Localwork.com has analyzed the 50 most populous cities in Arizona to determine the best cities to live in Arizona.
Life after college might not sound so appealing to many recent college graduates. No more drinking during the middle of the weekday or going to class in pajamas. Yeah, you wish could turn back the hands of time.
But the harsh reality is…
… that carefree life you treasured so much is coming to an end.
Luckily, you have your whole life in front of you. From pursuing your dreams to starting a family, the possibilities are endless. But you need to start somewhere.
Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, might just be the place to make a life after college.
Besides the astonishing desert landscape, sunset, and nightlife, Arizona has a lot to offer for job-seeking millennials. From low unemployment rates to high job growth, there is an Arizona city that’s right for you.
So what are the best cities to live in Arizona?
For job seekers 20-34, location plays a large role in career success. Localwork.com has compiled data on the top 50 populous cities in Arizona to uncover the best cities to live in Arizona.
You will be surprised to find out that neither Tempe, Tucson or Phoenix took the number one spot.
Read more: 6 Key Steps to Finding and Getting a Job
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 32,600
Millennial Population (20-34): 24.1%
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Future Job Growth: 37.9%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 26,441
Millennial Population (20-34): 17.5%
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
Future Job Growth: 36.5%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 166,975
Millennial Population (20-34): 37.56%
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%
Future Job Growth: 39.5%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 231,978
Millennial Population (20-34): 22.18%
Unemployment Rate: 7%
Future Job Growth: 38.8%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 245,231
Millennial Population (20-34): 20.82%
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%%
Future Job Growth: 39.5%
Photo Source: azmc.org
Population: 28,529
Millennial Population (20-34): 15.4%
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
Future Job Growth: 38.8%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 223,131
Millennial Population (20-34): 19.57%
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
Future Job Growth: 39.8%
Photo Source: onlineatanthem.com
Population: 23,995
Millennial Population (20-34): 11%
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
Future Job Growth: 38.8%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 70,148
Millennial Population (20-34): 20.3%
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
Future Job Growth: 38.5%
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Population: 68525
Millennial Population (20-34): 18.7%
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Future Job Growth: 36.5%
The analysis factored in several categories.
The data from the 2014 American Community Survey (ACS) was used for each category except for one category, future job growth. We ended up using the data from Besstplaces.net for this category.
All data are combined to create an index to rank each city.
Millennial Population – Even though millennials age ranges from 18 to 34, we took the millennial population from 20 to 34 as part of our millennial age group. Millennials of this age group are about to or already have a postsecondary education, e.g. college or university.
Population over 25 with a Bachelor Degree – This is a great indicator of the amount of educated people who live in the city. Thus, correlating with the type of jobs that can be found in that city.
Unemployment rate – The unemployment rate of a city is a big indicator of the progress it has made. As you will see, Arizona, by itself, has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. And so are the cities in Arizona. So the lower the unemployment rate the higher the job opportunities.
Future job growth – As more and more baby boomers are retiring, the job market in Arizona has increased tremendously. So incorporated this particular data from bestplaces.net as part of the research. This data allowed us to see how bright the future will be Arizona.
Gross Rent Median – Since job-seeking millennials aren’t as focused on purchasing a home, our attention was also focused on the gross rent median for each city on the list.
Median household Income – The Median household is another great statistic that allows us to understand what people are making in those cities.
However, there were some exclusions:
Senior population – The senior population of the 50 most populated Arizona cities was also a big factor in the results. The cities that have at least 40 percent senior population (55 to 84) were excluded. We’ve found these cities aren’t as appealing to job-seeking millennials.
