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
