Top 10 Best Cities to Move to in the U.S.
Planet Earth is billions of years old. Since her creation, she has given rise to many species who, in their own time, sat at the top of the food chain. The humans we are today (homo sapiens), are said to have arrived onto the world stage anywhere between 200,000-300,000 years ago. For thousands of years, we were strictly nomadic, we followed the food, and made shelter along the way. It took us thousands of years to become homesteaders and since then, our roaming DNA has been lying dormant. However, in 2019, our team here at ARC Relocation Connections managed more moves than ever. That has got us wondering: “Has our ancient nomad DNA been reactivated”?
The reasons for moving homes, and or cities can vary drastically. Some people move in search for a new start, some move to be closer to family. Furthermore, the reason for using a relocation management company can range from a company providing a corporate relocation services package to personal global mobility services needed. Our focus is on those who relocate for their career. In 2019 ARC Relocation managed over 4,000 moves, within North America and Internationally. As such, we began to ask ourselves, “where are they all going” and “what are the best cities to move to in 2020” in The United States?
We took our time to come up with a list of the best cities to move to, after all, being “the best” is largely subjective. Is a city the best because of the job market, the arts, the climate, the schools?… Our corporate relocation experts considered these variables, and spent hours filtering through reports in order to bring you our official “Top 10 Best Cities to Move to”.
- Arlington, VA
With close and easy access to Washington D.C., Arlington was traditionally a dense suburb for federal government employees and diplomatic transplants, but, this little – big city is changing. Arlington is also the “…future site of Amazon’s home away from home HQ2, which is beginning to reshape the Crystal City neighborhood and the greater northern Virginia region (curbed.com, 2020)”.
This D.C. extension boasts some of the areas best park systems and a 16- mile bike trail that will surely make you feel much farther from the city than you actually are. For a population of only 226,400, the real estate can be pricy. However, the cost of living is worth it to those who find themselves in the throws of the tech boom, but don’t want to live in D.C.
- Boise, ID
We were pleasantly surprised when our research yielded Boise, ID as the 2nd best city to move to in 2020. This originally small mountain town has experienced generous growth over the past decade. It is no secrete that prices on the coast (CA) are high, and that’s why we have seen a large trend of Northern and Southern Californians relocating to this high desert destination. The tech industry is moving in and the medical industry is well established, providing many job opportunities with small town living. But, don’t let the “small town” vibe fool you into thinking that this place lacks culture. When you’re in town, a must see is “Basque Block, a stretch of the city dedicated to the culture and cuisine of the Basque people of Spain…(Curbed.com, 2020)”.
- Charlotte, NC
Most people we spoke to about relocation in North Carolina, instantly started speaking about Charlotte, which was shocking. Being a millennial myself, I have met many generational peers who have made the leap to North Carolina but they all went to Raleigh! Raleigh was a tough contender for this number 3 spot but Charlotte won in the end. Largely due to the lower cost of living, the booming public infrastructure, and the always bustling arts scene.
Young people who want to buy a home are also finding Charlotte to be conducive. The medium home price is a cool $265,000 (charlotteobserver.com, 2019), which means young adults with student loan debt and a good job, can likely pick up their first home in a “hip” area, for a great price. Charlotte has been the host for good food and good music for decades, and with the new rail line and tech companies moving in, we are seeing urban living in this southern city like never before.
- Dallas, TX
“Everything is bigger in Texas”, and their cities are no exception. The sprawling Dallas Fort Worth area is up to 1.34 million people but, expresses itself in true hometown sprit. The prices have stayed low. We found that the average price to rent a 2-bedroom apartment inside of the Dallas city limits is $1,137 (curbed.com, 2020).
Dallas leads the nation in multifamily construction buildings, so it should be expected that two new residential skyscrapers are currently being built. Not only does this city offer plenty of job opportunities, affordable living, and a diverse ethnic culture, but when you are sick of the city you can step out to Caddo Lake State Park and reconnect to nature!
- Denver, CO
The Mile-High City. Sitting at 5,280 feet, this city has been on the rise over the past decade. Real-estate prices are slightly higher than others on this list, but with good reason. The tech industry has been migrating to this city for years now, and the city has a stellar rail line for professionals and tourists to enjoy. Not only are there plenty of job opportunities from tech to environmental science but for those not ready to let go of their “active lifestyle”, this city has got the goods.
