Photo: Courtesy of Google Maps.
It's pretty well-documented that millennials (those of us born between the early '80s and roughly 2000) are going to have a tough go of it. We're expected to have shorter attention spans, fewer job opportunities, and several extra years of work to do before retirement. But, it's not all doom and gloom. The Atlantic's Nona Willis Aronowitz spent six weeks crossing the United States, searching for the under-the-radar cities where Generation Y can not only survive, but thrive. And — surprise! — she actually found some.
Aronowitz steered away from popular locales for young creatives and entrepreneurs, such as Detroit, New Orleans, and Austin. Instead, she focused her search on the hidden gems — cities where the cost of living is reasonable, small businesses and creative industries are on the rise, and the job market is strong. Her findings might surprise you (and entice you to move to the Midwest, where everything is awesome, apparently). Looking to start your own company in a cheap industrial space? Try Omaha. Looking for big-city amenities without the accompanying costs? Jersey City could be for you. Click through for the scoop on the nine best cities for twenty- to thirtysomethings, and stay tuned for Aronowitz's follow-up stories on each destination. (The Atlantic)