2015 Top U.S. Cities, Part 1
- Shantell Russell
- Home Life
Business Insider recently highlighted 15 of the most appealing U.S. cities for 2015. The list was created based off of affordable real estate, job and population growth, a prominent art scene and creative food options. The top urban regions included:
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Burlington, VT
- Cambridge, MA
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Madison, WI
- Mobile, AL
- Nashville, TN
- Oakland, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Queens, NY
- Venice, CA
- Washington, D.C.
Atlanta, GA
Many young professionals are migrating to this Southern city. The job opportunities are especially ample. Mercedes-Benz just announced it would be moving headquarters to Atlanta.
Atlanta also offers a variety of foods and beers. SweetWater Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened its doors to the city. In addition, Atlanta is home to the Atlanta BeltLine project which Hosts 22 miles of rail transit, 1,300 acres of parks, 5,600 units of affordable housing, public art, historical preservation and more according to AtlantaBelt.org. This redevelopment project is an enjoyable way to connect with the city and its culture.
Austin, TX
The Milken Institute named Austin the best-performing large city in the U.S. and the job growth in the technology fields bolstered Austin's appeal.
Austin is home to many companies offering job opportunities to educated recent graduates. Dell, Flextronics and National Instruments are a few examples of the corporations based in Austin.
Home to the University of Texas, this capital city is populated by a high volume of people. Recent graduates fell in love with Austin when they first moved in and want to remain in the urban area after graduation. Business Insider reported that to meet rising demand, new construction has increased.
Burlington, VT
Burlington hosts an impressive array of creative food. Food and Wine noted that in recent years, this region has turned into a restaurant mecca. The culinary scene incorporates a great deal of local ingredients into dishes and foods. The granola town appeals to a great number of local and tourist foodies alike.
This city also leads Vermont in the quest for sustainable energy. According to Business Insider, 90 percent of the state's energy should be renewable by 2050.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge is home to many institutions. Graduates from Harvard, MIT, Cambridge College and many others draw huge swarms of young crowds to the Massachusetts town. City Data reported the median age as only 31, which is nearly a decade younger than the rest of the state.
Once many of these students graduate, they remain in the area due to its wealth of employment opportunities – particularly in the biotech industry. These jobs also tend to pay well for entry-level professionals. The median household income is just over $10,000 higher than the rest of the state according to City Data.
Denver, CO
It has been over a year since the legalization of marijuana, and the tax revenue has exceeded expectations. The Drug Policy Alliance's press release indicated the first 10 months produced $40 million in tax revenue. Consequently, Colorado's economic growth is especially prosperous and the unemployment rate is lower than it has been in years.
In addition, violent crime rates dropped in the first 11 months of legalization.
A safer city with a good economy draws many new residents to the location, and Denver is no exception.
Detroit, MI
Things have certainly begun looking up for Detroit in recent years. Fortune reported the bike industry is on the rise. It is becoming the headquarters for high-end bike manufacturing.
Detroit's citizens also have taken it upon themselves to improve their home city. Business Insider reported that many Detroit natives have taken the initiative to start businesses, developing art projects and providing a new perspective of Motor City.
Many individuals are drawn to the energy and perseverance of the city and the potential for a bright future.
Houston, TX
City Observatory reported a 49 percent growth in the percentage of college graduates living in the Texas city between 2000 and 2012. Business Insider noted the rate of young adults, aged 25 to 34, migrating to Houston is faster than that of any other city in the nation.
Affordability is another factor that attracts a high volume of recent graduates to the area. Rent and home prices are more reasonable than in many other popular U.S. cities. In addition, Texas does not have a state income tax and is only one of seven U.S. cities that offers this particular perk.
Many Fortune 500 companies and hospitals are also located in Houston, providing ample job opportunity to young professionals beginning their new careers in health care, science, engineering and other sectors.
The Kinder Institute also reported that Houston's racial and ethnic diversity is more vast than any other city in the U.S. Business Insider noted that diversity provides many different delicious ethnic restaurants and establishments, with a number of Cajun, Vietnamese, Mexican and, of course, barbecue-style dishes available in Houston.
Houston universities, such as University of Houston and Rice University, also bring a number of younger individuals to the area as well.
Use our Home Affordability Calculator to help determine how much house you can afford.
Continue Reading: 2015 Top U.S. Cities, Part 2