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America’s 40 Best Neighborhoods For Young Professionals

Shannon March 14, 2019

Young professionals are looking for a perfect place to live. They want to move somewhere that is close to entertainment, and have easy access to all of the essentials like gyms and social events. Cute cafes are must-have for anyone who needs to get some work done from home, but there needs to be time to play, too. It should have a great night life, breweries, and wineries are a huge plus. But they also want to be somewhere that is affordable. These are some of the most popular cities in the United States that are knowing for being a hip paradise.

Lights lining the street of Portland to help people walking at night. Credit: Shutterstock

40. Goose Hollow in Portland, OR

The city of Portland, Oregon is known for being full of artsy types. However, just like any other city, there are sections that are meant for families, and others that are catered towards young professionals. Goose Hollow was once the place where the most affluent people lived, so it’s full of large historic buildings that have been converted into more affordable condos and apartments. The town is very walkable, and it’s full of beautiful parks, and cute shops. The neighborhood sits across from Interstate 405, which is perfect for commuters.

This is the kind of architecture you can expect to see in Detroit. Credit: Shutterstock

39. Midtown in Detroit, MI

According to Niche.com, Midtown Detroit may not have the best schools or other accommodations for families, but it seems to be perfect for young professionals. It boasts great restaurants, and a thriving night life. There are plenty of coffee shops and parks in the area, which is perfect for people who work remotely. It is also home to several art museums.

A street in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Credit: Shutterstock

38. Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA.

Niche.com gives the Capitol Hill an overall A+ rating, saying it is one of the best places to live in Washington. For young professionals with kids, it has a great school district. But it also has the essentials- coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. There are also a few art galleries, parks, and an arthouse film theater.

Austin, Texas is known for being an artistic city fully of amazing things to do. Credit: Shutterstock

37. Allandale in Austin, TX

The city of Austin, Texas is known for being a vibrant and “weird” community of creativet people. It is also home to the annual conference and music festival South by Southwest. The Allandale neighborhood is considered to be the “best of both worlds” for both young professionals and growing families, making it a great place for people in their 20’s to settled and possibly stay forever. There are several bars, a movie theater that serves you dinner, and beautiful biking trails.

View of the Houston skyline. Credit: Shutterstock

36. Lower Westheimer in Houston, TX

Lower Westheimer has a lot of older buildings that are getting rehabilitated, making it a new up-and-coming neighborhood for young professionals. It has lots of bars, coffee houses, and shopping. It is considered to be very walkable, and great for people on a budget. Best of all- you’re blessed with the warm Texas weather all year long.

Mural in the U District of Washington DC. Credit: Washington.org

35. U District in Washington, DC

U Street in Washington, DC has long been a place full of African American history and culture, particularly with jazz music. The houses are colorful, and murals are painted on buildings. There are several bars, night clubs, and restaurants. On the weekends, you can visit the farmer’s market, or the African American Civil War Museum.

A typical street in Spring Hill looks like this. Credit: Shutterstock

34. Spring Hill in Somerville, MA

Somerville, Massachusettes is a town that is just a few miles from Boston and Cambridge. The Spring Hill neighborhood has a higher concentration of young professionals, but there are also plenty of families as well. Most of the people in Somerville are renters, rather than home owners. There are loads of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants, so there is plenty at your disposal outside of the big city.

The “DUMBO” sign in front of the Manhattan Bridge. Credit: Shutterstock

33. DUMBO in Brooklyn, NY

DUMBO stands for “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. At one point in time, this neighborhood was full of nothing but industrial buildings. Today, a lot of those huge warehouses have been turned into apartments and artist studios. This is a historic neighborhood, so there are lots of cobblestone streets. There is a mixture of really cute historic sites, and brand new restaurants. There are also tons of free community events, like movies in the park.

The annual lantern festival in the Old Fourth Ward. Credit: Shutterstock

32. Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta, GA

Curbed.com places the Old Fourth Ward in the top 10 neighborhoods in the entire country. Georgia has beautiful weather, and Atlanta is easy to walk around. The Old Fourth Ward also has great parks and public transportation. It has everything a young professional could ever need, as well as features you won’t find anywhere else, like a place called “Fetch” which is both a dog park and beer garden rolled into one.

