Best cities for a resident
The best cities for residents are Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for residents vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for residents in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a resident or considering a move, this list of the best cities for residents to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for residents. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a resident. While the absolute best city for residents is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for residents in 2024.
If you're looking for a resident job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for residents in 2026
1. Cleveland, OH
Total resident jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $57,584 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 66.59 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total resident jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $58,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 44.36 3. Toledo, OH
Total resident jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $56,791 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 16.36 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total resident jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $59,799 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 25.20 5. Durham, NC
Total resident jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $58,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 37.92 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Total resident jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $57,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 37.95 7. Raleigh, NC
Total resident jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $58,035 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 12.65 8. Winston-Salem, NC
Total resident jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $57,595 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 7.89 9. Seattle, WA
Total resident jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $66,921 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 11.48 10. Anchorage, AK
Total resident jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $67,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 6.05
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Best cities for residents
- Cleveland, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Toledo, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Durham, NC
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Raleigh, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Seattle, WA
- Anchorage, AK
- (20 resident jobs)
- (94 resident jobs)
- (19 resident jobs)
- (62 resident jobs)
- (161 resident jobs)
- (103 resident jobs)
- (86 resident jobs)
- (10 resident jobs)
- (253 resident jobs)
- (8 resident jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a resident
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $57,584 | $38,000 | 385,809 | 20 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,285 | $39,000 | 303,625 | 94 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $56,791 | $37,000 | 278,508 | 19 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,799 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | 62 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $58,111 | $38,000 | 263,016 | 161 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,033 | $37,000 | 246,645 | 103 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $58,035 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 86 |
| 8 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,595 | $37,000 | 242,203 | 10 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $66,921 | $46,000 | 704,352 | 253 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $67,094 | $55,000 | 298,192 | 8 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $61,887 | $41,000 | 2,704,958 | 165 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $61,773 | $43,000 | 673,184 | 46 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,010 | $36,000 | 298,800 | 28 |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $50,569 | $33,000 | 318,449 | 24 |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $55,982 | $37,000 | 252,551 | 16 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $65,242 | $44,000 | 639,863 | 27 |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $56,425 | $37,000 | 530,706 | 28 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $56,207 | $37,000 | 860,090 | 28 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,590 | $33,000 | 325,733 | 185 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $72,083 | $48,000 | 681,170 | 110 |
| 21 | New York, NY | $64,423 | $44,000 | 8,537,673 | 94 |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,698 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 40 |
| 23 | Mesa, AZ | $56,950 | $37,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 24 | Greensboro, NC | $57,796 | $38,000 | 287,027 | 5 |
| 25 | Lubbock, TX | $52,238 | $34,000 | 252,506 | 11 |
| 26 | Saint Paul, MN | $59,732 | $40,000 | 302,398 | 16 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $51,548 | $34,000 | 672,795 | 30 |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $54,823 | $36,000 | 446,970 | 14 |
| 29 | Aurora, CO | $57,262 | $38,000 | 361,710 | 66 |
| 30 | Nashville, TN | $49,539 | $32,000 | 660,388 | 30 |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $51,551 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | 204 |
| 32 | Louisville, KY | $50,315 | $33,000 | 597,337 | 12 |
| 33 | Jacksonville, FL | $53,297 | $34,000 | 880,619 | 110 |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | $56,417 | $37,000 | 842,051 | 15 |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $63,384 | $43,000 | 256,902 | 9 |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $53,141 | $34,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 37 | Saint Louis, MO | $50,297 | $33,000 | 311,404 | 136 |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,083 | $37,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 39 | Miami, FL | $52,208 | $34,000 | 453,579 | 159 |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $51,872 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | 20 |
| 41 | Baltimore, MD | $59,076 | $39,000 | 614,664 | 202 |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | $56,635 | $38,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 43 | Glendale, AZ | $57,103 | $37,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $56,962 | $37,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 45 | Albuquerque, NM | $54,369 | $35,000 | 559,277 | 7 |
| 46 | Dallas, TX | $51,644 | $33,000 | 1,317,929 | 39 |
| 47 | Lincoln, NE | $54,801 | $36,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 48 | Memphis, TN | $48,713 | $32,000 | 652,717 | 11 |
| 49 | Gilbert, AZ | $56,939 | $37,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 50 | Orlando, FL | $52,821 | $34,000 | 277,173 | 23 |
Highest paying cities for residents
| Rank | City | Avg. resident salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $72,083 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $69,188 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $66,921 |
| 4 | Salem, OR | $65,301 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $64,423 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $63,014 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $62,832 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $61,887 |
| 9 | Springfield, MA | $61,871 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,799 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,698 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $59,076 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $58,111 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $57,584 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $57,282 |
| 16 | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,033 |
| 17 | Charlottesville, VA | $54,668 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $53,297 |
| 19 | Portland, ME | $51,972 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $51,644 |
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Updated January 8, 2025