Updated July 31, 2024
Deciding the best place to live after college graduation is a big decision filled with excitement. Typically, this decision will be based on where you land a job with your new degree. Not only will you need to research your potential employers thoroughly, but you will also need to fully research the location of the job to decide if it is a place you would like to live. Of course, if you begin work as a graduate remotely, you can live wherever you choose!
Check out the best places to move to after college and what these five cities below have to offer recent college graduates in terms of job prospects, cost of living, and more.
Best Cities to Move to After College
Moving to Tampa, FL
The Tampa Bay region is one of the fastest-growing areas of Florida. This region includes the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. The city of Tampa is the largest of the three cities, offering all the benefits of living in a metropolitan area surrounded by a permanent beach vacation vibe. The largest industries in the Tampa market are technology, healthcare, social services, supply chain, finance, and retail. Many jobs in business and financial operations, management, and education are also available in the area. With such a large Spanish-speaking population, bilingual job opportunities are easily found.
Moving to Atlanta, GA
Considered by some to be the heart of the south, Atlanta is a large, diverse, vibrant city where everyone can find a place to feel right at home. Atlanta is home to some of the largest Fortune 500 companies in the country, including Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and UPS. Atlanta has also risen as a vital tech hub for startups in the Southeast - so there are a number of entry level job opportunities available, making it one of the best places to move to after college. Other significant employment sectors include infrastructure, hospitals, universities, and film. Atlanta also has plenty of entertainment value as well for college grads. There are a number of sports teams and venues to visit, such as the Georgia Aquarium, the largest such in the country.
Moving to Houston, TX
Houston is a fast-growing, economically thriving area with a wide array of cultural, entertainment, and recreation options. Add a booming job market and comparatively low cost of living to year-round mild weather, and we understand why many college graduates want to move here! Houston is a major hub for aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, oil, and gas industries. Strong career possibilities are plentiful as Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarters within its city limits than any other city, the only exception being New York City.
Moving to Seattle, WA
The city of Seattle has an incredible draw on people looking for a fresh start. With the region's natural beauty and excellent career opportunities, it’s not hard to see why Seattle has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. You will have plenty of job leads to choose from in Seattle. Several Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in the Emerald City, especially in the technology, engineering, aerospace, medical, and travel industries.
Moving to Phoenix, AZ
The allure of Phoenix convinces more than 50,000 people to make the move there each year. Those choosing to call Phoenix home are quite diverse, with a mix of young adults, families, and retirees from various backgrounds. Phoenix residents are as dedicated to hard work as they are to play. Due to the warm weather, seasonal tourism, and recreation, businesses thrive here. Phoenix is also a hub for the technology industry, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, film and digital media, bioscience, and healthcare, and it is an ideal location for launching startups. If you don’t want to move to the northwest or northeast because of the cold, then Phoenix is a great place to start your career journey after college!
What to Consider When Moving to a New City
- Cost of Living: When narrowing down your list of choices for a new city, it’s helpful to compare the cost of living. Cost of living refers to how much you’ll pay for essentials like rent and groceries and extras such as dining out and entertainment, making a key part of the decision of whether you can live and work somewhere successfully. If you are relocating to a more expensive area, your salary won't go as far. There are many online cost-of-living calculators that can help you figure out your salary needs in a new city. You can also compare the cost of living with the national average for a clearer picture.
- Lifestyle: When doing a pre-visit to the cities you are considering, take some additional time to get a feel for whether this is a place you could see yourself living. What are your impressions of the community? How do the traffic and weather compare to your current situation? Are there shopping and entertainment venues that get you excited? Are sidewalks and walking trails important to you? What about parks or nearby green spaces for playing, exercising, and dog walking? Start by making a list of essential amenities and prioritizing them to help you view each city with a sharp eye. Whether the move will bring you closer or further away from family is also a significant consideration to keep in mind.
- Safety: It is unrealistic to expect to find a completely crime-free city to live in, but you can look up crime trends in the metro area you are considering to see how they compare to national crime statistics. Check here for seven online tools to check the safety of a neighborhood. Another thing to look for is a good amount of street lighting, which can deter crime. Take time to walk around at night to see how safe the area feels. Seeing people out walking and playing in a city lets you know that they feel safe.
Use 1-800-PACK-RAT for Your Post-College Moving Needs
When you find your dream job in your dream city, there is no need to search for hours across the internet to find the right moving assistance. From the 1-800-PACK-RAT homepage you can get a free quote for your upcoming moving needs, no matter where you are planning to go. You can choose from local, long-distance, or military moving, depending on your needs - and if you need storage, we can provide that as well. You will find detailed information on each type of move and complementary moving resources. Our portable storage containers can easily assist with your moving and storage needs and are extremely flexible to use.
Sometimes temporary storage is needed between move-in and move-out dates. With flexible pickup and delivery, we can accommodate that. You also can send the things you need right away to temporary housing in your new city while placing your lesser-needed belongings in storage. When you find the perfect place to live, you can have the rest of your belongings delivered straight there. With over 65 locations nationwide, we can help keep your stuff safe and secure.
1-800-PACK-RAT has moving supplies you can purchase and have shipped directly to your door. We also have partnered with trusted professional labor partners who can provide safe packing and loading services for your move. If you need to have your vehicle shipped to avoid wear and tear on a long-distance move, we also are partnered with trusted auto shipping providers.
We are happy and excited to help turn your college graduate dreams into a reality, so give us a call today or go online for a free quote to see how we can make moving and storage simple for you!