RALEIGH – The Triangle region, especially Raleigh, is a place where young professionals can “flourish,” according to a new study from financial news and information site GOBankingRates.

“Whether recent graduates or several years into their careers, many young professionals are more flexible when it comes to moving to a new city for better opportunities,” GOBankingRates asks in the “Best Cities for Young Professionals” report.

“But which city will give these career starters the best chance for success?”

Raleigh and Durham scored well across a range of measures in answer to that question.

Raleigh placed No. 6 among the top 30 cities in the survey.

Durham came in 25th.

Charlotte also made the list at No. 30.

Findings are based on a range of criteria, from rents, cost of living and income to workforce participation as well as the percentage of population between the ages of 20 and 34 – Millennials and the younger, so-called Generation Z.

Nearly 28 percent of Raleigh’s population is in that age range. Durham is right behind at almost 27 percent with Charlotte at 25 percent.

Madison, Wisconsin, tops the list.

Austin, a rival of Raleigh in competition for talent and economic development projects, came in No. 7.

High rankings are not rare for the Triangle. Here are some recent ones as compiled by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce:

#5 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs in the U.S.

#10 Top Tech Talent Markets in the U.S.

#11 Best Big City to Live in the U.S. (Raleigh)

#8 Big City with the Healthiest Housing Market in the U.S. (Raleigh)

#4 Most Educated Cities in America (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill)

#5 Top Tech Hub in the U.S. based on Job Concentration

North Carolina rankings

Here’s the data for each of the North Carolina metros:

6. Raleigh

Median annual rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $13,128.75

Percentage of population ages 20-34: 27.63%

Unemployment rateAges 20-24: 7.4%

Ages 25-29: 5.8%

Ages 30-34: 3.1%

Labor force participation rateAges 20-24: 71%

Ages 25-29: 88.5%

Ages 30-34: 88.1%

Median incomeAges 25 and under: $18,727.22

Ages 25-34: $42,994.60

Annual cost of living (excluding housing)Ages 25 and under: $8,353.08

Ages 25-34: $14,852.32

25. Durham

Median annual rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $14,515.50

Percentage of population ages 20-34: 26.88%

Unemployment rateAges 20-24: 8%

Ages 25-29: 5.6%

Ages 30-34: 5.8%

Labor force participation rateAges 20-24: 67.7%

Ages 25-29: 84.8%

Ages 30-34: 86.8%

Median incomeAges 25 and under: $16,101.79

Ages 25-34: $36,967.05

Annual cost of living (excluding housing)Ages 25 and under: $8.170.68

Ages 25-34: $14,579.98

30. Charlotte

Median annual rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $16,063.50

Percentage of population ages 20-34: 24.94%

Unemployment rateAges 20-24: 13%

Ages 25-29: 7.4%

Ages 30-34: 5.2%

Labor force participation rateAges 20-24: 79%

Ages 25-29: 87.9%

Ages 30-34: 87.5%

Median incomeAges 25 and under: $17,369.77

Ages 25-34: $39,878.13

Annual cost of living (excluding housing)Ages 25 and under: $8,845.61

Ages 25-34: $15,759.43

Study Methodology

GOBankingRates, in order to find the 30 Best Cities for Young Professionals, looked at 100 of the most populous cities in the United States as sourced from the 2017 American Community survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau. GOBankingRates then analyzed the cities using the following criteria:

(1) percent of the population aged 20 through 34;

(2) Unemployment Rate among 20 – 24 Year Olds;

(3) Unemployment Rate among 25 – 29 Year Olds;

(4) Unemployment Rate among 30 – 34 Year Olds;

(5) Labor Force Participation Rate among 20-24 Year olds:

(6) Labor Force Participation Rate among 25-29 Year olds;

(7) Labor Force Participation Rate among 30-34 Year olds (%);

(8) Median Income for Non-families Under 25;

(9) Median Income for Non-Families 25 – 34 year olds, all sourced from the 2017 American Community survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau and factored out using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey;

(10) Average Annual 2019 Median Rent for a one bedroom apartment as sourced from Zillow,

(11) Annual cost of living expenditures excluding housing for those 25 and under; and

(12) Annual cost of living expenditures excluding housing for those 25 through 34, both based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey and local cost of living indices sourced from Sperling’s Best Places.

All factors were scored and then combined, with the lowest score being best, to determine the final rankings. Factors 8 and 9 were weighted 0.5 times. All data was collected and is up to date as of Sept. 26, 2019.