From graduating college and finding your first job to making your career dreams a reality and the many milestones in between, a lot of things can happen in those 10 years of young adulthood - so why not add moving to a new city to your list?
Personal finance site WalletHub recently analyzed and ranked the 150 most populous US cities based on 19 metrics that 20-somethings would likely find most helpful in picking a new city.
Metrics included the number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents, housing affordability, annual job growth rate, recreation ranking, unemployment rate, and number of leisure establishments in the area.
To read more about the study's methodology, check out the full report here.
These 20 cities rank as your best prospects for building your new life:
20. Omaha, Nebraska
Monthly median starting salary: $2,552
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 18
While there aren't too many entry-level jobs in Omaha, a good number of people living there already - almost 97% - have jobs. The city also makes up for its less-than-stellar professional opportunities rank of No. 27 with it's quality of life rank of No. 6, which came in part from its abundance of recreational activities and single people.
19. Plano, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $2,947
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 147
At $82,129, Plano has the highest median annual income of the 150 cities analyzed. The city also has the most affordable housing.
18. Aurora, Colorado
Monthly median starting salary: $2,845
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 85
Virtually across the board Aurora scores above average in both quality of life and professional opportunities categories, with a respective ranking of No. 47 and No. 12. Workforce diversity, recreation ranking, and median income growth rate all contribute to the city's ranking.
17. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Monthly median starting salary: $2,538
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 16
The city's workforce diversity, housing affordability, and low unemployment rate contribute to the city's professional opportunities rank of No. 12 and quality of life rank of No. 44, making Oklahoma City an optimal choice for the young worker.
16. Seattle, Washington
Monthly median starting salary: $2,746
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 42
A majority of Seattle's population has at least a bachelor's degree, and about a quarter of the city's occupants are in their 20s to mid 30s, and single people abound. The home to Amazon, Expedia, and Nintendo also boasts a high median income growth rate and economic mobility. Overall the city ranks No. 7 for quality of life and No. 25 for professional opportunities.
15. Des Moines, Iowa
Monthly median starting salary: $2,647
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 25
Des Moines has the 15th best professional opportunities and 36th best quality of life ranking. This city is particularly great for young people in part because the city offers affordable housing and has tons of single people.
14. Dallas, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,060
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 36
Dallas boasts the 6th best professional opportunities ranking of the 150 cities analyzed, thanks to its high monthly median starting salary, workforce diversity, and above average annual job growth rate and entrepreneurial activity ranking. The tradeoff is the city's quality of life rank of No. 36.
13. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Monthly median starting salary: $2,756
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 82
With a professional opportunities rank of No. 17 and quality of life rank of No. 18, Minneapolis is a great option for people in their 20s. They city's low unemployment rate and large cluster of young, educated people with access to arts, leisure, and recreation establishments especially makes this true.
12. Salt Lake City, Utah
Monthly median starting salary: $2,451
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 73
High economic mobility, low unemployment, and tons of young, educated people to meet make Salt Lake City a viable option for 20-somethings. It follows, then, that the city earned a professional opportunities rank of No. 16 and quality of life rank of No. 19.
11. Arlington, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,335
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 122
With the second highest monthly median starting salary and a median annual income of $59,553, it's not surprise Arlington ranks No. 10 for professional opportunities. While there aren't a ton of young, single people to mingle with, the housing is pretty affordable, which earns the city a rank of No. 46 for overall quality of life.
10. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Monthly median starting salary: $2,754
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 16
Coming in at No. 10 overall is Tulsa, Oklahoma. It earned a professional opportunities rank of No. 5 and ranked No. 61 for quality of life. WalletHub also ranks the city as the second best for entrepreneurial activity.
9. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Monthly median starting salary: $2,190
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 9
WalletHub ranks Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the second best city for families and the sixth best for entrepreneurial activity, which makes the city the fourth best in terms of overall quality of life and No. 18 for overall professional opportunities.
8. Fort Worth, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,013
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 29
Affordable housing options is one of the many reasons Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the best cities for overall professional opportunities and No. 41 for quality of life.
7. Fremont, California
Monthly median starting salary: $2,634
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 195
The median annual income in Fremont, California, is $71,593, the third highest of the 150 cities analyzed. This contributes to the city's overall professional opportunities rank of No. 9 and fairly high quality of life score.
6. Corpus Christi, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $2,733
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 9
With the second best median income growth rate and the seventh best annual job growth rate, Corpus Christi, Texas, comes in at No. 4 for overall professional opportunities and No. 82 for overall quality of life.
Reuters/Richard Carson
Houston, Texas.
5. Houston, Texas
Reuters/Richard Carson
Houston, Texas.
Monthly median starting salary: $3,671
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 19
Houston, Texas, boasts the highest monthly median starting salary of the 150 cities analyzed, earning it a rank of No. 3 for overall professional opportunities and No. 71 for overall quality of life.
4. Denver, Colorado
Monthly median starting salary: $2,845
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 48
Denver, Colorado, has the eighth best overall professional opportunities and an overall quality of life rank of No. 13, which stems from its relatively high median income growth rate and young people making up almost a quarter of the city's population.
3. Austin, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,005
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 23
A rapidly growing population, a low unemployment rate of 3.4%, and tons of single people to hang out with earns Austin, Texas, the No. 11 spot in terms of professional opportunities and No. 1 for quality of life.
2. Grand Prairie, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,190
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 270
Grand Prairie, Texas, has some of the most affordable housing and plenty of entry-level jobs that pay well, which affords it the No. 2 spot for overall professional opportunities and No. 49 for overall quality of life.
1. Irving, Texas
Monthly median starting salary: $3,060
Number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents: 233
With the second best workforce diversity levels and tons of entry-level jobs on the market, Irving, Texas, ranks No. 1 for overall professional opportunities and No. 38 for overall quality of life.