It’s Z ya later to NYC!
Times Square’s twinkle and the bright lights of Broadway may fascinate googly-eyed Gen Zers. But it’s an allure most whippersnappers — namely, recent college graduates — simply can’t afford, owing to the sky-high cost of Big Apple living.
So, rather than letting the 20-somethings go for broke in the boroughs, experts ranked the top 10 best major US cities for new grads in an April 2026 analysis.
And, unfortunately, luxe locales like New York City and Los Angeles — hotspots that folks are fleeing, en masse, due to priciness — failed to make the grade.
“Washington, D.C. ranks as the best big city in the U.S. for recent college graduates,” revealed researchers for Redfin, a virtual real estate brokerage, and Glassdoor, a job and recruiting hub, per the report.
“The nation’s capital tops the list because recent grads earn big paychecks relative to other large cities, there’s a lot of career opportunities, and the city offers great work-life balance.”
It’s got similar goods to Gotham, but with more bang for a Zoomer’s buck.
To rightfully crown D.C. No. 1, investigators pinpointed the country’s most bustling big cities, and identified 13 unique indicators across housing affordability, career opportunity and urban quality of life.
The indicators included “starter home availability,” “ownership cost,” “rent-to-income ratio,” “early career earnings,” “economic diversity,” “job availability,” “career satisfaction,” “work-life balance ratings,” as well as median walk and transit scores.
“The nation’s capital ranks as the best big city for recent college grads because it has a robust entry-level job market offering strong salaries, and while housing isn’t exactly cheap, it’s more affordable than many other big coastal cities,” wrote Redfin and Glassdoor authorities. “The top sector for early-career workers is tech, but D.C. also offers junior jobs aplenty in government and government-adjacent organizations, like think tanks, defense contractors, consultants and law firms.”
“D.C. has 19 job postings per 100 workers, the most of any big U.S. city,” continued the insiders. “But it’s not all work, all the time: The U.S. capital is one of the cultural centers of the U.S., offering not only unique landmarks, but a thriving food and drinks scene at places like The Wharf and Union Market.”
Securing the second place position on the list is none other Omaha, Nebraska.
It’s a city best known for steaks that’s truly raised the stakes.
“A starter home in Omaha costs less than $200,000, which is affordable to someone earning the typical entry-level salary of around $59,000,” said the specialists.
“The most popular career path for recent grads in the Nebraska town is healthcare, but it’s also home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific and Mutual of Omaha,” they added. “Not only do college grads report enjoying their jobs, but they also report strong work-life balance — especially for those immersed in the city’s thriving music and brewery scene.”
The address is all the rage among folks who’ve recently donned a cap and gown, says Justin Gomez, a Redfin Premier agent in Omaha.
“People move here from many different parts of the country because there’s a great community for the younger crowd: We have a lot of colleges in the area, and there are so many fun events like the annual college baseball tournament,” Gomez told researchers.
“It doesn’t hurt that we have a lot of well-paying jobs, including at the University of Nebraska Med Center and the Offutt Airforce Base,” he added. “And with a lot of homes selling for under $300,000, young grads actually have a shot at purchasing a house.”
Along with ranking the nation’s top 10 best and biggest cities for recent grads, the analysts also spotlit the top 10 midsize and small size metropolises in which Gen Zs are most likely to thrive.
And while NYC didn’t make the cut on any of the three rosters, its neighboring city of Trenton, New Jersey, earned the No. 7 spot on the midsize list thanks to its budget-friendly, worker-friendly offerings.
“Trenton is more affordable than many other East Coast cities, and it has a strong entry-level job market in industries like education and government,” noted study authors.
“The New Jersey capital also has easy access to both New York City and Philadelphia,” continued the findings, “and young professionals sticking around Trenton for the weekend can partake in the city’s vibrant art galleries, famous barbecue restaurants and minor league baseball games.”
Check out Redfin and Glassdoor’s top 10 big, midsize and small cities for recent grads lists.
Big cities
1. Washington, D.C.
- Average annual early-career earnings: $79,857
- Price of typical starter home: $320,000
- Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 2 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 31.6%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 34%
2. Omaha, Nebraska
- Average early-career earnings: $59,123
- Price of typical starter home: $195,000
- Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 8 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 26%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 28%
4. Dallas, Texas
- Average early-career earnings: $67,451
- Price of typical starter home: $240,000
- Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 1 month
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 28%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 26%
5. Chicago, Illinois
- Average early-career earnings: $72,786
- Price of typical starter home: $202,000
- Years to save for down payment: 3 years
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 21.9%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 28%
6. Houston, Texas
- Average early-career earnings: $ 65,369
- Price of typical starter home: $215,000
- Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 7 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 25.9%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 18%
7. St. Louis, Missouri
- Average early-career earnings: $ 61,834
- Price of typical starter home: $ 150,000
- Years to save for down payment: 2 years, 7 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 19.1%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 23%
8. San Diego, California
- Average early-career earnings: $ 74,053
- Price of typical starter home: $ 615,000
- Years to save for down payment: More than 10 years
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 65.4%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 64%
9. Miami, Florida
- Average early-career earnings: $ 62,748
- Price of typical starter home: $ 210,000
- Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 11 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 26.4%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 33%
10. Austin, Texas
- Average early-career earnings: $ 72,025
- Price of typical starter home: $ 276,600
- Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 1 months
- Monthly mortgage payment as % of income: 30.3%
- Monthly rent as % of income: 35%
Midsize cities
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Palm Bay, Florida
- Wichita, Kansas
- Mobile, Alabama
- Anchorage, Arkansas
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Waco, Texas
- Lexington, Kentucky
Small cities
- Springfield, Illinois
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Panama City, Florida
- Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Macon, Georgia
- Champaign, Illinois
- Greenville, North Carolina
- Columbia, Missouri
- Bend, Oregon
- Rochester, Minnesota
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