Best places for Millennials in every state

Written by:
May 23, 2018
sevenMaps7 // Shutterstock

Best places for Millennials in every state

There's a nugget of truth in all those cracks about how much millennials love their avocado toast. Young people born between 1981 and 1996 do have different values than Generation X or Baby Boomers. While the meme about millennials choosing to buy fancy coffee and avocado toast instead of their first home is far from accurate, this generation would rather spend their money on experiences rather than things. Sure, older generations might call them entitled, but isn't that just another way to label someone who is self-confident and ambitious?

Given the difference in millennials' values from previous generations, it only makes sense that they'd look for different qualities in a place to live. Using 2018 data provided by Niche, Stacker selected the city, town or suburb that's best for young professionals in each state, focusing on places with populations of at least 10,000. Niche's rankings draw on a wide range of sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics and its own surveys. Niche also considered key factors such as access to jobs, restaurants, nightlife, and affordable housing. Read on to find out whether or not you live in your state's most millennial-friendly city and where you might consider moving to.

Alabama: Homewood

Population: 25,652
Median home value: $299,100
Median rent: $985
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: A-
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A-

Alaska: Anchorage

Population: 299,321
Median home value: $298,000
Median rent: $1,231
Overall Niche grade: B
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: N/A
Crime & safety grade: C-
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: B+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: B+

Arizona: Tempe

Population: 174,708
Median home value: $219,900
Median rent: $985
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A-

Arkansas: Bentonville

Population: 42,499
Median home value: $184,800
Median rent: $831
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: A-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: A+
Nightlife grade: B+
Jobs grade: A
Health & fitness grade: B

California: San Francisco

Population: 850,282
Median home value: $858,800
Median rent: $1,632
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: A+
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Colorado: Denver

Population: 663,303
Median home value: $292,700
Median rent: $1,035
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: C+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A+
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Connecticut: West Hartford

Population: 63,187
Median home value: $318,800
Median rent: $1,236
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Delaware: Pine Creek Valley

Population: 10,077
Median home value: $244,500
Median rent: $1,118
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A

Florida: Miami Beach

Population: 91,784
Median home value: $398,600
Median rent: $1,198
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A+

Georgia: North Druid Hills

Population: 18,331
Median home value: $311,000
Median rent: $1,204
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: C+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A+

Hawaii: Honolulu

Population: 401,470
Median home value: $660,200
Median rent: $1,386
Overall Niche grade: B+
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: N/A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: C+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Idaho: Moscow

Population: 24,885
Median home value: $209,700
Median rent: $658
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A+
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: C+
Health & fitness grade: B+

Illinois: Forest Park

Population: 14,137
Median home value: $205,500
Median rent: $967
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: C
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A-

Indiana: Fishers

Population: 85,887
Median home value: $225,700
Median rent: $1,133
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: A-
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B
Housing grade: A+
Nightlife grade: B+
Jobs grade: A+
Health & fitness grade: A

Iowa: West Des Moines

Population: 61,624
Median home value: $195,500
Median rent: $934
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: A
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: A
Health & fitness grade: A-

Kansas: Prairie Village

Population: 21,824
Median home value: $228,900
Median rent: $1,243
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B
Housing grade: A
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: A
Health & fitness grade: A+

Kentucky: St. Matthews

Population: 17,930
Median home value: $203,000
Median rent: $948
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A

Louisiana: New Orleans

Population: 382,922
Median home value: $197,000
Median rent: $929
Overall Niche grade: B
Public schools grade: B-
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C-
Outdoor activities grade: C+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: C+
Health & fitness grade: B-

Maine: Portland

Population: 66,649
Median home value: $248,000
Median rent: $969
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A+

Maryland: North Bethesda

Population: 49,971
Median home value: $543,000
Median rent: $1,850
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A+

Massachusetts: Cambridge

Population: 108,757
Median home value: $629,700
Median rent: $1,754
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A+
Commute grade: A+
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A+