Typical architecture that you see in Wicker Park, Chicago. Credit: Shutterstock

31. Wicker Park in Chicago, IL

Wicker Park has been called “hipster central”. This section of the city has become gentrified in recent years. It has close access to public transportation, and there are lots of shops and restaurants. There is a large population of Puerto Rican and Polish people, and their cultures blend together in the local art and music scene. Find vinyl record shops, used book stores, and cafes are your thing, check out Wicker Park.

Many of the buildings in Chicago’s Logan Square are made of brick, like this. Credit: Shutterstock

30. Logan Square in Chicago, IL

According to Niche.com, Logan Square is one of the best neighborhoods to live in the entire state of Illinois, and it is just an added bonus that it’s part of Chicago. Visit the famous Homboldt Park in the daytime, and spend the evening at not just one- but two arcade bars called Logan Hardware and Slippery Slope. Logan Square has so many good restaurants, it would take at least a month for you to visit some of the best places. There are also cute vintage shops, and a farmer’s market.

View of the Phoenix, Arizona skyline. Credit: Shutterstock

29. Roosevelt Row in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona has warm weather nearly all year long, so it’s a great place to live. Most 20-somethings move to an artistic neighborhood called Roosevelt Row. It has a blend of old historic features with brand new apartments being constructed, as well. Along with its vibrant art scene, it has some amazing restaurants and bars, so there are tons of choices of where to go for a night out.

The Lower Garden District has houses much like this. Credit: Shutterstock

28. The Lower Garden District in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans is known for being a hotspot for parties, especially during Mardi Gras. But you wouldn’t exactly want to live in the French Quarter during spring break. Young professionals tend to live in the Lower Garden District. It has some of the beautiful architecture, with a much more quiet atmosphere compared to other parts of the city. Just like most of the places on this list, there are cafes, restaurants, and great places to go shopping, as well.

 

Highland Park in Los Angeles. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

27. Highland Park in Los Angeles, CA

Living in Los Angeles can be very expensive, and sort of overwhelming when you first go there. the Highland Park neighborhood has become a hot spot for young professionals. The median age is just 28, which means that the majority of people living there are very young. There is a high Latino population, and it’s considered to be far more affordable to live there compared to other parts of the city. What’s great about Highland Park is that there are plenty of historic buildings still preserved to this day.

Wynwood is a hip Miami neighborhood full of street art. Credit: Shutterstock

26. Wynwood in Miami, FL

The city of Miami is famous for people who love to party, especially during spring break. But the artsy section of the city, Wynwood, is where all of the millennials love to call “home”. Wynwood has an amazing collection of murals in an area called Wynwood Walls, which make amazing backgrounds for your Instagram photos. It’s also close to the beach.

The Horse Tavern in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood. Credit: Boston.com

25. Allston-Brighton in Boston, MA

Boston is known for being a cold and expensive city to live in, but it has tons of things that you can do. The Allston-Brighton neighborhood is relatively cheap compared to center city, which means it’s full of college students and recent graduates. There are loads of bars and restaurants, which is great for having things to do on the weekend. However, if you are looking for somewhere more quiet to live, you may want to go elsewhere.

Historic architecture in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

24. Northern Liberties in Philadelphia, PA

The historic Northern Liberties neighborhood in Philadelphia is popular among young professionals because of its proximity to a thriving nightlife, as well as affordable rent. The only downside is that Niche.com rates the public school system at a D. This means that while Northern Liberties may be great for being young and having a good time, you may need to move once it’s time to start a family.

Aerial view of Fishtown in Philadelphia. Credit: Shutterstock

23. Fishtown in Philadelphia, PA

The Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia has been called a hipster’s paradise for good reason. Public transportation can easily take residents in and out of center city. It has tons of bars and night clubs, like the famous Barcade. They also have thrift stores and coffee shops to go during the daytime. According to Forbes, Fishtown has become one of the most thriving neighborhoods for millennials in the US.

The Lowry Hill East in Minneapolis, MI Credit: Shutterstock

22. Lowry Hill East in Minneapolis, MI

The Lowry Hill East neighborhood in Minneapolis got an overall A+ rating on Niche.com, which isn’t easy to pull off! It has everything young professionals could ask for in terms of places to eat, and entertainment. An added bonus is that the public school system is actually very good, which means that you can transition well after you have children.

