The US cities new grads are invading... sparking fears of wild parties and nightmare neighbors

Daily Mail​

27-05-2025

Some would consider Neighbors, the 2014 Seth Rogen movie about a couple who are forced to live next to a fraternity and endure their relentless partying, to be a horror film.
And it's about to turn into real life for many across the US.
Thousands of 2025 college graduates are set to invade major cities this summer.
They'll be looking for job opportunities and cheap rent in cities across the country, while hoping to have enough left over to get off their parents' phone plan and booze with their friends on the weekends.
A brand new ranking of the top 10 cities for recent college grads has been released by Realtor.com, and some surprising cities such as New York didn't even make the list.
Instead, Austin, Texas, took the top spot for where grads are headed with degrees in hand.
City residents should brace for boozy bar crawls in the streets, along with the annual SantaCon stupidity, crowded happy hours, and an explosion of Taco Tuesday specials on the menu.
Austin is a hotspot for grads as it has the lowest rent-to-income ratio (which means lots of affordable housing), but it's also brimming with entry-level jobs and an affordable lifestyle.
The city has become a top choice for tech workers, and Austin's suburbs have, on average, a 25 minute commute to downtown.
Other cities that made the list are Raleigh, NC, for its thriving job market, short commutes, and affordable housing.
Overland Park, KS is fast-growing with low-stress living in a chill metro.
Minneapolis, MN, is packed with recent grads due to its low rent costs and job opportunities. There are lots of parks and waterfalls in the city, which is also home to Prince's home and studio, Paisley Park, which offers tours, events and concerts.
St. Louis, MO, is extremely affordable and has good job availability, a well as lots of entertainment and bar options for young people.
Rounding out the list are Raleigh, NC, Richmond, VA, Pittsburgh, PA, Scottsdale, AZ, Richardson, TX, and Atlanta, GA.
On average, graduates who will move to these cities spend just 21.5 percent of their income on rent - way below the national US median.
In Austin, it's just 18.9 percent, which means a grad may actually be able to furnish an apartment. Or at least, start with a couch.
Recent college grads need entry-level jobs and cheap rents after leaving school
SantaCon participants, mostly college age kids, may be coming to a city near you
The report analyzed 312 cities and towns with a population of more than 75,000.
Rent data was determined by using studio, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedroom units advertised as for rent between April 2024 and March 2025 in the top 50 metros.
Both Minneapolis (19.7 percent) and Raleigh (20 percent) come in under the 30 percent affordability line, giving new renters money to pay back student loans or get off their parents' streaming subscriptions.
These 10 cities also offer real job opportunities, with a high number of entry-level jobs in each.
Raleigh tops the job availability list while Austin isn't far behind.
Richmond and Scottsdale are showing 26 percent more job openings than pre-pandemic levels, according to the Indeed Hiring Index.
For available rentals, Atlanta and Overland Park offer high vacancy rates (9 percent), giving grads more empty units to choose from.
And while the transition from college life to real life may be hard, these are cities that also bring the fun.
Austin is known for its lively music and arts scene, while Minneapolis is growing a reputation for its festival-filled summers.
Meanwhile, another area in the US is becoming known for its affordability.
A scenic Florida metropolis dubbed 'Brick City' has earned the title of the Sunshine State's most affordable housing hotspot, with homes selling for half the price of those in coastal cities.
New research by Cinch Home Services has crowned Ocala in Central Florida as a bargain market, in which property is going for $183.32 per square foot - a staggering 58 per cent cheaper than prices in Naples and Marco Island.
'Ocala has quickly become one of Florida's most desirable and affordable markets,' Elisha Lopez, broker-owner of Ocala Realty World, told the Daily Mail.
'With median home prices well below other metro areas, buyers are getting more home, more land and more value without sacrificing access or lifestyle.'
Other parts of Florida are in trouble, though.
After years of surging demand due to the pandemic real estate boom, the region's real estate market is now flooded with listings, as desperate homeowners rush to sell amid soaring costs and vanishing buyers.
The number of homes for sale across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties has quadrupled since 2022 - hitting the highest level in nearly a decade.