what with the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals located here. And what's a little snow when you get an equal dose of the other 3 seasons as well? :)

[menschmaschine5]

09:31 PM on 09/14/2011

Indeed. The weather here in Cleveland has been by and large fantastic lately, and I hear fall is gorgeous (just moved here so I haven't experienced it yet). It's just the brutal winter we have to worry about.

[floridaviolinist]

02:44 PM on 09/12/2011

Boston, San Fran, and DC are RIDICULOUSLY expensive cities!! how on earth could these 3 possibly show up on this list? doesn't make sense. unless you just landed a sweet job post graduation.

[grope and change]

03:07 PM on 09/12/2011

All of these places need more money to give to the non producers. Not one place in Texas huh? Sounds like a load of cr@p to me. Who do they think they are fooling.

[johnmorgan]

06:39 PM on 09/12/2011

Maybe because they are good places to live, and there are jobs there.

[floridaviolinist]

10:14 PM on 09/12/2011

I would love to live in any of these three cities.