Citing lower cost of living, cheaper rent, and more employment opportunities than many other cities, the researchers at NerdWallet — a website focused on "financial education and empowerment" — have ranked Atlanta as the nation's ninth best U.S. city for recent college graduates.
The website analyzed the 100 largest cities, focusing on 2014 U.S. Census Bureau data covering job options, the age of the population, rent costs, and median earnings, as well as unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the website, "our analysis favors cities where you can make a living without spending an outsized portion of your paycheck on rent. Minneapolis and Atlanta, for example, offer solid local economies and affordable housing."
Yep, they dropped an "A" bomb on Atlanta.
The study also noted that Atlanta's median annual earnings for a resident older than 25 with a bachelor's degree are $50,420, and rent runs at 22.9 percent of the median income, which is "one of the lowest percentages in the top 10."
And the No. 1 city for recent college graduates? Arlington, Va.
There's more here.
- Best Cities for Recent Grads 2016 [NerdWallet]