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Today โ€” 22 January 2025News

The 10 best US cities to find a job in 2025

22 January 2025 at 08:21
An aerial view of Scottsdale.
Scottsdale, Arizona, is the US city with the most job opportunities in 2025, according to WalletHub.

Tim Roberts Photography/Shutterstock

  • WalletHub recently published a report on the top US cities to find a job in 2025.
  • Three cities in Arizona were among the top 10 best places to find a job, with Scottsdale at No.1.
  • Except for Washington, DC, many cities on the list are smaller, perhaps surprising places.

The new year often brings hope for change. For those laid off or seeking a fresh start, it's also the perfect time to look for a job.

However, with a new political administration and fewer opportunities in white-collar industries, landing a job in 2025 could prove challenging, according to economists.

This is why choosing the right city could be crucial.

"It is important to look at more than just the number of jobs available or the unemployment rate," said Chip Lupo, an analyst at personal-finance website WalletHub, emphasizing that the quality of jobs โ€” those offering good salaries, benefits, and overall satisfaction โ€” is also important to consider when searching for new opportunities.

Some cities, like Norfolk, Virginia, have high rates of employment growth, while others, like Burlington, Vermont, offer the shortest average commute times, per WalletHub. Depending on your priorities, these factors could play a role in shaping your career choices.

To help with your search, WalletHub recently released a ranking of the best cities to find a job in 2025.

The study analyzed 182 cities, including the 150 most populated US cities and at least two most populated cities in each state, across 31 factors in two key areas: job market and socioeconomic factors.

WalletHub placed greater emphasis on the job market category because it "most heavily influence[s] a job seeker's decision in terms of relocation for employment," according to the report.

The data used for the ranking was sourced from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others. BI also identified the cities' populations and median household incomes using July 2023 estimates from the US Census Bureau.

Here are the 10 best cities to find a job in the US, according to WalletHub.

10. Orlando
Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida.
Lake Eola in Orlando.

Keith J Finks/Shutterstock

Population: 320,742

Median household income: $69,268

There's more to Orlando, ranked 10th on the report, than just Disney.

It's also, for example, a city with the fifth-highest availability of job opportunities and among the fastest-growing cities in America, according to WalletHub.

It secured 14th place in the job market category, which evaluated factors like job opportunities, employment growth, unemployment rate, and automation risk, among others.

9. Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona.
Tempe, Arizona.

Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

Population: 189,834

Median household income: $77,643

Tempe is a sprawling college town on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona.

WalletHub's report ranked Tempe 17th in the job market category and 22nd in the socioeconomic one. According to the American Community Survey shared by the Arizona Commerce Authority, 25.2% of all employed individuals in Tempe work in education, healthcare, or social assistance, making these the city's largest employment sectors.

In addition to being a thriving economic space, the city is popular for building America's self-proclaimed "first car-free neighborhood."

8. Washington, DC
The US capitol in Washington, DC.
The US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock

Population: 678,972

Median household income: $106,287

The capital city ranked eighth on WalletHub's index, scoring 11th in the job market and 36th in the socioeconomic category.

The US' capital and political center has the second-highest employment growth and the fifth-highest monthly average starting salary.

However, it ranked 181st among 182 cities for the longest average work and commute time.

7. Chandler, Arizona
Downtown Chandler, Arizona.
Downtown Chandler, Arizona.

Matt Gush/Shutterstock

Population: 280,167

Median household income: $103,691

Another city in the Grand Canyon State has been named one of the best places to find a job this year.

In the job market category, Chandler ranked 15th, reflecting strong employment opportunities and growth.

Additionally, its socioeconomic rank of 29th indicates a stable and supportive environment for job seekers in terms of housing affordability, transit access, and annual transportation costs, among other factors.

6. Charleston, South Carolina
Historic district in Charleston, South Carolina.
Historic district in Charleston, South Carolina.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Population: 155,369

Median household income: $90,038

Known for its historic charm, vibrant culture, and beautiful coastal views, Charleston, South Carolina, is the sixth-best city for finding a job in 2025, according to WalletHub.

The port city has a thriving job market, ranking sixth in the category, partly because of its booming trade and transport industry. It's also one of the three locations in the world โ€” alongside Everett and Renton in Washington โ€” where Boeing's wide-body jets get assembled.

Charleston also has the third-highest employment growth. Still, some people who have moved to the city in the past have found that its growing popularity has led to heavy traffic and a high cost of living.

5. Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine.
Portland, Maine.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Population: 69,104

Median household income: $76,174

Maine's biggest city is also the fifth-best place in the US to find a job this year.

The 2020 launch of the $100 million Roux Institute has spurred significant growth in Portland's tech sector, alongside a thriving bioscience and healthcare industry supported by over 400 life science companies.

