Lower unemployment.
Where is unemployment lower? Among these 58 metros, Rochester, NY ranks first at 3.0% (ACS 2024).
Metros are Census metropolitan statistical areas, not city limits. ACS 2024 one-year figures are annual survey estimates with margins of error, not live salaries, asking rents or monthly job reports.
Where is unemployment lower?
Ranked by unemployment, ACS 2024. Rank 1 is the lowest value.
Unemployed residents as a share of the civilian labor force. An annual survey estimate, not live vacancies or a complete career-opportunity score. Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 one-year estimates (via Census Reporter).
| # | Metro area | Household income | Period | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RochesterNY | $76,453 | 3.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 2 | HonoluluHI | $105,205 | 3.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 3 | Kansas CityMO-KS | $83,785 | 3.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 4 | NashvilleTN | $88,800 | 3.4% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 5 | St. LouisMO-IL | $81,679 | 3.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 6 | RaleighNC | $102,144 | 3.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 7 | Grand RapidsMI | $81,541 | 3.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 8 | CharlotteNC-SC | $85,938 | 3.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 9 | OmahaNE-IA | $84,524 | 3.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 10 | BirminghamAL | $74,954 | 3.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 11 | ColumbusOH | $82,938 | 3.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 12 | MilwaukeeWI | $77,919 | 3.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 12 | Virginia Beach-NorfolkVA-NC | $82,402 | 3.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 14 | Minneapolis-St. PaulMN-WI | $97,928 | 3.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 15 | RichmondVA | $83,460 | 3.9% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 16 | AustinTX | $99,897 | 3.9% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 17 | BostonMA-NH | $117,825 | 3.9% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 18 | IndianapolisIN | $80,239 | 4.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 19 | PittsburghPA | $77,214 | 4.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 20 | Salt Lake CityUT | $100,548 | 4.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 21 | CincinnatiOH-KY-IN | $81,489 | 4.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 22 | ClevelandOH | $72,532 | 4.1% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 23 | DenverCO | $108,046 | 4.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 23 | WashingtonDC-VA-MD-WV | $126,244 | 4.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 25 | PhoenixAZ | $90,133 | 4.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 26 | BuffaloNY | $72,300 | 4.2% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 27 | BaltimoreMD | $98,666 | 4.3% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 28 | Tampa-St. PetersburgFL | $78,275 | 4.3% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 29 | TucsonAZ | $72,067 | 4.3% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 30 | Oklahoma CityOK | $72,930 | 4.3% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 31 | MiamiFL | $80,625 | 4.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 32 | GreenvilleSC | $75,881 | 4.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 33 | Dallas-Fort WorthTX | $92,733 | 4.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 34 | AtlantaGA | $92,344 | 4.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 35 | JacksonvilleFL | $82,053 | 4.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 36 | ProvidenceRI-MA | $82,870 | 4.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 37 | TulsaOK | $69,658 | 4.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 38 | PortlandOR-WA | $98,994 | 4.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 39 | SeattleWA | $112,388 | 4.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 40 | HartfordCT | $94,419 | 4.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 41 | OrlandoFL | $81,044 | 4.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 42 | PhiladelphiaPA-NJ-DE-MD | $90,850 | 4.8% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 43 | DetroitMI | $76,403 | 5.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 44 | New OrleansLA | $62,373 | 5.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 45 | San AntonioTX | $78,112 | 5.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 46 | San DiegoCA | $109,132 | 5.1% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 47 | San JoseCA | $164,801 | 5.3% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 48 | LouisvilleKY-IN | $74,305 | 5.4% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 49 | ChicagoIL-IN-WI | $90,770 | 5.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 50 | San FranciscoCA | $135,590 | 5.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 51 | HoustonTX | $81,417 | 5.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 51 | MemphisTN-MS-AR | $68,124 | 5.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 53 | Los AngelesCA | $96,405 | 5.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 54 | Riverside-San BernardinoCA | $91,013 | 5.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 55 | New YorkNY-NJ-PA | $99,852 | 5.7% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 56 | SacramentoCA | $98,775 | 6.0% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 57 | Las VegasNV | $80,028 | 6.5% | 2024 | ↗ |
| 58 | FresnoCA | $74,983 | 8.6% | 2024 | ↗ |
How to read these rankings
Which city is best for me?
Start with the decision you are making. Compare income and employment for work, rent for an ongoing housing bill, and monthly climate for the seasons you prefer. Use the comparison workspace to see what you gain and give up.
Does a high income mean life is cheaper?
No. Household income is not an individual job offer, and rent is only one expense. A personal budget also needs taxes, transport, childcare, healthcare and other costs. We do not label our housing measures a complete cost-of-living score.
Is this the city or its surrounding metro?
These are metro-level comparisons. Your neighborhood can have very different rent, schools, transport and commute times. Metro averages are a starting point for deciding where to look more closely.
Where are safety, schools and things to do?
Those need additional, comparable local sources. They are not included in these rankings yet. We show the specific measures we have rather than filling the gaps with a general “quality of life” score.