2023 Best Cities for Young Professionals in America

• City in Massachusetts

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  127 reviews

Current Resident: I love it here! Cambridge, MA is the Mecca of Biotechnology, which is what I want to continue in my Professional Career, but also in Graduate School. It is very safe, diverse, The Top Two Universities in the World are here, the salary is high, specially for those who work in Tech and Biotech meaning that you can easily have a great quality of life. Lastly, I highly recommend those who are ambitious and career driven to move here, if you can make it here, you can make it ANYWHERE!... Read 127 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 116,892

• City in California

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  971 reviews

Former Resident: LOVE this place, but definitely not a perfect city for everybody. Everything here is crazy expensive! Housing here is practically unaffordable for people who aren't very wealthy, which is why most people prefer to rent. Serious homeless problem, some streets are completely filled with homeless people and are insanely filthy. The homeless here tend to be very aggressive and dangerous here, too. Crime is really bad in some areas. Smash & grabs are common. The city itself is amazingly beautiful! Seriously one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. The architecture is pristine and unique, and the views are just breathtaking. SO much stuff to do! This city never sleeps. Lots of world-famous restaurants and also plenty of affordable eateries with great food. Ample job opportunities especially in tech and healthcare. Salaries are generally very high, as is the minimum wage. This city is amazing but for some people the cons outweigh the pros, it just depends on you!... Read 971 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Population 865,933

• City in Washington

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  1,018 reviews

Current Resident: Lived in this city most my life, almost 40 years. Due to the tech industry it’s ungodly expensive now. However, it’s a fun city, beautiful, so much to do. Lots of sports, art, cinema, and nearby nature and winter sports. It’s very progressive so if that’s you you’ll fit in. The homeless issue is bad, but hardly homeless everywhere. Mostly downtown and in Ballard both historically seedy locations. Residential areas are safe and I see kids riding their bikes, playing ball and walking home from school when driving around the residential areas. The biggest problem in Seattle is the traffic. Since it’s the employment hub of the area people from all over come to work. The cities population during the day is around 700k but during the weekdays it gets over 2 million people in the city limits to work and shop! Be warned the traffic is terrible at certain times. And due to the geography it’s almost impossible to build alternative routes and transportation. Great place to find work though.... Read 1,018 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 726,054

• City in District of Columbia

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  754 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in the capital city of my the United States. DC is a great place for sightseeing and learning as visitors have access to free museums, great food options, and accessible transportation. The city is beautiful with both suburban and urban areas and good for young children, older folks, and everyone in between! There are many National Parks and spots to have picnics or enjoy the usually temperate weather. The winters do get cold, but snow is not too heavy and beautiful to experience. DC is fairly diverse and a nice place to meet people that are passionate about their views and opinions, so you will have good conversations.... Read 754 reviews

• grade A

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 683,154

• City in Virginia

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  258 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Arlington all my life, I went to elementary, middle, and high school here. I love that Arlington is a very safe neighborhood statewide. I've traveled to many other counties and cities in the US, nothing beats it. I'd most likely raise my children in Arlington, VA. Being 15 minutes from the nation's capital and 20 minutes from Maryland is a flex lol! The only downside is that Arlington is solely but surely kicking out minorities by gentrifying all of South Arlington (where I grew up and where my parents own a condo).... Read 258 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 235,764

• City in Massachusetts

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  800 reviews

Current Resident: Boston is great, I reside in the South End and I was born 15-20 minutes away. I also go to college here and there are so many other college students to meet with many different colleges around the area. With the city itself, it may be small but different neighborhoods are renovating and expanding. Especially with Seaport, there are many buildings in that area and different shops to check out if you want to buy something. The food is great too! I usually eat Asian food, so I go to Chinatown, Dorchester, and Quincy a lot and just eat. There are many great sightseeing locations too! I have a camera and like to take pictures. So some tips on where to go is Seaport, North Point Park, Charles River Esplanade, Quincy Quarry, Boston Common, Commonwealth Ave, Castle Island, etc.... Read 800 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• grade A+