Adding to its appeal, US News & World Report ranks Portland as the seventh-best city in the US for quality of life, making it a standout choice for job seekers seeking career opportunities and a good standard of living.

4. South Burlington, Vermont
North Lighthouse and Breakwater in Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.
The north lighthouse in Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.

Steven Noroian/Shutterstock

Population: 21,043

Median household income: $97,229

WalletHub's 2024 safest city to live in the US is also the fourth-best city to find a job this year.

It fared well in the job market and socioeconomic categories, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively. It also has the second-most job opportunities among the 182 cities.

South Burlington has a diverse economy with several thriving industries, including healthcare and social assistance, retail, hospitality, and education.

3. Columbia, Maryland
Wild Lake in Columbia, Maryland.
Wilde Lake in Columbia, Maryland.

KhanIM/Shutterstock

Population: 104,681 (2020)

Median household income: $115,564

In 2022, WalletHub ranked Columbia, Maryland, the No. 1 city for finding a job in the US. This year, it remains in the top three, coming in at No. 3.

The city has maintained its spot partly because it has the highest median annual income. It also has the ninth-lowest share of jobs that are likely to be automated in the coming decades, offering long-term job security in a changing economy.

Beyond the job market offerings, Columbia stands out for its affordability. WalletHub notes that fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment is around 16% of the city's median household income, the sixth-lowest percentage in the country.

2. Pittsburgh
The Roberto Clemente Bridge (Sixth Street Bridge) on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh.
The Roberto Clemente Bridge (Sixth Street Bridge) on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh.

JNix/Shutterstock

Population: 303,255

Median household income: $64,137

Pittsburgh ranks as the second-best city for jobs, thanks to a high number of job opportunities and the quality of companies.

It offers the most job opportunities per capita and the third-highest number of full-time jobs at top-rated companies.

The city's jobs are also highly rated, with residents reporting the ninth-highest job satisfaction in the country. It also has the fourth-highest percentage of workers with access to an employer-based retirement plan.

Beyond work, Pittsburgh is the fourth-best city for singles, has the 11th-best public transit system, and boasts affordability with the 18th-lowest median house price in the U.S.

1. Scottsdale, Arizona
Downtown Scottsdale, Arizona.
Downtown Scottsdale, Arizona.

antsdrone/Shutterstock

Population: 244,394

Median household income: $107,372

Arizona's luxury hot spot, Scottsdale, is also the No. 1 best city to find a job in the US in 2025.

The city, which has recently become a second home to wealthy retirees, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, is at the top partly because it has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

It's also great for college students looking for their first work experience, as it ranks first in the number of paid internship opportunities available.

The high number of job opportunities is complemented by a high quality of life. The city has one of the highest median household incomes in the country and, with the 12th-lowest violent crime rate in the US, it's also a safe city.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried every Snapple flavor I could find and ranked them from worst to best

By: Ted Berg
22 January 2025 at 08:07
Thirteen bottles of Snapple in different flavors lying on a wooden table.
I tried every flavor of Snapple I could find at the supermarket.

Ted Berg

  • I tried every flavor of Snapple I could find and ranked them from my least favorite to my top pick.
  • I thought Snapple's apple flavor tasted artificial, and the fruit punch was too sweet.
  • However, I really enjoyed most of the lemonade varieties and was surprised by my top choices.

I grew up only a few miles from Snapple's former headquarters in Long Island, New York.

In the mid-90s, when the company's flavored iced teas and juices were an ubiquitous presence in convenience-store fridges and school lunches, it was a point of local pride.

Classmates would even claim personal connections to Wendy Kaufman, the company administrator who went on to star as the quirky "Snapple lady" in a popular series of commercials.

However, I mostly gave up sugary beverages before graduating from high school and haven't had many Snapple drinks since. Out of curiosity, though, I wanted to see if the company's products were still as tasty as I remembered.

So, I went to two different supermarkets, grabbed every flavor of Snapple I could find, and ranked them from worst to best. Here's what I thought of the 13 flavors I tried.

I didn't think Snapple's apple flavor tasted like apple juice.
A bottle of apple Snapple lying on a wooden table.
The Snapple Apple flavor tasted like candy.

Ted Berg

I have two young kids, so I've finished off plenty of tiny boxes of apple juice in the last few years.

I thought I knew what to expect from Snapple's apple flavor, but I found it tasted more like apple-flavored candy than apple juice. It lacked any sort of tang, and in my opinion, it wasn't refreshing.

Snapple's fruit punch was much too sweet for me.
A bottle of fruit-punch Snapple lying on a wooden table.
I thought Snapple's fruit punch tasted syrupy.

Ted Berg

Unsurprisingly, all the Snapple flavors I tried were sweet. However, a few of them were so syrupy that they almost felt thick. This was definitely the case with the fruit-punch flavor.

