We all know folks from around the country who graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder and then never leave town -- and it turns out this decision's a mighty good one according to Kiplinger, whose list of the ten best cities for grads prominently features the People's Republic.
Count down all ten below, complete with excerpts, complete with links and excerpts from Kiplinger explaining the picks. Check them out below.
"Looking to get into the tech industry but can't afford the high cost of living in Silicon Valley? Consider the Seattle area, where Amazon and Microsoft are headquartered and monthly expenses for renters are 20.8% lower than in San Francisco. Other major industries include business services (such as financial and legal firms), green energy and aerospace, led by Boeing. The University of Washington is also a major local employer. And if the existing companies don't interest you, start your own...."
"Including the folks in neighboring cities Fort Worth and Arlington, this metro area ranks as the most populous on this list. One reason for its popularity: jobs. Texas has recovered all of the jobs it lost during the recession, and Kiplinger expects that the state will net another quarter-million positions in 2013. The unemployment rate in Dallas-Fort Worth is just 6.3%, as of February 2013, while the national rate stands at 8.1%. Some of the top private employers include American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, and AT&T and Texas Instruments, both based in Dallas...."
Continue to keep counting down the ten best cities for young grads -- and where Boulder places. Number 8: Washington, D.C.
"The federal government provides the foundation of the District's job market, but people other than politicos can launch their careers in the capital. The aerospace, technology and health care industries are all well-represented and provide a broad range of high-paying jobs. Major area employers include defense contractor Northrop Grumman, consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, MedStar Health and Marriott International...."
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"Not just a community of golfers and retirees, Phoenix attracts a younger crowd, too, with its low living costs and plentiful employment prospects. Kiplinger expects Arizona to enjoy a healthy job-growth rate of 2.1% in 2013, and many of those new jobs will gravitate to the Valley of the Sun. Financial service companies State Farm Insurance and military-focused USAA are building and expanding facilities in Phoenix, which could add thousands of new positions to the local economy. Other major employers in the area include Banner Health, defense contractor Raytheon and Arizona State University...."
Continue to keep counting down the ten best cities for young grads -- and where Boulder places. Number 6: San Diego
"If you're looking for military or government work but hoping for a sunnier climate than D.C.'s, try San Diego. One out of every four jobs in the area is related to the defense industry, according to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. Besides the Department of Defense itself, contractors such as Northrop Grumman and SAIC employ thousands of locals...."
"Anchorage may be the most expensive city on this list, but its college grads are also the best paid. Plus, you won't have to pay state income or sales taxes, and you'll collect an annual dividend -- $878 in 2012 -- from Alaska's oil fund, if you live there the full year. Leading industries include education, health care and business services, such as engineering, accounting and legal services. And the area's distance from the lower 48 states limits your competition for the highest-paying jobs...."
Continue to keep counting down the ten best cities for young grads -- and where Boulder places. Number 4: Houston
"Another big Texas town draws young grads with relatively low costs and a promising job market. The state is expected to add nearly 250,000 jobs in 2013, and many of them will be going to Houston. ExxonMobil is moving 2,100 positions from Virginia and Ohio to its new 10,000-employee campus. Other top employers in the region include the University of Houston, BP America and Memorial Hermann Health System...."
"For crowd-averse new grads, Boulder is an attractive choice, with the smallest population of all the cities on this list. But fewer people doesn't mean fewer opportunities. Colorado is adding jobs, and Boulder already sports the lowest unemployment rate for people in their twenties at 7.9% (versus 11.9% for the U.S.). Major employers include the University of Colorado Boulder, IBM and Ball Aerospace...."
Continue to keep counting down the ten best cities for young grads. Number 2: Ann Arbor, Michigan
"University of Michigan students don't have to go far after graduation. Ann Arbor offers plenty of good-paying jobs for new grads, as well as a big community of peers -- the area's population includes the largest share of people in their twenties on this list. The college campus is the area's largest employer, and its medical center is the second-biggest boss in town. But if you're hoping to inch away from the school, Trinity Health medical center and Toyota Technical Center (a research division for the auto company) are also major local employers...."
"Below-average living costs, above-average pay and a population teeming with twentysomethings make Salt Lake an excellent starting-out city. The overall unemployment rate adds to the area's appeal -- at 5%, it's far below the nation's 8.1%. Top employers include the University of Utah, along with its hospital, and Delta Airlines. And software firm Adobe is expected to add 1,100 jobs in its newly built facility south of the city...."
More from our Things to Do archive: "Photos: Top ten most walkable Colorado cities."
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