Gen Z grads are flocking to college towns — here’s where they’re thriving

After spending four years with their heads in the books, recent college graduates may want a change of scenery once they toss their caps. But in some cases, it might be best to stay put.

Research firm RentCafe analyzed 122 metros with populations over 300,000 and ranked the best metros for Gen Z graduates. Each metro was ranked based on six weighted metrics related to Gen Z population, job growth, and other factors related to livability.

The stereotypical trend of young people moving to big cities to maximize their lifestyles has shifted recently, as young Americans choose affordability and comfort in more rural areas of the country. According to an analysis by Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia, 63% of rural counties had increases in their population of 25- to 44-year-olds between 2020 and 2023. Between 2010 and 2013, that number was 27%.

“A lot of the top-ranking cities are either college towns or they are close to major universities, meaning there is a steady influx of young people joining their demographics,” RentCafe writer and researcher Mihaela Buzec told Business Insider.

A majority of the cities in the top 10 are considered college towns with at least one university. College towns generally have a fairly steady number of young people filtering in and out of them and offer culture and charm without charging too much for rent. And while some college towns on the list double as fairly large and expensive cities, like Boston and Washington, DC, affordability and familiarity reign supreme.

“We cannot disregard the familiarity factor,” Buzec said. “Fresh graduates who moved to college towns for university likely feel a sense of belonging to the community they called home during the college years, and all those youth-focused amenities are still desirable and desired by college graduates.”

Here are the top 10 best metros to live in for Gen Z graduates, according to RentCafe. Median sales prices are from Realtor.com.

10. Seattle, WA

• Total score: 72
• Share of Gen Z adults: 7.11%
• Job growth: 0.76%
• Median home sale price: $880,000

What it offers: Seattle is home to several colleges and universities, including Seattle University and the University of Washington, which is considered a public Ivy League school and one of the best in the nation.

9. Huntsville, AL

• Total score: 74
• Share of Gen Z adults: 7.11%
• Job growth: 4.64%
• Median home sale price: $348,514

What it offers: Nicknamed “Rocket City ” for being the spot where the Saturn V Rocket was developed, Huntsville is an important center of space and US defense technology. The city is home to the US Space & Rocket Center, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the US Army’s Redstone Arsenal.

8. Washington, DC

• Total score: 75
• Share of Gen Z adults: 6.58%
• Job growth: 1.87%
• Median home sale price: $675,000

What it offers: Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is the political epicenter of the nation. The district is home to numerous museums, including the Smithsonian, national monuments, and memorials.

7. Albany, NY

• Total score: 75
• Share of Gen Z adults: 7.01%
• Job growth: 2.07%
• Median home sale price: $281,250

What it offers: Albany, New York’s capital, moves at a slower pace than New York City. Residents trade the hustle and bustle for hikes and evening strolls around the Empire State Plaza.

6. Fayetteville, AR

• Total score: 77
• Share of Gen Z adults: 8.52%
• Job growth: 2.50%
• Median home sale price: $400,000

What it offers: Fayetteville is a big southern city with a small-town feel. It is located in the Ozark Mountains and offers hikers miles of trails. It’s also home to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, one of the largest in the state.

5. Portland, ME

• Total score: 77
• Share of Gen Z adults: 6.24%
• Job growth: 2.31%
• Median home sale price: $590,000

What it offers: Portland, Maine, is a coastal port city with many nautical activities and an abundance of lobster rolls.

4. Boston, MA

• Total score: 78
• Share of Gen Z adults: 7.06%
• Job growth: 1.17%
• Median home sale price: $825,000

What it offers: Boston is one of the most populous cities in the country, and with more than 30 colleges, it has the second-highest share of educated Gen Z adults, according to RentCafe.

3. Des Moines, IA

• Total score: 79
• Share of Gen Z adults: 7.31%
• Job growth: 2.95%
• Median home sale price: $222,000

What it offers: As the first stop for presidential candidates during election season, Des Moines, Iowa, has national significance, and as the state capital, it offers cultural significance to Iowa.

2. Lincoln, NE

• Total score: 96
• Share of Gen Z adults: 10.40%
• Job growth: 2.23%
• Median home sale price: $295,000

What it offers: Lincoln, Nebraska, is the capital of Nebraska and has historic sites, like the Capitol Building, and many museums.

1. Ann Arbor, MI

• Total score: 100
• Share of Gen Z adults: 9.98%
• Job growth: 2.01%
• Median home sale price: $470,000

What it offers: Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to a slew of younger residents, as it is home to the University of Michigan, which had more than 52,000 students during the Fall 2024 semester.

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