Syracuse named top city for new grads
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Binh Huynh graduated from Syracuse University three years ago. He landed a job in Washington D.C., but had a last-minute change of heart.
"I wanted a major city with resources of a major city but also a small community feel," Huynh said.
So he stayed where he was.
Huynh is among the growing number of young professionals finding better opportunities and a better deal in smaller cities.
"I look at a lot of my peers who are in these major, major cities and they're living paycheck by paycheck and I'm actually able to save," Huynh said. He is now an undergraduate recruiter for Syracuse University's School of Engineering.
"I think it's just a shift in the perception and in what this group is looking for," said Elle Stasz of Central Upstate Regional Alliance. "They're not looking to go to a major city and live, you know, maybe paycheck to paycheck at best."
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According to a report by Next Generation Consulting, the lower cost of living is just one reason grads are rethinking the rush to a big city. The group named Syracuse one of the best small cities for young professionals.
There were several factors that helped earn Syracuse the 14th spot on the list, but grads told us one of the most important is there's always something to do.
"I love culture, I love the arts and Syracuse has a lot of that, but I also really love the outdoors," said Carissa Matthews, a 2009 S.U. graduate.
Though she grew up near New York City, Matthews took a job at the new Center for Excellence. She sees a promising future in Syracuse.
"Syracuse is called a postindustrial city and we always think about it as going downhill. And I really think this is a time in Syracuse's history where it's on the brink and it's going back up," Matthews said.
"Because this millennial population is seeing something different and valuing different things we will see overall a population growth potentially in the next, you know, several years," said Stasz.
Which is one way the recession could actually help the city.
Among the other top twenty cities with 100,000 to 200,000 people were Salt Lake City, and Charleston, South Carolina. Fort Collins, Colorado was ranked number one.
To see the entire list, go to
nextgenerationconsulting.com/library/blog-post/best-cities-for-next-gen-workforce-whats-more-important-than-jobs