The view of the Los Angeles sykline from Silver Lake. Credit: Shutterstock

21. Silver Lake in Los Angeles, CA

The Silver Lake neighborhood is popular among musicians, artists, and members of the film industry. There is a very bohemian vibe going on, and people are happy and friendly. Best of all, it is affordable to live there, and plenty of people transition from being a young professional to raising a family there.

“Little Italy” is part of the Jackson Squrre neighborhood in San Francisco. Credit: Shutterstock

20. Jackson Square in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in the world. But for the young professionals who can afford to live there, many of them flock to the Jackson Square neighborhood. Many of the buildings have survived since the 1800’s. This area of the city has a lot of banks, restaurants, and government offices that will be necessary for filling out some paperwork. According to the Jackson Square official website, it has “fashion-forward shopping, world-class cuisine, and fine and decorative arts.”

One of the many historic buildings on the Asbury Park boardwalk. Credit: Shutterstock

19. Asbury Park, NJ

Vogue calls Asbury Park “The Brooklyn of the Jersey Shore” for good reason. It is an artistic seaside community filled with young professionals. There is an amazing music scene with multiple venues for concerts. The Stone Pony is a well-known bar a night club where many unknown musicians found their start. The convention center on the boardwalk is always booked with huge concerts. Best of all- you can jump on the train at the Asbury Park Station, and be in New York City in an hour and a half.

Colorful buildings in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood. Credit: Shutterstock

18. North Park in San Diego, CA

The historic neighborhood of North Park in San Diego, California has been said to have a hipster vibe. It has historic buildings blended with some brand new and colorful places, as well. There are breweries, restaurants, a bar arcade, gift shops, and yoga studios.

Just one of the many busy streets in Bushwick. Credit: Shutterstock

17. Bushwick in Brooklyn, NY

Bushwick is one of the iconic artsy hipster neighborhoods in Brooklyn that everyone talks about. Brooklyn is way more affordable than living in Manhattan, but it is just a short subway ride away. However, don’t think that it’s cheap. Bushwick is still expensive, but you are paying for the access to the thriving New York City arts community. There is a joke that Bushwick has a new coffee shop or bar opening every week. So you should never feel bored about your options.

The Mission is filled with murals, like this one. Credit: Shutterstock

16. The Mission District in San Francisco, CA

The Mission District gets its name from the Mission Dolores, which is the oldest surviving Mexican structure in San Francisco. The neighborhood is full of creative young professionals who love to go to used book stores, paint murals, and collaborate together on entrepreneurial projects. There are some amazing restaurants where you can eat authentic Mexican food, as well as cafes and shops.

The North Loop. Credit: Elsewarehouse.com

15. North Loop in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MI

The North Loop was once the Warehouse District of Minneapolis. Many of those large factory buildings have been refurbished into apartments, and 20-somethings have been flocking to that section of the city. The median rent is $1,255 per month. There large warehouse spaces also attract startups, which means that there are plenty of job opportunities. At night, you can go to one of the many bars and restaurants.

Example of a street in the Arena Distrct of Columbus, OH. Credit: Shutterstock

14. Arena District in Columbus, OH

The Arena District feels more like you are living in the suburbs, than the city of Columbus, Ohio. With this relaxed atmosphere, there are plenty of places to walk to for shopping, food, and entertainment. Niche.com gives the Arena District and overall A+ rating.

The beautiful nautical community of South Lake Union in Seattle. Credit: Shutterstock

13. South Lake Union in Seattle, WA

Sitting along the coast, South Lake Union is a very cute part of Seattle, Washington. Then have a Whole Foods grocery store, breweries, a Tesla dealership, and loads of restaurants to choose from. The city is also very easy to walk around and explore what it has to offer. South Lake Union has a high population of young professionals who are renting an apartment and working nearby.

A typical street in Shadyside, Pittsburg looks like this. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

12. Shadyside in Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburg can be a large and bustling city, but the Shadyside neighborhood has more of a suburban feel. Historic houses have been converted into duplexes and apartments, so most people rent their accommodations. It is still close to public transportation, restaurants, and entertainment.

View of the Milwaukee Art Museum from the water. Credit: Shutterstock

11. Juneau Town Milwaukee, WI

Niche.com gives Juneau Town an overall A+ rating. It has loads of culture, with close proximity to several museums. Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Discovery Museum, the Grohmann Museum, or the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. There are also a lot of cafes to get work done and sip a cup of coffee. At night, you can find one of the many restaurants or bars to spend time with your friends.

