The Washington region is no longer the nation’s top destination for newly minted college graduates, according to a new study.
A report by the Atlantic Cities and Martin Prosperity Institute, which looked at employment, housing, marital and public transportation statistics, ranked the Washington area as the 18th best place for new college graduates to live. The San Francisco Bay Area was ranked as the most lucrative community for those fresh off commencement ceremonies, followed by Silicon Valley and the greater New York area.
While the showing puts the region in an envious position, it’s still a significant downgrade for an area that topped the same list last year. In the time since, the prospect of cutbacks in the federal government has diminished the appeal of the region’s top employer — Uncle Sam.
| Top cities for college grads |
| 1. San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. |
| 2. San Jose, Calif. |
| 3. New York-Newark |
| 4. Champaign-Urbana, Ill. |
| 5. Durham, N.C. |
| 6. Gainesville, Fla. |
| 7. Ithaca, N.Y. |
| 8. Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 9. Trenton-Ewing, N.J. |
| 10. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass., N.H. |
| 18. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
| 22. Baltimore-Towson |
| Source: Atlantic Cities and Martin Prosperity Institute |
Also, Washingtonians devote a much higher share of their income to housing than most, diminishing its ranking compared with areas with a more affordable cost of living. The region ranked just behind Los Angeles and ahead of San Diego, according to the analysis.
The Baltimore-Towson area ranked 22nd on the list. Outside of Northern Virginia, no community in the commonwealth made the top 25.
The collection of marquee destinations for 2012’s graduating class was dominated by urban, coastal areas. Of the top 25 metro areas, 15 were located somewhere between Boston and Washington or along the West Coast. – Brian Hughes
