The best city for jobs in each state

 

What is the one thing in life that causes you the most stress?

Look at any survey, you’ll notice jobs on every single one of them.

Now imagine having little to no stress when it comes to jobs…Feels good, right?


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We thought the same thing, and that left us wondering which cities were the best for jobs. Specifically, which city is the best in each state when it comes to jobs?

We decided to dive deep into this question, and we have the answer for you. We looked at a number of criteria to determine the best city in each of the 50 states.

Before that though, here are the top 10 cities:

  1. Eureka, MO
  2. Campton Hills, IL
  3. Bothell East, WA
  4. The Pinery, CO
  5. North Potomac, MD
  6. Ewa Gentry, HI
  7. West University Place, TX
  8. Sherwood, OR
  9. Babylon, NY
  10. Greentree, NJ

Did you have the same reaction to this list as we did–like, where are these places? Never heard of them.

Yes, some of these can come as a surprise, but fear not, because I am about to tell you exactly what put these cities on the top.

How we calculated the best city for jobs in each state

We looked at the PUMS data from 2012 to 2017, and compared the year over year numbers for the following:

  • Unemployment rates
  • Median income
  • Home to income ratio

We also looked at the current rate of unemployment and current income levels when determining the ranking.

We then ranked every city in all 50 states from best to worst for jobs to calculate the best city in each state for jobs.

Before we get to the full list of best cities for jobs in each state, here are the top 10 best cities for jobs in more detail:

The 10 best city for jobs in each state for 2019

1. Eureka, MO

Population: 10,554
Median Income: $102,809
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

Nestled among the rolling hills and limestone of southwest Missouri, Eureka has small town feel, but it is actually a suburb of St. Louis. Beautiful parks, affordable housing, and low crime rate make this Missouri town a great place to live.

Add to this the fact that this city has seen a consistent decline in unemployment rates and boasts a high median income of over $100,000, the city of Eureka, MO is number 1 on our list.

2. Campton Hills, IL

Population: 11,386
Median Income: $131,658
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

Campton Hills, IL is next on our list, and this one is a suburb of Chicago.

It is more a “village” that provides its residents with great lifestyle that includes jobs that have amazing benefits and handsome wages; that coupled with low unemployment rate make Campton Hills a great city for jobs.

3. Bothell East, WA

Population: 10,424
Median Income: $122,039
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

Bothell East, WA has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, and no wonder it is one of the top cities for jobs and the best for jobs in Washington state.

This city is again is part of a large metropolitan area, this time the State of Washington.

4. The Pinery, CO

Population: 11,720
Median Income: $130,509
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

The Pinery, CO is not a suburb of a big bustling metro, but it is located in an uber rich county that has the highest median household income of any Colorado county. Not just that, Douglas County is the seventh in the nation when it comes to highest median household incomes.

The Pinery is located between Denver and Colorado Springs and is surrounded by three state parks. Jobs and nature = Adult bliss

5. North Potomac, MD

Population: 24,236
Median Income: $161,553
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

Next on our list is North Potomac, MD, a town located 20 miles from Washington, D.C. It is close enough to a large metro area to be great for high paying jobs and low unemployment rates, but still far enough away from D.C.’s rush and craziness.

6. Ewa Gentry, HI

Population: 24,181
Median Income: $99,989
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

Hawaii is called paradise for a reason, but we’ve all heard how expensive it is.

However, if you can manage to move to Ewa Gentry on the island of Oahu, you might be able to enjoy this paradise state.

Very low unemployment rate, great salary, and affordable homes (well, affordable for Hawaii) put this Honolulu suburb on our top cities for jobs list.

7. West University Place, TX

Population: 15,477
Median Income: $243,226
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

Another suburb, this time a Houston suburb, West University Place, TX has one of the highest median income in the country–$220,868. No surprises here, people have kickass jobs in this city.

8. Sherwood, OR

Population: 19,107
Median Income: $95,309
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%

Sherwood, OR is a beautiful suburb of the wonderful city of Portland, and this rainy city is lush not only when it comes to its landscape but also jobs. Low unemployment rate, affordable homes, and satisfactory median income make this gorgeous city the best for jobs in Oregon.

9. Babylon, NY

Population: 12,177
Median Income: $123,110
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

Babylon Village is number 9 on our best city for jobs list, and it is the best city in the state of New York.

Located approximately 25 miles from New York City, Babylon is best known for its restaurants, shops, and the Gilgo beach.

Low unemployment rates, high median income, affordability, and proximity to New York City make Babylon Village the best city in New York for jobs.

10. Greentree, NJ
Population: 11,209
Median Income: $123,092
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%The last one on our top 10 list is Greentree, NJ, which can be described more as a township than a city. Regardless, this is the best place in New Jersey when it come to jobs owing to its low unemployment rates, affordable homes, and high median income.

Wrapping up the best city for jobs in each state for 2019

A good percentage of these cities are suburbs of major metropolis, and that is not surprising. Jobs are more likely to be abundant in big cities, and that can be seen here too.

The cities on our list not only give you an idea on how good they are in terms of jobs and income, but they are meant to give you a sense of how the jobs and affordability add up to give you a more wholistic view of the city and the lifestyle you can afford.

Feel like moving to one of these cities? I’m with you. Check out which city in your state is the best for jobs.

What’s the best city for jobs in  each state?

Rank State Population
1 Eureka, MO 10,554
2 Campton Hills, IL 11,386
3 Bothell East, WA 10,424
4 The Pinery, CO 11,720
5 North Potomac, MD 24,236
6 Ewa Gentry, HI 24,181
7 West University Place, TX 15,477
8 Sherwood, OR 19,107
9 Babylon, NY 12,177
10 Greentree, NJ 11,209
11 Westport, CT 27,777
12 Broadview Heights, OH 19,262
13 Lutz, FL 21,448
14 Big Lake, MN 10,516
15 James Island, SC 11,908
16 Brookline, MA 59,246
17 Clayton, CA 11,838
18 Oregon, WI 10,033
19 Wyndham, VA 10,334
20 Davidson, NC 12,325
21 Grimes, IA 11,139
22 Lehi, UT 58,351
23 Hockessin, DE 13,672
24 Granger, IN 30,717
25 Upper St. Clair, PA 19,524
26 Chalco, NE 11,209
27 Glenpool, OK 12,929
28 Kuna, ID 17,590
29 Druid Hills, GA 13,895
30 Byram, MS 11,660
31 Germantown, TN 39,230
32 River Ridge, LA 13,809
33 Spanish Springs, NV 16,458
34 Lebanon, NH 13,544
35 Berkley, MI 15,269
36 Jackson, WY 10,413
37 Newton, KS 18,972
38 Newport, RI 24,745
39 Fairhope, AL 19,561
40 Anthem, AZ 22,980
41 Bentonville, AR 44,601
42 Jamestown, ND 15,367
43 Kalispell, MT 21,992
44 Carlsbad, NM 28,393
45 Shelbyville, KY 15,318
46 Portland, ME 66,715
47 Teays Valley, WV 13,805
48 South Burlington, VT 18,773
49 Pierre, SD 13,974
50 Badger, AK 19,039
51 Washington, DC 672,391

This article originally appeared on Zippia. 


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