5 Cool -- but Hot -- Cities with Cheap Rents
5 Affordable, Yet 'Cool' Cities to Live In
A leading financial magazine recently put together a list of U.S. cities where one can find still find relatively cheap rents, but that are fun to live in.
While many young professionals aim to launch their careers in the largest cities like Boston or New York, many may find a better deal by looking beyond the better-known population centers. The five cites listed below all possess a growing "under-30" population and solid job markets:
Athens
The University of Georgia is centered in this college town and is responsible for the initial creation of Athens and its subsequent growth. The city offers free wi-fi downtown, and the university and two area hospitals help keep the city's unemployment rate impressively low.
Where: Five Points, West Side, Downtown Cost: 650-750 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom flat, or 750-850 dollars for a two-bedroom apt.
Atlanta
Atlanta is the state hub and Georgia's most well-known city, as well as being the center of the ninth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. It ranks fourth among U.S. cities for wi-fi access, and is #3 in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in its metropolitan area, after New York City and Houston.
Where: E. Atlanta, Midtown, Virginia Highlands Cost: 600-900 dollars a month for a one-bedroom flat, 800-1,350 dollars for a two-bedroom
Austin
The capital of Texas, Austin is the state's #4 city in terms of population and the 16th largest in the United States. The city was ranked as the #2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" according to Money magazine in 2006. A multitude of graduates each year from the computer and science programs at The University of Texas at Austin provide a ready work-force of young, talented, and driven employees that help to fuel the city's technology and defense industries.
Where: South Austin, Downtown Cost: 500-800 dollars a month for a one-bedroom apt., 700-1,200 dollars for a two-bedroom
Denver
The Denver Metropolitan Area has more government workers than any other metropolitan area except for Washington, D.C. Among Denver's attractions are a good light-rail system and a top-20 ranking for free wireless hot spots.
Where: Lower Downtown (LoDo), Highland, West Highland Cost: 700-800 dollars a month for a one-bedroom apartment, 900-1,200 dollars for a two-bedroom
Minneapolis
The most populous city in Minnesota, Minneapolis sits next to Saint Paul, the state's capital. Availability of wireless hot spots, ease of transportation, medical trials, university research and development expenditures, advanced degrees held by the work force, and general conservation of energy are so far above the national average that in 2005, Popular Science named Minneapolis the "Top Tech City" in America.
Where: N. Loop, NE, Uptown Cost: 600-700 dollars per month for a 1-bedroom apartment, 800-1,100 dollars for a two-bedroom
About the Author
Matthew Paolini is the technical director for Citybook.com Online Yellow Pages in Dallas, TX
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