This one tasted very sugary, almost like someone had dumped the remnants of all the other juices into the same bottle.

The grapeade tasted a bit like grape jelly.
A bottle of grapeade Snapple lying on a wooden table.
The Snapple grapeade had a dark, wine-like color.

Ted Berg

I had high hopes for the grapeade, which had a color that almost resembled red wine. However, it had no tartness to it at all and tasted a bit like grape jelly.

I wasn't a fan of Snapple's orangeade.
A bottle of orangeade Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's orangeade tasted like a creamsicle without the cream.

Ted Berg

After trying all the flavors, I realized I typically liked the lighter-colored beverages better than the darker ones. However, Snapple's orangeade proved to be an exception to that rule.

This one had no bite to it at all โ€” almost like a creamsicle without the cream.

Snapple's Mango Madness used to be my favorite flavor.
A bottle of mango Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's Mango Madness was very sweet.

Ted Berg

I remember Mango Madness being one of my favorite flavors during the 90s Snapple craze.

However, it was one of the flavors that was so sweet it had the viscosity of highly concentrated simple syrup โ€” albeit with the pleasant and recognizable mango flavor I enjoyed in my youth.

The peach tea wasn't as good as I remembered it, either.
A bottle of peach-tea Snapple lying on a wooden table.
I loved Snapple's peach tea when I was younger.

Ted Berg

Snapple's peach tea was another staple of my youth. It tasted exactly as I remembered, but this time around, I didn't like it as much. The peach flavor wasn't very subtle and drowned out most of the tea flavor.

The iced-tea-lemonade flavor was just OK.
A bottle of iced-tea-lemonade Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's half-and-half iced-tea-lemonade flavor was a bit bland.

Ted Berg

I'm a big fan of iced-tea-lemonade drinks and typically enjoy the version from Arizona iced tea. However, I didn't remember ever trying Snapple's version before.

I didn't hate this flavor โ€” but I didn't love it either. In my opinion, it was blandly sweet with some lemon flavor, and didn't have the earthiness of tea or the tartness of lemonade.

The raspberry tea was better than I had remembered.
A bottle of raspberry-tea Snapple lying on a wooden table.
The Snapple raspberry tea tasted like candy, but it was good.

Ted Berg

The assertive raspberry flavor in Snapple's raspberry tea was better than I remembered. It tasted more like candy than actual raspberries, but was fruity, tasty, and different.

Snapple's lemon tea was a pleasant surprise.
A bottle of lemon-tea Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's lemon tea had a pleasant sweet-tea flavor.

Ted Berg

Snapple's lemon tea always seemed a bit boring to me. However, I was surprised by how much I liked it. It had a nice sweet-tea flavor with just a hint of lemon, and none of the odd, dry-throat sensation that sometimes follows bottled iced teas.

I really enjoyed Snapple's take on pink lemonade.
A bottle of pink-lemonade Snapple lying on a wooden table.
I'd like to mix the Snapple pink lemonade with unsweetened iced tea or seltzer.

Ted Berg

I'm a sucker for pink lemonade, and Snapple's version got an added boost because it froze a bit in the back of my refrigerator, creating delightful pink-lemonade slush. However, I liked it even after it melted.

It was, of course, incredibly sweet, but I liked the lemon flavor and thought it would work well mixed with an unsweetened iced tea or seltzer.

Snapple's watermelon lemonade tasted like a Jolly Rancher.
A bottle of watermelon-lemonade Snapple lying on a wooden table.
I liked Snapple's watermelon lemonade.

Ted Berg

Snapple's watermelon lemonade was a bit more muted in color than the pink lemonade, but it wasn't muted in flavor.

Watermelon was the prominent flavor here, and I thought it tasted just like a watermelon Jolly Rancher (which is my favorite).

I really enjoyed Snapple's Go Bananas flavor.
A bottle of banana-flavored Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's Go Bananas flavor would taste great with rum.

Ted Berg

When I first saw this flavor in the supermarket, I expected it to be my least favorite. Although I like bananas, I tend to dislike anything banana-flavored.

However, the Go Bananas flavor also contains pear-juice concentrate, which I could definitely taste when I took a sip. The banana flavor wasn't overwhelming and gave the drink a tropical vibe.

I could imagine myself throwing this in the blender with some ice cubes and rum.

The kiwi-strawberry flavor was my favorite.
A bottle of kiwi-strawberry Snapple lying on a wooden table.
Snapple's kiwi-strawberry flavor would be a good mixer for cocktails.

Ted Berg

Snapple's kiwi-strawberry flavor was another one that was better than I'd remembered. It was sweet with strawberry flavor and had some nice tanginess to it. This felt like a good potential cocktail mixer or a base for a punch.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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