Overview
- Glassdoor and Redfin released a 2026 ranking of the best large U.S. cities for recent graduates using 13 indicators drawn from Glassdoor job and salary data and Redfin's 2025 home sales.
- Washington, D.C. took the top spot with average early‑career pay of $79,857 and a $320,000 starter home that takes about four years to save for a down payment.
- Each city profile reports early‑career earnings, a typical starter‑home price, years needed to save for a down payment, and mortgage and rent as shares of income.
- Glassdoor’s senior economist said high‑cost hubs like New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles missed the cut as more affordable Southern and Midwestern cities, including three in Texas, rose.
- City results highlight trade‑offs, with San Diego taking more than 10 years to save for a down payment despite strong job satisfaction, while Austin posts the strongest labor market and faster wage growth than home prices.