A website that ranks medium sized cities and towns on Monday named Bethesda as the No. 4 best city in the country for new college grads in 2014.
Livability.com says the combination of Bethesda’s 25- to 34-year-old population, education levels and the presence of jobs in top-hiring industries make it one of the most livable places for those looking to start a career.
Bethesda has the lowest unemployment rate (1.3 percent) on the top-10 list and more than 83 percent of the roughly 7,000 people in Bethesda age 25-34 have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the rankings. It also helped that Bethesda is the home to leading research facilities such as NIH and major companies such as Lockheed Martin and Marriott.
“Businesses relocate for access to a talented workforce. But, increasingly, those young talents are choosing where to move after college based on livability,” Livability.com editor Matt Carmichael said in a press release. “These 10 cities are great places for recent grads, which should put them on the radar of employers looking to expand as well.”
The website said it also factored in the availability of rental units, public transportation and “cities that cater to a younger demographic by offering lots of recreational activities, hot nightlife and a hip vibe.”
“The majority of residents here make more than $130,000 a year,” according to the website. “Although there are fewer rental properties in Bethesda when compared to other cities on our list, young newcomers shouldn’t have a problem finding a trendy, hip apartment loaded with amenities like a pool, workout room and tennis courts.”
Cambridge, Mass., Bellevue, Wash., and Austin, Texas beat out Bethesda on the list. Other cities in the top 10 include Minneapolis, Hoboken, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Fargo, N.D.
