The best city to start your career in each state
Where you start your career can have a lasting impact on your professional trajectory. Geography can affect your opportunities, earnings potential and ability to save money.
But just because a city offers amazing opportunities doesn't mean it's the perfect fit for everyone or every young professional. Career services site Zippia combed through data from the American Community Survey as well as median income figures from the U.S. Census to find the best platform for young professionals.
The site analyzed 831 of the country's biggest cities based on factors such as unemployment, population, age and cost of living in order to determine which places were best for young people starting their careers. Surprisingly, it found that smaller, lower-profile cities offered the affordability and opportunity that could get new professionals the right jump start.
In its ranking, Zippia found Fargo, North Dakota, offered the best combination of professional opportunity, affordability and quality of life. The median monthly rent in Fargo is about $727 and the unemployment rate is just 2.2 percent.
The ranking also considered population — and the share of millennials living in each city. Unsurprisingly, several of the best cities for young people also had large student populations thanks to large state universities. For instance, Lawrence, Kansas, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Madison, Wisconsin, are all home to flagship state universities and have slots in the list's top 10.
Several major cities are noticeably missing, including New York and Los Angeles. While cities like these do have a large number of young people and often offer higher salaries, an equally high cost of living keeps them off the list.
Here are the best cities to kick-start your career in each state:
Alabama
Huntsville
Median income: $51,441
Alaska
Anchorage
Median income: $80,862
Arizona
Tempe
Median income: $50,474
Arkansas
Conway
Median income: $47,190
California
Berkeley
Median income: $70,393
Colorado
Fort Collins
Median income: $57,831
Connecticut
New Haven
Median income: $38,126
Delaware
Wilmington
Median income: $40,065
Florida
Gainesville
Median income: $32,716
Georgia
Sandy Springs
Median income: $68,629
Hawaii
Kalaoa
Median income: $65,922
Idaho
Pocatello
Median income: $41,172
Illinois
Normal
Median income: $54,496
Indiana
Lafayette
Median income: $42,641
Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Median income: $55,359
Kansas
Lawrence
Median income: $47,938
Kentucky
Louisville
Median income: $46,881
Louisiana
Lafayette
Median income: $47,940
Maine
Portland
Median income: $48,259
Maryland
Towson
Median income: $77,680
Massachusetts
Cambridge
Median income: $83,122
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Median income: $57,697
Minnesota
Duluth
Median income: $45,950
Mississippi
Jackson
Median income: $32,866
Missouri
Columbia
Median income: $45,221
Montana
Billings
Median income: $52,944
Nebraska
Lincoln
Median income: $51,126
Nevada
Reno
Median income: $48,815
New Hampshire
Manchester
Median income: $54,899
New Jersey
Jersey City
Median income: $60,703
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Median income: $48,127
New York
Cheektowaga
Median income: $48,994
North Carolina
Chapel Hill
Median income: $65,373
North Dakota
Fargo
Median income: $48,060
Ohio
Columbus
Median income: $47,156
Oklahoma
Norman
Median income: $52,484
Oregon
Eugene
Median income: $44,859
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Median income: $42,450
Rhode Island
Providence
Median income: $37,366
South Carolina
Charleston
Median income: $57,603
South Dakota
Sioux Falls
Median income: $54,110
Tennessee
Nashville
Median income: $49,891
Texas
Midland
Median income: $71,500
Utah
Provo
Median income: $42,600
Vermont
Burlington
Median income: $46,754
Virginia
Arlington
Median income: $108,706
Washington
Seattle
Median income: $74,458
West Virginia
Charleston
Median income: $46,720
Wisconsin
Madison
Median income: $56,464