Millennials should head to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, according to report

Pittsburgh and Harrisburg were recently named two of the top 25 places for millennials to live in the U.S., according to Growella’s Where Should I Move? – A Guide For Millennials.

Pittsburgh landed in second overall, followed by Harrisburg in 14th. More than 3,500 cities were analyzed for the report, and the top factor considered was affordability.

Additionally, researchers considered how the job market in the city is. Would millennials be able to find an entry-level job? In Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, most likely, yes. Other factors included commuting time, public transportation availability, population of young people already residing there, the city’s social scene and how much of a paycheck can a millennial really keep in that city. The further a paycheck could stretch, the better, especially for recent college graduates.

Pittsburgh scored an A and was labeled the top city in the Northeast. Nearly 350,000 residents residing there already are millennials. CNBC said that because Pittsburgh has a lower cost of living, the average salary, which is comparable to other cities, goes much further. Additionally, the percentage of residents that use public transportation or walk is 92 percent higher than other cities.

Harrisburg received an A- and was the fourth city in the Northeast. According to CNBC, Harrisburg landed in third for the most job openings, and scored in the top 20 for shortest commute times. Thanks, in part, to state government, Harrisburg has more entry-level jobs available than other cities.

Overall, Durham, N.C. bested Pittsburgh, Nashville took third, Des Moines in fourth and Charlotte in fifth. Elsewhere in the commonwealth, Philadelphia took 84th place.