Finding your dream job could quickly turn into a nightmare if you can’t find anywhere affordable to live when you relocate. Very few cities, it seems, offer both good employment prospects and comfortable, affordable places to live, making it very challenging for job hunters to combine the two. Luckily for you, Adzuna HQ has been looking at how the numbers stack up and we’ve got a little list of the top five cities in the United States where you can enjoy the best of both worlds – strong employment prospects and good, affordable homes…
5. Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is a city on the up, with the insurance, healthcare and finance industries all showing strong growth, as well as thriving fashion, defence, education and hospitality sectors. The average salary in Ohio’s capital is $47,420, and you can expect to spend around 26.5% of that on the cost of housing and living expenses.
Ohio State University is the largest in the nation, so job hunters on the lookout for academic posts would be wise to keep an eye on the jobs boards here. Those in the agriculture and chemical industries might also do well for jobs in Columbus too, as will those in tech or medical research roles.
4. Austin, Texas
Austin is the third fastest-growing city in the United States, making it a great place for landing your dream job. Under the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’, the city has a reputation for its great arts scene, large gay community and, thanks to the college, a large academic community. Homes and the cost of living are also surprisingly affordable – prices may have gone up in the last couple of years, but with an average household income of just over $55,200, you can live pretty comfortably and find a good job.
A surge in the number of high-tech companies relocating here have also earned Austin the nickname ‘Silicon Hills’. Those looking for jobs in Austin will find plenty of science, tech, academic and IT jobs, with big firms including IBM, Amazon and Apple all advertising on a regular basis.
3. Indianapolis, Indiana
With an unemployment rate of just 8% (around 5% below the national average), Indianapolis is a great place for job seekers. It also has plenty of affordable housing, with the average cost of a home coming in at $120,000 and residents estimated to spend around just 25.2% of their salary on housing expenses and utilities. Jobs and homes aside, the city has plenty to recommend it – it has been named both Racing Capital of the World and Amateur Sports Capital of the world, and with plenty of green parks and cultural activities, it’s also a very family-friendly place.
Those in the science and tech industries will fare particularly well here, as Indianapolis is home to the headquarters of many top companies in these sectors. If you’re looking for jobs in Indianapolis, roles for scientists, researchers and technicians are plentiful, as are jobs in healthcare and the hospitality sector.
2. Omaha, Nebraska
The home of investment king Warren Buffett, Omaha could be a wise investment for you too. Homes in this small Midwest town cost $152,450 on average, and residents can expect to spend just a quarter of their salary on housing and living expenses. With the median average salary coming in just below $45,000, home ownership and good job prospects seem highly likely for many in this very green and family-friendly city.
It’s easy to find jobs in Omaha, with top employers in the city including Offutt Air Force Base, CHI Health, the Nebraska Medical Center and Union Pacific. Tech firms including PayPal, LinkedIn and First Data also have a steady stream of vacancies, so those looking to make it big in the banking, tech, insurance or construction industries would do well to consider relocating to Omaha in search of their next career move.
1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
For good jobs and affordable houses, few places can compete with Pittsburgh. The Steel City has seen more than 1,600 new tech companies make it home over the past decade, including bases for Apple, Google, Facebook, Bosch and Nokia. Between them these tech firms generate around $20.7billion for the city.
Those on the lookout for jobs in Pittsburgh stand a good chance of finding something in the tech and IT industries, while finance, education, nuclear engineering and healthcare also do well. Homes are priced a staggering $70,000 below the national average, at $141,577. With an average annual income of $46,270 and around 25.5% of income spent on living expenses, Pittsburgh made it into Metropolis Magazine’s ‘Top Eleven Most Livable Cities in the World’ list in 2015.
We can’t help you on the real estate side, but Adzuna can help you open the door to a whole new jobs market. To find your perfect job, search Adzuna for the city of your choice and dream big – you really could have the best of both worlds!