• Population 672,814

• City in California

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  198 reviews

Works Here: First of Berkeley Ca is a very diverse place. It is a place where you can feel free and express yourself without the fear of being judged. The neighborhoods are beautiful and are surrounded with big beautiful green tress. It has a great variety of public schools and we have UC Berkeley in our own back yard! There is always great food around along with friendly people. The great thing about Berkeley its young and welcoming atmosphere. The one thing I would change about it would be the gentrification that is happening. Gentrification takes away a lot of the historical value Berkeley has to offer.... Read 198 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 119,607

• City in Minnesota

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  688 reviews

Current Resident: I just recently moved here and I do like it. The city is quite loud meaning that there's people walking, cars driving and stuck in traffic. Nightlife, is quite loud when college student are going out for a concert or party. Many business opportunity here therefore plenty of jobs to find. However, if not being very careful, a lot of criminal activity could potentially happened and have to be safe and secure. The downside of being safe and secure would perhaps be the extra charged fee such as parking garage and paying it monthly. Some places is quite high and as a graduate student, it could be hard to apply for that. Meaning that the risk of parking in the streets is high and so as criminal activity if not safe and secure. Overall, the city is great!... Read 688 reviews

• grade A

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 425,091

• City in New York

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  1,681 reviews

Current Resident: New York City occupies a special place in the American consciousness as the tumultuous seat of our financial markets and the buzzing capital of our culture. New York is celebrated for its wealth of nationalities, ethnicities and languages. But why would anyone want to live in NYC? It's insanely expensive, there are too many crazy people, it's bundles of energy and famously, "If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere." And lots of people love the challenge! Most important, it’s the city that exemplifies American pluralism, the “melting pot” that attracts new immigrants looking for work and college graduates drawn from their hometowns by the promise of excitement and opportunity. Its appeal hangs on its image as a city where everyone can try, get, and be anything. It has been my home for more than 40 years and I love it for its social and economic freedoms. My education and computer technology background fit right in and I found great career and social successes.... Read 1,681 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Population 8,736,047

• City in Pennsylvania

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  792 reviews

Former Resident: Pittsburgh has done an amazing job of reinventing itself in the last 40 years! It offers a beautiful down town triangle with many museums and amazing local eateries in the communites that surround the down town area. I think Pittsburgh's biggest hinderance has been thier democratic leadership and not allowing different political views, and their large faith community, to help influence thier vision and future.... Read 792 reviews

• grade A

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 303,207

• City in California

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  206 reviews

Current Resident: I am in love with Santa Clara, it's culturally diverse. Hospitals are close and roads are close to freeways. The stores are walking distance. Santa clara electric system is separate from PG&E, making prices cheaper. Water is included in rent. The areas to rent are pet inclusive allowing for people to be with loved ones and having understanding neighbors. There's always a good location to dine in or to even have drinks. Public school systems have pretty well maintained fields and have alot of opportunities. Real estate is expensive however for living costs. Renting is more affordable. Jobs are available and competitive.... Read 206 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 127,922

• City in Virginia

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  401 reviews

Current Resident: Great neighborhood and very diverse! Great restaurants as well. There are some road and bridge repairs at the moment that make traffic a bit heavier at times, but once completed should get back to normal. A great private school to mention is Queen of Apostles Catholic School, which really reflects their motto “Faith, excellence & joy”.... Read 401 reviews

• grade A+

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Population 158,185

• City in Colorado

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  1,140 reviews

Current Resident: Do you like enjoying the atmospheric feel that is the outdoors? Waking up in the morning and overseeing the mountains in the distance with a mug of coffee in your hands and a pup by your side? Colorado is your spot! Denver is an amazing and ever-growing city, filled with opportunities within all various fields. Whether it's a job, a new hobby to pick up on, new friends to make, an event to go and socialize at or figuring out the next brewery to hit, Denver provides it all! Never have I felt unsafe walking around the streets of Denver, day or night, and the positive radiance of dog-owners walking their pups everywhere will keep a smile on your face! With the mountains being only 20 minutes away from the metro area, there is much to see, do and be a part of throughout your living experienced in Denver. We have everything here except a beach! And even then... Cherry Creek Reservoir provides!... Read 1,140 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 706,799

