You’re young, head over heels in love and excited to embark on your future together as man and wife. There’s also a good chance you’re looking for a new place to begin that future, with nearly 40 percent of newlyweds preferring to live in a different city than their families, according to online housing site Rent.com. The question is, where?
These four cities are some of the best options to consider.
Austin, Texas
The Texas capital with a population of roughly 850,000 is also known as the live music capital of the world. A great city that also tends to be more progressive compared to others throughout the Lone Star State, is adjacent to Hill Country, where you’ll find lots of opportunity for outdoor recreation and 228 sunny days per year to enjoy.
Austin was also ranked as the top market for millennials, according to a Nielsen 2014 study. The city has just a 4.2 percent unemployment rate, significantly lower than the national unemployment rate, currently at 5.9 percent. If you want to continue your education, you’ll find eight colleges and universities to choose from. Additionally, there is no state income tax, and with a median home price of under $200,000, the average young couple has a good chance of being able to afford to buy their own home.
Boise, Idaho
Boise has been ranked as one of the best cities in the U.S. for raising a family. It’s one of the safest in the nation and offers easy access to all kinds of recreational opportunities, including hiking, boating and skiing.
With a median household income of about $51,000, lower taxes than the national average and an unemployment rate of just 4.1 percent as of September 2014, it offers a lot of security too. The median home value is $165,100, making home ownership more than just a pipe dream.
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capitol was ranked as one of the best places for young newlyweds to live by Rent.com, highlighting its rich culture and history along with an average annual income of $63,750. With such a high income, not only can you enjoy all of the outstanding cultural opportunities, like visiting the Smithsonian or taking a romantic stroll through history, you’ll also have a much better chance to afford your own home, and even remodel it to create your dream house for happily ever after.
Seattle, Washington
In the Emerald City, you’ll find a wide range of housing options and an average mean income of $64,850. Seattle is more than just rain and an abundance of coffee houses. It’s one of the most educated areas in the country, which fuels the city’s consistent growth. Jobs have been added at a level not seen since 2005. In April 2014, there were 7,700 new jobs added, many of those right in the Seattle metro area, according to The Seattle Times.
Seattle is often on lists of the most bike-friendly cities, and residents also enjoy the spectacular scenery by taking part in all sorts of fun outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking and skiing. If you’re concerned about the rain, consider that it’s actually drier here than its reputation belies. On average, it rains just 9.4 percent of the time. And even on those days it’s typically more of a heavy mist rather than a downpour, according to Seattle-based meteorologist Steve Sistek.
