To the Berkeley Class of 2019 (and all fellow 2019 college graduates), we will once again be second semester seniors in less than ten days. Having been through the process while graduating high school, we know precisely what these next few months entail and equally so, we will have more than a fair share of uncertainty in the road ahead. To first address the certainties, there will be goodbyes to the familiarity of the city, there will be “see you soon”’ to the people we hold dear. There will be content in having accomplished the incredible feat of having not only survived but thrived in all that we faced in our undergraduate years. For a large portion of us that are not yet entering graduate school or are just taking a few gap years or plain ready to jump-start our careers, we will be faced with a new set of opportunities to maneuver. One of the largest decisions in the next few months is determining where to live and so here is a list of the 5 top cities for recent grads.
Some of the factors that play into these numbers are the percent of population between 20-34, the median income, employment and unemployment, the median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders, and the average projected job growth in the state, east of transport, and general lifestyle based on the data gathered from Business Insider and Livability . In no particular order below:
A. Boston, Massachusetts
Unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders: 3.3%
Median rent: $1,369
Population aged 20-29: 24.1%
Boston has a couple of points to brag upon including some of the best health care with plenty of top-rated hospitals and doctors. The city of Boston has a lot of pride in the events that are held by the city including the Boston Marathon in April, the Cambridge Science Festivals, ArtWeek Boston, Boston Calling Music Festival and much more. Boston is a beautiful city that actually has four distinct seasons for those of you that love the leaves of autumn and winter snow. Beyond what can be seen, Boston holds a lot of history and there are historical sites and markers across the city.
B. Rochester, NY
Unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders: 2.4%
Median rent: $673
Population aged 20-29: 20.9%
In the recent years, Rochester has been named by Forbes as one of the prime places to raise a family, in case any of you want a head start at planning that! It’s home to plenty of art such as the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Art Center, and the Memorial Art Gallery. Annual festivals that always liven up the city include the Rochester International Film Festival, Lilac Festival, International Jazz Festival, Festival of Food, Oktoberfest, Big Rib BBQ Blues Fest and many more.
C. Seattle, Washington
Unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders: 2.8%
Median rent: $1,360
Population aged 20-29: 21.3%
Seattle is now currently a hub for tech companies such as Amazon and Microsoft and several other companies. The iconic places in Seattle include the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Pier 57, Woodland Park Zoo and much more. Several of the annual events that are held in Seattle include the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, The Lights of Christmas, Seattle Pride Fest, Seattle International Film Festival. Seattle also happens to be one of the locations in which the highest percentage of residents hold a college degree or higher.
D. San Francisco, California
Unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders: 3.3%
Median rent: $1,731
Population aged 20-29: 17.6%
Besides the weather as one of the largest perks in the area, San Francisco is one of the cities with the best career opportunities, specifically for those that are in the tech industry. What is often unspoken is that the art and culture of San Francisco has been prominent for a long with examples like the San Francisco Symphony, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Arts, just to name a few prime locations. There are also areas in the near proximity that promote outdoor lifestyles like Muir Woods, Angel Island trails, The Presidio, and the California redwoods.
E. Cincinnati, Ohio
Unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders: 3.0%
Median rent: $568
Population aged 20-29: 19.6%
Cincinnati, too, contains many fortunate 50 companies and other vital industries like Procter and Gamble, American Financial Corp, Duke Energy, to name a few. One asset to boast is that Cincinnati contains professional companies in ballet, opera, symphony and theater, of which Cincinnati Opera stands to be one of the most well-known in the country. There are also regions such as the Northside neighborhood that have distinct cultures and display diversity in the community. The city is also known to be a great sports town with many of the universities having division 1 collegiate sports.
All the best to you in the months ahead.