• City in New Jersey

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  311 reviews

Current Resident: I love and hate Jersey City, it is my childhood home, and i love to live here. It is a beautiful city itself, with tremendous amounts of transportation such as lightrail, path train, and buses, not to mention the ferry’s. There are many things to do such as restaurants, ice creams places or deserts of different kinds, public place roller skating which is is also ice skating in the winter, the countless pools, along with the friendly grove street that has walkable streets ( which provides traffic ) with 100s of restaurants and stores. Downsides are the tremendous amounts of traffic caused by the holland tunnel and the random construction that occurs, and the slow shift of gentrification. The inflation in housing is tremendous!!! but nonetheless, i still love my home called jersey city.... Read 311 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 287,146

• City in California

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  269 reviews

Current Resident: It has many great neighborhoods, schools, and it's quite safe! There's great access to food, grocery stores, and anything else you need in daily life. It definitely could use some more off-leash dog areas however.... Read 269 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 155,550

• City in Washington

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  183 reviews

Current Resident: Bellevue is a wonderfully safe city with well funded private schools that offer academic rigor. It is a very racially diverse city and is home to major companies such as Microsoft which offer many job opportunities. It has a very active city life during the day and has many restaurants with diverse menus, as well as large shopping malls. The city offers Metro transportation buses that are completely electric fueled, however buses are very often subject to late arrivals. Despite its good qualities, Bellevue is a very expensive city to live in with the average house costing 1.5 million. Goods and services are also very overpriced, and have risen sharply due to inflation.... Read 183 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 149,365

• City in Georgia

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  1,183 reviews

Current Resident: The community of Atlanta is pretty tight-knit; everyone knows everyone. If you're not in the scene then you're missing out quite frankly. From fashion to different culinary gurus, Atlanta has it all. Personally, I love the arts and underground scene. Anything after dark- I'm there. In the past few years, through networking and just being out-and-about on the town have made many friends, connections and, most importantly, many memories. Being located in the south, the city comes with a warm and welcoming community. People speak to you and enjoy connecting with others- visitors and residents alike. Whether you're into daytime life or something more low-key, Atlanta will provide an experience for all.... Read 1,183 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• grade A+

• Population 492,204

• City in Oregon

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  1,274 reviews

Current Resident: I've been living in Portland for 3 years and have loved it! Compared to Nevada, there is more diversity, modes of transportation, and community. Finding a job in Portland has always been easy, I hear back from employers quickly. I personally love the diversity when it comes to food. I love the nature as well and frequent Powell Butte! One thing I would say is that there aren't enough sidewalks or streetlights in the neighborhoods which I am not used to. It makes it feel slightly less safe especially if you're walking at night! So definitely stick to the side of the road and wear reflectors.... Read 1,274 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Population 647,176

• City in Texas

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  2,432 reviews

Current Resident: Austin is such a friendly city. It has a wide variety of people engaged in different cultural and artistic expressions. It has a great community for raising children. There is a nice blend of hippie and southern hospitality. The cost of living has gone up significantly and the traffic is almost impossible to get through during peak hours. It is growing fast but hopefully it doesn’t lose its charm. Honestly, it’s getting a bit too packed for me but I appreciate how people are doing their thing here and there is space for an alternative lifestyle. I wish there were mountains and an ocean nearby but the lake and the hiking is enjoyable. Barton Springs and other swimming holes make summer more manageable with the heat and humidity. There are great climbing gyms, parks, and the food is incredible! Austin is a foodie city with an array of options. There is always something happening related to music with two big festivals happening annually. There is something for everyone here!... Read 2,432 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Population 944,658

• City in Georgia

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  214 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs is extremely family-friendly and safe. With amazing restaurants, Sandy Springs is the perfect place for a date night and it is super easy to find a reliable babysitter around! My favorite part of Sandy Springs is the City Hall and its surrounding park. City Springs is very clean, pleasant, and has everything you could need for a night out or a productive morning.... Read 214 reviews

