Low unemployment signals a healthy local job market. These cities have the tightest labor markets in the country, which often translates to more bargaining power for workers and faster wage growth. For job seekers, these are places where finding work tends to be easier than the national average.
| # | City | Unemployment | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Creek, WI | 0.8% | $1,397 | $93,120 | $305,100 | 18% | 36,473 |
| 2 | Syracuse, UT | 1.0% | $2,006 | $132,459 | $531,600 | 18.2% | 34,009 |
| 3 | West Fargo, ND | 1.1% | $1,075 | $96,877 | $302,200 | 13.3% | 39,325 |
| 4 | Eagle, ID | 1.2% | $1,753 | $118,037 | $711,500 | 17.8% | 31,490 |
| 5 | Central, LA | 1.2% | $1,373 | $90,091 | $270,700 | 18.3% | 29,603 |
| 6 | Prior Lake, MN | 1.2% | $1,548 | $130,278 | $429,900 | 14.3% | 27,832 |
| 7 | Spring Hill, TN | 1.4% | $1,738 | $106,658 | $452,400 | 19.6% | 53,585 |
| 8 | Chamblee, GA | 1.4% | $1,775 | $81,774 | $407,900 | 26% | 30,369 |
| 9 | Avon Lake, OH | 1.4% | $1,500 | $110,174 | $337,200 | 16.3% | 25,456 |
| 10 | Leawood, KS | 1.5% | $1,753 | $184,976 | $620,400 | 11.4% | 33,844 |
| 11 | Brownsburg, IN | 1.5% | $1,405 | $105,435 | $282,800 | 16% | 30,310 |
| 12 | Forest Hills, MI | 1.5% | $1,950 | $156,618 | $474,800 | 14.9% | 28,494 |
| 13 | Washington, UT | 1.6% | $1,581 | $94,015 | $511,100 | 20.2% | 30,686 |
| 14 | Short Pump, VA | 1.6% | $1,804 | $132,194 | $543,000 | 16.4% | 28,177 |
| 15 | Vestavia Hills, AL | 1.7% | $1,455 | $129,171 | $494,500 | 13.5% | 38,704 |
| 16 | Fleming Island, FL | 1.7% | $1,918 | $119,046 | $387,400 | 19.3% | 29,351 |
| 17 | Oxford, MS | 1.7% | $1,093 | $59,901 | $333,400 | 21.9% | 26,086 |
| 18 | Cleburne, TX | 1.8% | $1,283 | $66,324 | $200,900 | 23.2% | 32,966 |
| 19 | Trussville, AL | 1.8% | $1,450 | $120,794 | $351,500 | 14.4% | 26,182 |
| 20 | Key West, FL | 1.8% | $2,075 | $78,532 | $816,300 | 31.7% | 25,824 |
| 21 | De Pere, WI | 1.8% | $981 | $80,550 | $253,900 | 14.6% | 25,368 |
| 22 | Dunwoody, GA | 1.9% | $1,806 | $109,116 | $579,400 | 19.9% | 51,563 |
| 23 | Spanish Fork, UT | 1.9% | $1,417 | $98,497 | $444,200 | 17.3% | 43,632 |
| 24 | Prattville, AL | 1.9% | $1,250 | $79,396 | $208,500 | 18.9% | 38,850 |
| 25 | Westerville, OH | 1.9% | $1,409 | $107,054 | $343,200 | 15.8% | 38,543 |
| 26 | Mechanicsville, VA | 1.9% | $1,645 | $97,569 | $323,600 | 20.2% | 38,437 |
| 27 | Fitchburg, WI | 1.9% | $1,302 | $85,420 | $389,400 | 18.3% | 31,566 |
| 28 | Plymouth, MN | 2.0% | $1,705 | $133,865 | $474,700 | 15.3% | 79,526 |
| 29 | Draper, UT | 2.0% | $1,812 | $130,680 | $726,000 | 16.6% | 50,159 |
| 30 | Wauwatosa, WI | 2.0% | $1,373 | $93,859 | $307,600 | 17.6% | 47,718 |
| 31 | Coppell, TX | 2.0% | $1,851 | $139,227 | $525,300 | 16% | 42,029 |
| 32 | Bartlett, IL | 2.0% | $1,857 | $130,479 | $350,500 | 17.1% | 40,531 |
| 33 | Bettendorf, IA | 2.0% | $1,148 | $102,917 | $295,600 | 13.4% | 39,297 |
| 34 | Sun Prairie, WI | 2.0% | $1,374 | $90,521 | $339,800 | 18.2% | 36,455 |
| 35 | Upper Arlington, OH | 2.0% | $1,480 | $150,993 | $568,200 | 11.8% | 36,319 |
| 36 | Gahanna, OH | 2.0% | $1,442 | $106,004 | $322,300 | 16.3% | 35,438 |
| 37 | Brunswick, OH | 2.0% | $1,115 | $85,313 | $233,300 | 15.7% | 35,284 |
| 38 | Daphne, AL | 2.0% | $1,337 | $86,479 | $309,700 | 18.6% | 28,673 |
| 39 | Clayton, NC | 2.0% | $1,542 | $73,348 | $292,400 | 25.2% | 28,043 |
| 40 | Saratoga Springs, UT | 2.1% | $2,206 | $123,619 | $567,200 | 21.4% | 44,070 |
| 41 | Holland, MI | 2.1% | $1,143 | $72,905 | $235,800 | 18.8% | 34,266 |
| 42 | Homewood, AL | 2.1% | $1,457 | $108,386 | $502,300 | 16.1% | 27,697 |
| 43 | Mequon, WI | 2.1% | $2,271 | $147,391 | $485,300 | 18.5% | 25,259 |
| 44 | Layton, UT | 2.2% | $1,455 | $99,188 | $437,400 | 17.6% | 82,512 |
| 45 | South Jordan, UT | 2.2% | $1,806 | $126,400 | $614,800 | 17.1% | 80,331 |
| 46 | Ankeny, IA | 2.2% | $1,279 | $106,603 | $311,300 | 14.4% | 70,542 |
| 47 | Minnetonka, MN | 2.2% | $1,758 | $120,496 | $456,200 | 17.5% | 53,256 |
| 48 | Westfield, IN | 2.2% | $1,526 | $119,598 | $391,900 | 15.3% | 51,109 |
| 49 | McLean, VA | 2.2% | $3,376 | $250,001 | $1,304,900 | 16.2% | 50,232 |
| 50 | Greer, SC | 2.2% | $1,144 | $80,030 | $264,300 | 17.2% | 39,191 |
Key Takeaways
- Oak Creek, WI ranks #1 with an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
- The top 5 cities are: Oak Creek, WI; Syracuse, UT; West Fargo, ND; Eagle, ID; Central, LA.
- The gap between #1 (0.8%) and #50 (2.2%) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
- Median household income in the top-ranked city is $93,120, with a population of 36,473.
Methodology
Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All cities with valid data and populations above 25,000 are included. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.