America’s Best Cities for Young Professionals

According to a recent article from Forbes, the top cities for young professionals are:

1. Des Moines, Iowa
M.S.A.: Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 0.99%
Median salary: $47,200
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 92
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 33.8%
1 small business for every 50 residents
1 large business for every 568 residents
Unemployment rate: 5.8%
The corn-belt city has the most big businesses per capita, a brag-worthy unemployment rate, low cost of living and a flourishing number of young professionals residing in the area.

2. Raleigh, N.C.
M.S.A.: Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 2%
Median salary: $51,500
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 104.4
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 42.2%
1 small business for every 49 residents
1 large business for every 770 residents
Unemployment rate: 7.9%
The college town has one of the best job growth projections of any city we assessed and the 16th best average salary for young professionals, exceeded only by markedly more expensive cities.

3. Madison, Wis.
M.S.A.: Madison, Wis.
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 0.89%
Median salary: $4 7,100 Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 102.6
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 41%
1 small business for every 48 residents
1 large business for every 689 residents
Unemployment rate: 5.3%
Wisconsin's capital city boasts a low unemployment rate thanks to governmental jobs and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a growing number of biotech and advertising companies.

4. Salt Lake City, Utah
M.S.A.: Salt Lake City, Utah
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 1.32%
Median salary: $51,200
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 103.9
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 29.7%
1 small business for every 43 residents
1 large business for every 764 residents
Unemployment rate: 7.2%
A large number of small businesses per capita, a high concentration of banks and good paychecks mean the "Crossroads of the West" offers opportunity to young professionals.

5. Omaha, Neb.
M.S.A.: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Average
Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 0.82%
Median salary: $45,400
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 91.8
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 31.7%
1 small business for every 50 residents
1 large business for every 754 residents
Unemployment rate: 4.6%
Warren Buffett's hometown has the lowest unemployment rate on our list, low cost of living and a significant number of large businesses.

6. Portland, Maine
M.S.A.: Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 0.9%
Median salary: $41,000
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 101.9
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 34.4%
1 small business for every 35 residents
1 large business for every 696 residents
Unemployment rate: 6.2%
The New England port town has the highest number of small businesses per capita, a relatively high proportion of large businesses and a low unemployment rate.

7. Denver, Colo.
M.S.A.: Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.
Average Annual Job Growth (2010-2012): 1%
Median salary: $51,000
Cost-of-living index (U.S. average is 100): 102.8
Percent of pop. with college degrees: 37.6%
1 small business for every 43 residents
1 large business for every 1,020 residents
Unemployment rate: 8.5%
The Mile High City boasts a significant college-educated population, a note-worthy number of small businesses and a healthy job growth rate that's bolstered by the presence of companies like Lockheed Martin and IBM