• grade A+

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Population 106,605

• City in Illinois

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  2,713 reviews

Current Resident: From the beautiful skyline, to the amazing Chicago River, Chicago is a wonderful place to live. It's not so "stuffy" like New York, but it has all the same perks. As a rower, there is nothing like being on the water in the morning or at night. I'm constantly surrounded by beautiful architecture and a heavily diverse community. Seeing as I'm a student in CPS, the schools are fantastic. The selective enrollment perks truly add to your college application, and one is heavily immersed in a diverse, caring community of teachers and peers. Real estate is "meh". Honestly, I've moved several times since being born here. Every time I've moved, my parents have had money issues regarding the real estate. Also, depending on where you live, the safety can be not so great. It mostly is good, though. As a working student, there are job opportunities for EVERYBODY! I've worked as a busser, food runner, and screenprinter. If you need a job that's decent-paying, there's always a place for you.... Read 2,713 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 2,742,119

• City in California

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  572 reviews

Nearby Resident: I love Irvine! I went to UCI for my bachelors degree and it was a beautiful area. There are many activities to do beyond campus life. My friends and I would ride our bikes in the park and then get food from the University Town center. Irvine became a second home for my friends and I. We would study all day and night in the library and then we would go to the movies in the town center. On the weekend, when we did not have much studying to do, we would go to university town center to interact with other college students. Irvine is not only a great place to raise a family, it is also one of the safest neighborhoods around the area. Additionally, because Irvine is a college town there are many job opportunities If I could, I would live in Irvine to pursue my future buying a house and raising children. To add the cost of living in Irvine is high and over the years has gone up; however, I believe that the cost of living is worth the amazing lifestyle one with achieve by living in Irvine.... Read 572 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 297,868

• City in Michigan

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  564 reviews

Former Resident: Truly a magical place! A2 exists in its own world and operates drastically different from anywhere outside the city line. As the most educated city in America, A2 is full of sharp and highly intelligent people. These people tend to be very eccentric, youthful, and sometimes prickly or rude, regardless of age. It's a city of the forever young! Very walkable and dense in the urban center and stunningly beautiful everywhere you go. World-class dining, an incredibly diverse population, and a strong sense of community and optimism. Most of the population is incredibly wealthy which in turn makes living costs incredibly expensive for everyone else. However, living here is worth the price tag for the experience. Pro tip living here: take little trips into the real world (outside city lines) to give yourself a mental break sometimes. A2 is such a highly academic environment (even if you're not in school) it can sometimes be draining and feel like you're trapped in a bubble.... Read 564 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 122,731

• City in Texas

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  328 reviews

Current Resident: Richardson is a very nice city to live in, especially for me who goes to Richardson High School which is just a 10 min walk away from my house. The neighborhood is beautiful and I rarely hear of anything bad happening here. Cottonwood park and the market square have so many different kinds of shops, locally owned and corporate, and it allows for a farmer's market to be held every Saturday morning where people can come together and sell their personal goods. I haven't even mentioned downtown where it's not as crowded as big city downtowns like Dallas and there are even more local storefronts with amazing service. Richardson is an amazing place to stay, I can guarantee it.... Read 328 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 115,904

• City in Texas

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  928 reviews

Current Resident: Moving from a smaller town in the midwest, to Plano, Texas has been one of the best decisions that I've made so far. The people here in Plano are so diverse, and so hospitable! I've encountered so many people in public who have been so warm and welcoming; it's honestly a culture shock. I would also say that, overall, the city of Plano is fairly clean and safe. In the previous town that I lived in, potholes were rampant, and the roads needed servicing. As mind-boggling as this may sound, I have not encountered a pothole yet (my car thanks me)! Living in Texas has been quite the joy, and there's an abundance of amazing towns and cities; however, Plano has it's own je ne sais quoi that makes it stand out. Plano truly is a city for everyone!... Read 928 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 282,181