As someone who lives within commuting distance of Manhattan, I always wondered how many people out there from small towns in other states have a dream of living and working in the Big Apple. I’d love to wake these people up from their fantasy land.
The dream of graduating college and getting a job in Manhattan with a high-enough salary to move there is dying, although there is some hope.
The people who have the best chance of achieving this are those who work in Finance, and most of these people do unpaid internships in Manhattan to get these jobs. The reality is most people who have big city dreams have to start in an up-and-coming city to get the experience required to land a job in Manhattan.
5 Thriving Cities for Young Professionals
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is one of the youngest cities on the East Coast. The greater Raleigh area is home to the University of North Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina State University. This means there are plenty of businesses in catering to the millennial demographic. You’ll never have a problem finding a bar on those special nights you feel like reliving your college days.
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, so jobs in politics, finance, and banking are plentiful. The number of colleges make it a good place for pursuing a career in Academia, and the number of museums are great for those looking to put an Art or History degree to use.
Boston, Massachusetts
The disclaimer about Boston is that it is not a cheap place to live. With that being said, it’s a perfect city for those looking to live amongst an educated population. Technically, you could argue that a higher concentration of degree holders means more job competition, but that isn’t the full story.
Boston’s reputation for having a young and educated population draws companies across all industries into the city. Currently, Software Application Development is the most in-demand job in Boston. Boston is also a great place for young professionals to network with each other. The best opportunities for moving up in your career come from a solid network.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
When you think of Minnesota, you probably don’t think of thriving cities. Minneapolis makes up one-half of Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Its central location between Seattle and Chicago has helped Minneapolis grow into a city vital to America’s economy.
It has one of the largest concentrations of Fortune 500 headquarters. Several global players in Banking, Finance, and Advertising call Minneapolis home.Some examples include Ameriprise Financial, SPS Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and U.S Bancorp. It also has one of the biggest theater scenes outside of New York City, making it a great city for theater majors.
Austin, Texas
Austin is one of the largest and youngest cities in the country. It’s a great place for those looking to work in Music, as it is home to South x Southwest, one of America’s biggest music conferences.
Austin is also one of the fastest growing cities in Texas. While the influx of Millennials keeps Austin’s average age low, the average age of its native population is rising. This means young professionals will have plenty of career opportunities in elderly care for years to come.
Denver, Colorado
Denver’s location sits between the West and Midwest, which has always made for a thriving distribution industry. It also has a constant supply of jobs in the Energy sector due to its close proximity to the Rocky Mountains.
Denver has a similar atmosphere to New York City in the sense that the different neighborhoods have their own unique vibes. Denver’s Lower Downtown, or LoDo as it’s known by locals, has a Manhattan feel. It is the epicenter of the jobs in Business and Finance. Denver’s Highlands neighborhood feels like Brooklyn’s Williamsburg. It features a young and vibrant culture perpetuated by its large concentration of young professionals.
Do you have experience relocating to one of these cities? We would love you to share your experience with our readers in the comments section.
