Best Cities for Recent Grads

As millions ponder where to unpack their bags after four years at college, The Daily Beast sorts through the stats for its second annual ranking of which cities offer the brightest future.

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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---fayetteville_nx5unb — Population: 360,355
Percent of population between age 22-24: 6.4 percent
Cost of Living Index: 95.3
Percent of housing units for rental: 44 percent
Unemployment rate: 9.1
Average per-capita personal income: $40,045
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---omaha_hlcncd — Population: 849,491
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 88.2
Percent of housing units for rental: 33 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.1
Average per-capita personal income: $42,982
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---oklahoma-city_ey4lzc — Population: 1,227,278
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.8 percent
Cost of Living Index: 92.6
Percent of housing units for rental: 35 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.2
Average per-capita personal income: $38,742
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---houston_geyq8s — Population: 5,865,086
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 91.9
Percent of housing units for rental: 38 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.3
Average per-capita personal income: $46,570
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---lexington_qim0sw — Population: 470,849
Percent of population between age 22-24: 5.8 percent
Cost of Living Index: 95.4
Percent of housing units for rental: 41 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.4
Average per-capita personal income: $35,715
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/cities-college-grads---durham_ylv7ln — Population: 501,228
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.5 percent
Cost of Living Index: 96.3
Percent of housing units for rental: 38 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.1
Average per-capita personal income: $41,008
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---dallas_d8gjn1 — Population: 6,447,228
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.9 percent
Cost of Living Index: 91.9
Percent of housing units for rental: 38 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.1
Average per-capita personal income: $41,764
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---tulsa_kiesrq — Population: 930,246
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 88.0
Percent of housing units for rental: 33 percent
Unemployment rate: 6.5
Average per-capita personal income: $40,402
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---little-rock_quujhf — Population: 686,212
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.2 percent
Cost of Living Index: 96.1
Percent of housing units for rental: 36 percent
Unemployment rate: 6.8
Average per-capita personal income: $39,431
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---savannah_wnhm4a — Population: 343,092
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.9 percent
Cost of Living Index: 93.1
Percent of housing units for rental: 37 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.6
Average per-capita personal income: $38,348
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/state-budgets---washington-dc_yne2it — Population: 5,476,241
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 139.7
Percent of housing units for rental: 34 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.8
Average per-capita personal income: $56,984
Charles Dharapak

galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/pot-smoking-cities---boston_d4awcf — Population: 4,588,680
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 131.1
Percent of housing units for rental: 37 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.1
Average per-capita personal income: $53,553

galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---corpus-christi_gpthre — Population: 416,095
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.3 percent
Cost of Living Index: 91.3
Percent of housing units for rental: 37 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.9
Average per-capita personal income: $36,558
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---baton-rouge_bmsbhy — Population: 786,947
Percent of population between age 22-24: 6.0 percent
Cost of Living Index: 96.4
Percent of housing units for rental: 32 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.2
Average per-capita personal income: $38,107
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---new-orleans_o2pbod — Population: 1,189,981
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.8 percent
Cost of Living Index: 95.8
Percent of housing units for rental: 34 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.9
Average per-capita personal income: $42,705
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---des-moines_ekxkuo — Population: 562,993
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.7 percent
Cost of Living Index: 91.2
Percent of housing units for rental: 29 percent
Unemployment rate: 6.6
Average per-capita personal income: $42,012
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---columbus_gjss8p — Population: 1,801,848
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.6 percent
Cost of Living Index: 92.8
Percent of housing units for rental: 37 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.6
Average per-capita personal income: $37,999
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---bridgeportstamford_rfhgew — Population: 901,208
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.3 percent
Cost of Living Index: 146.5
Percent of housing units for rental: 30 percent
Unemployment rate: 8.7
Average per-capita personal income: $74,767
Kathleen O'Rourke

galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---shreveport_bph25x — Population: 391,516
Percent of population between age 22-24: 3.9 percent
Cost of Living Index: 96.1
Percent of housing units for rental: 35 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.2
Average per-capita personal income: $38,358
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/cities-start-over---seattle_zawlsd — Population: 3,407,848
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.1 percent
Cost of Living Index: 120.2
Percent of housing units for rental: 38 percent
Unemployment rate: 9.2
Average per-capita personal income: $50,378

galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---albany_ad3xx1 — Population: 857,592
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.6 percent
Cost of Living Index: 107.7
Percent of housing units for rental: 33 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.2
Average per-capita personal income: $42,206
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---san-antonio_qe1vk4 — Population: 2,073,092
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.3 percent
Cost of Living Index: 96.2
Percent of housing units for rental: 35 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.3
Average per-capita personal income: $36,285
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---kalamazoo_iq39ii — Population: 326,634
Percent of population between age 22-24: 6.5 percent
Cost of Living Index: 90.8
Percent of housing units for rental: 33 percent
Unemployment rate: 9.5
Average per-capita personal income: $33,075
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galleries/2011/05/31/best-cities-for-recent-grads/best-cities-for-grads-2011---honolulu_mryuxk — Population: 907,574
Percent of population between age 22-24: 4.8 percent
Cost of Living Index: 166.7
Percent of housing units for rental: 45 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.1
Average per-capita personal income: $45,496
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