Raleigh ranks as the best big city for Gen Z, study finds

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Raleigh is the best big city for Gen Z, a study has found.

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The study from CommercialCafe placed Raleigh above Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Tucson, all of which were separated by a single point.

The City of Oaks’ win ended a four-year streak of Minneapolis or Atlanta taking the top spot, according to CommercialCafe.

According to the study, Raleigh scored 65.9 points with the following statistics:

• The third-highest share of Gen Z residents at 9.7% of the population
• The lowest internet cost at $63.4
• The fifth-highest percentage of jobs for recent graduates at 31.6%
• 46.4% of Gen Z residents enrolled in school

Raleigh also ranked first in the South, where it has the second-highest amount of jobs for recent graduates and the the third-highest school enrollment for Gen Z, according to the study.

“When it comes to Gen Z appeal, Raleigh stacks up as one of the best places to live for the student-to-career transition,” the study reads. “That’s pertinent for a generation, many of whom have recently made, or are about to make, that life leap.

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“To that end, Gen Z students enrolled at North Carolina State University or Wake Technical Community College [the largest community college in the state] can find entry-level opportunities in education itself, health care or life sciences across the Triangle without leaving town,” the study continues.

“The city ranked in the top 10 on two fronts — fifth-best for jobs suited to recent graduates, as well as one of the highest shares of Gen Z still in school with 46.4% enrolled.”

“It makes sense, then, that Raleigh has the third-highest share of young adults among its total population with the age group making up 9.7% of its roughly 500,000 residents,” the study continues. “But, where Oak City adds to its appeal for the generation is how it pairs that opportunity with affordability.

“Living costs run around 5.3% below the national average and are among the top five cities for entry-level job share,” the study reads. “Plus, internet costs are the lowest of any city in the study at around $63 a month. So, while other cities can point to a strong pipeline from student to career start, few can offer what Raleigh does — courtesy of the Triangle — without the cost tax that usually comes with it.”

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