Even when it snows in Denver its sunny, and if you want a quick day trip to “shred some gnarr” you are just a couple hours away from some of North America’s most coveted skiing terrain. Not a skier? No problem, hop on your mountain bike and enjoy countless, novice to pro trails. Or hop in a kayak and float down the Colorado river, who knows, you might find a hidden hot spring along the way!
- Madison, WI
When most people hear Madison, they think of the University of Wisconsin, and they’re right! This college town has been carried into the 21st century by the very same students who graduated from the state university. This midwestern hub is everything you think it would be. Madison is walkable, quaint, and full of architecture from a time in America when aesthetic was king; the city is full of the homes designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is only $1,296/month, so it’s no doubt that college grads are sticking around after they get their degrees for the affordability. The town is full of tech wonders who instead of relocating to Silicon Valley, have decided to stay in Madison and make a name for themselves. These young people want to fulfil their version of the American dream, and there are plenty of white picket fences just waiting to be put up! Moreover, the healthcare industry is also thriving in the region, which is bringing healthcare professionals and biomedical pioneers to the door step of this “small town”.
- Minneapolis, MN
The “Twin City” has recently taken large steps in order to keep up with the growth they are experiencing. Unlike most Midwest cities, Minneapolis has experienced an increase in population over the past decade. For this reason, the city just kicked off a $2 billion dollar restoration project downtown, and just built two new stadiums as well. US Bank Stadium and Allianz Stadium are the two newest additions to the cityscape and they’re drawing a crowd. The Allianz Stadium is home to the city’s professional (MLS) Soccer team who were only recently added to the league. Not only is the entertainment industry on a tear, but the city is home to some of the world’s largest retailers such as Target and 3M. With a medium home price of only $283,786, the market is primed for young buyers wanting a new start in America’s heartland.
- Provo, UT
Honestly, most people we spoke with while writing this piece, had no idea Provo Utah existed; they do now! With a small population of 117,335, this city is bursting with tech professionals who want to spend time with their families as well. Laying in between some of the nation’s most recognizable national parks, and a bona fide “big city”, this mountain town will have you wondering why anyone wants to live on the coast. If you’re in need of some big city fun, Salt Lake City is just a short 45-minute drive away, and while you’re there feel free to hike world famous trails or ski world famous mountains!
- Gilbert, AZ
Once a small town, this nest outside of Phoenix grew “…over the last 30 years, from only 6,000 people to more than 200,000 people (homesnacks.net, 2020)”. Its pretty easy to see from those numbers that people want to be there! Not only does the city draw in new comers, but it retains them as well. The public parks are beautiful, and the public schools are a gem in the eye of the parents who raise their children there. Make sure you stop by the farmer’s market downtown, where you will be surrounded by fresh produce and good people, every week!
- St. Louis, Mo
Coming in last on this list is not an insult, given that there are thousands of other cities that didn’t make the cut. St. Louis is very “midwestern”, and while some may interpret that to mean a lack of diversity and cold winters, others see the upside!
Recently companies like Square and Microsoft have set up shop there, meaning that the rest of the giants are soon to follow. Space is cheap, and the air is cleaner than the Bay Area, CA. Not only is the commercial sector growing here, but young entrepreneurs might find this to be their next stop. When a tech mogul in St. Louis hops off a conference call with someone stuck in traffic in San Francisco, he/she may just be on their way to one of the beautiful state parks that connects the city to country.
Whether you’re packing up your one-bedroom apartment and hitting the road, or you’re moving with your partner and children, we know that relocation isn’t easy. Often times employers do not give ample notice, information, or attention, and transferring employees are left to fend for themselves on the battlefield of relocation. They land in a new city and have to start all over. For these reasons, ARC relocation connections has fostered a rich culture and takes pride in providing full service relocation assistance programs. When you choose to work with ARC you are provided with the same relocation counselor from start to finish, a “Single Point of Contact”. HR professionals and federal government agencies relay on their (SPOC) at ARC to use our patented technology, expert policy benchmarking, and home buying/selling services to make relocations not only easy, but an experience that will leave the transferring employee wanting more!