Townhouses in Mount Vernon Square, Washington, DC. Credit: Shutterstock

10. Mount Vernon Square in Washington, DC

Living in Washington DC can be very expensive, and sometimes intimidating. Young professionals have flocked together to the historic Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. Rent is not exactly a bargain at $2,000 per month, but it gives you plenty of access to food, night life, bars, and more while being close to public transportation to take you to all of the other parts of the city.

Historic buildings in Albandy, New York. Credit: Center Square Association, Albany

9. Center Square in Albany, NY

According to Albany.com, Center Square is a peaceful neighborhood full of small local businesses. It’s close to Washington Park, and the Empire State Plaza. The nearby Pine Bush Preserve brings an element of nature to your urban city living. Like every other hipster hot spot, there are plenty of places to eat and drink a good cup of coffee. Niche.com gives Center Square an overall A+ rating.

This is the typical architecture you will find in Denver, Colorado. Credit: Gables Residential

8. Speer Boulevard in Denver, CO

The community of Speer Boulevard in Denver is known for being diverse and liberal. With new apartments springing up all the time, young professionals move there to find an affordable spot to live in the big city of Denver. Just like most of the other places on this list, it has lots of cafes, shopping, and restaurants. Niche.com gives the neighborhood and overall “A” rating.

Oak Lawn in Dallas-Forth Worth, TX. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

7. Oak Lawn in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

According to Storage.com, the median rent price in Oak Lawn is $1,129 per month. It is considered to be very similar to having all of the perks of living downtown, only it’s quieter and easier on your wallet. This is considered to be a perfect places for young professionals living in Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas. It also has a crime rate lower than 60% of the entire state, making it a very safe place to settle down.

Beautiful sunset view on Lake Eola. Credit: Shutterstock

6. Lake Eola Heights in Orlando, FL

People love going to Orlando for obviously reasons: It’s warm, there are beaches, and it’s in the same town as Disney World and Universal Studios. What more could you want? However, a lot of places in Orlando are very expensive, which is why young professionals flock to the Lake Eola Heights neighborhood. It has an urban downtown feel, with lots of bars, restaurants, and shopping.

The Shockroe Bottom neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. Credit: Shutterstock

5. Shockroe Bottom in Richmond, VA

The population of the Shockroe Bottom neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia is relatively young, and they lean towards having liberal political views. According to Niche.com, the median rent on an apartment is $1,136, which makes it much more affordable than other parts of the city. It it home to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum, the Museum of History & Culture, and the historic Byrd Theater. There are loads of gorgeous parks and other historically preserved sights to see on the weekends.

The Fisher neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN. Credit: Indianapolis Real Estate Guy

4. Fishers in Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis is a large city that is famous for its Indy 500 race. In the Fishers neighborhood, there are several wineries and breweries. There is also a water park, the Keystone Fashion Mall, and the Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center. Fishers also has plenty of apartments to rent, making it a great place for young professionals to live and have a great time.

Typical buildings that you find in Tempe, AZ. Credit: Shutterstock

3. Tempe, AZ

The town of Tempe is only a few miles away from the city of Phoenix, and it is very close to Arizona State University. With tons to do in either direction, Tempe is a happy medium. It is more affordable to rent than Phoenix, and it is full of young professionals. There are networking groups, bars, restaurants, and more. It is very close to several parks and nature reserves, as well as a zoo.

Aerial view of Salt Lake City, UT. Credit: Shutterstock

2. East Central aka East Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, Utah is a bustling city full of all kinds of people. Most of the liberal 20-something’s all tend to congregate in East Central, which is also called East Liberty Park. The vast majority of people rent apartments in East Central, rather than owning their own property. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes around, in case you get hungry. The public school system is supposed to be very good, which is great for any young professionals who are thinking of having kids.

View of downtown Charlotte, NC. Credit: Shutterstock

1. Third Ward in Charlotte, NC

Niche.com gives the Third Ward an overall A+ rating, and claims that it is one of the best places to live in the entire state of North Carolina. Home to Johnson & Wales’ University, there are plenty of 20-somethings and young professionals living in the Third Ward. The city is very walkable overall, and there are loads of great restaurants. There is even a football stadium in this neighborhood, giving sports lovers access to games nearby.

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