Michigan: Ferndale

Population: 20,167
Median home value: $111,000
Median rent: $912
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: C
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A-

Minnesota: Minneapolis

Population: 404,670
Median home value: $212,800
Median rent: $898
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B-
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A

Mississippi: Ridgeland

Population: 24,338
Median home value: $176,700
Median rent: $966
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: B
Jobs grade: A-
Health & fitness grade: B

Missouri: Clayton

Population: 16,034
Median home value: $577,300
Median rent: $1,115
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Montana: Bozeman

Population: 41,761
Median home value: $278,700
Median rent: $901
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A

Nebraska: Omaha

Population: 443,072
Median home value: $139,800
Median rent: $819
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A-

Nevada: Winchester

Population: 27,986
Median home value: $128,300
Median rent: $819
Overall Niche grade: B+
Public schools grade: C+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A+
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: C+
Health & fitness grade: A

New Hampshire: Portsmouth

Population: 21,458
Median home value: $361,000
Median rent: $1,158
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A

New Jersey: Hoboken

Population: 53,136
Median home value: $621,300
Median rent: $2,001
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: C+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A+

New Mexico: Los Alamos

Population: 11,733
Median home value: $277,700
Median rent: $933
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: A
Nightlife grade: C+
Jobs grade: A+
Health & fitness grade: A+

New York: Manhattan

Population: 1,634,989
Median home value: $871,500
Median rent: $1,575
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: A+
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A+

North Carolina: Morrisville

Population: 22,600
Median home value: $291,400
Median rent: $1,146
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: A
Nightlife grade: B
Jobs grade: A+
Health & fitness grade: A-

North Dakota: Fargo

Population: 115,950
Median home value: $178,300
Median rent: $727
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: A-
Health & fitness grade: B+

Ohio: Lakewood

Population: 50,866
Median home value: $134,000
Median rent: $715
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A-

Oklahoma: Norman

Population: 118,974
Median home value: $163,900
Median rent: $802
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: D+
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: A-
Health & fitness grade: B+

Oregon: Portland

Population: 620,589
Median home value: $319,400
Median rent: $1,025
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A+
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A+

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh

Population: 305,305
Median home value: $100,800
Median rent: $844
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B-
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A-

Rhode Island: Newport

Population: 24,570
Median home value: $382,200
Median rent: $1,096
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: B-
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B-
Health & fitness grade: A

South Carolina: Charleston

Population: 129,888
Median home value: $269,400
Median rent: $1,052
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: B+

South Dakota: Sioux Falls

Population: 167,884
Median home value: $161,500
Median rent: $749
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: A-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B+
Nightlife grade: B+
Jobs grade: A-
Health & fitness grade: B+

Tennessee: Nashville

Population: 643,771
Median home value: $174,600
Median rent: $902
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: C+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B+
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A-
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: B

Texas: Addison

Population: 15,363
Median home value: $307,300
Median rent: $1,142
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A-
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: A-
Health & fitness grade: A-

Utah: Salt Lake City

Population: 191,446
Median home value: $248,700
Median rent: $844
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A

Vermont: Burlington

Population: 42,556
Median home value: $264,300
Median rent: $1,071
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A+
Housing grade: C-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: C+
Health & fitness grade: A+

Virginia: Arlington

Population: 226,092
Median home value: $623,300
Median rent: $1,861
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A+

Washington: Seattle

Population: 668,849
Median home value: $484,600
Median rent: $1,266
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: C+
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A+

West Virginia: Morgantown

Population: 30,364
Median home value: $178,500
Median rent: $742
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B-
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: B

Wisconsin: Shorewood

Population: 13,300
Median home value: $308,600
Median rent: $909
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A
Housing grade: B
Nightlife grade: A+
Jobs grade: B
Health & fitness grade: A

Wyoming: Jackson

Population: 10,279
Median home value: $573,400
Median rent: $1,175
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A+
Housing grade: C
Nightlife grade: A
Jobs grade: B+
Health & fitness grade: A

Trending Now