The 15 Best Cities for Young Latinos

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thu 8/11/2011

 
 
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Where are the best cities for young Latinos to live, work, play and fall in love?

mun2 ranked the country's biggest cities (more than 500,000 people) by how young, affordable, diverse, well-educated and single they are. Above and below are the top 15.

top cities for making love & money

most singles
1. Boston
2. Chicago
3. L.A.
4. Austin
5. Denver
cheapest housing
1. Austin
2. San Antonio
3. Dallas
4. Houston
5. Boston
top salaries
1. San Jose
2. Boston
3. NYC
4. San Diego
5. L.A.
youngest (18-34)
1. Phoenix
2. Boston
3. Austin
4. Denver
5. San Diego

key facts about the top 15

15. Las Vegas
Las Vegas offers young Latinos more than an endless party, ranking high when it comes to diversity, income growth over time and great weather.
Residents 18-34 23%
Percent Latino 31.5%
avg. Salary, all occupations $40,740
Median Rent $1,034
Unemployment Rate 12.4%
Single Men 33.6%
Single Women 24.9%
14. El Paso
Don't let the proximity to violence-plagued Juarez put you off. El Paso remains a solid city for young Latinos looking for affordability, steady income growth, the lowest rent costs and great weather.
Residents 18-34 24%
Percent Latino 80.5%
avg. Salary $35,120
Median Rent $730
Unemployment Rate 10%
Single Men 32.7%
Single Women 38.2%
13. San Antonio
San Antonio is one of the most affordable cities on our list, with high rankings when it comes to good opportunities for minority entrepreneurs, low rent, low crime and a low unemployment rate.
Residents 18-34 26%
Percent Latino 61.5%
avg. Salary $39,410
Median Rent $730
Unemployment Rate 7.3%
Single Men 36.7%
Single Women 30.6%
12. San Jose
In the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is ideal for young Latinos looking for a city that pays the highest average salaries per worker, and ranks high when it comes to the number of residents with college degrees, low crime and Latino college graduation rates (state).
Residents 18-34 25%
Percent Latino 32.6%
avg. Salary $68,658
Median Rent $1,304
Unemployment Rate 9.9%
Single Men 37.1%
Single Women 29.3%
11. Houston
Houston is the top city for minorities looking to start their own businesses and the most affordable to live in.
Residents 18-34 29%
Percent Latino 42.4%
avg. Salary $46,290
Median Rent $776
Unemployment Rate 8.2%
Single Men 40.1%
Single Women 32.7%
10. Tucson
Tucson ranks solidly when it comes to affordable rent, low unemployment and great weather.
Residents 18-34 29%
Percent Latino 39.5%
avg. Salary $42,160
Median Rent $675
Unemployment Rate 7.8%
Single Men 42.3%
Single Women 34%
9. San Diego
A short weekend trip away from Mexico, beachy San Diego ranks well when it comes to safety, young people, good salaries, income growth over time and Latino college graduation rates (state).
Residents 18-34 31%
Percent Latino 28.6%
avg. Salary $50,200
Median Rent $1226
Unemployment Rate 9.6%
Single Men 43%
Single Women 34%
8. Chicago
Artsy and historical, Chicago will draw in ambitious young Latinos because of its solid rankings when it comes to high average salaries, income growth over time, the number of colleges and universities, singles and Latino college graduation rates (state).
Residents 18-34 30%
Percent Latino 27.3%
avg. Salary $48,490
Median Rent $866
Unemployment Rate 9.5%
Single Men 48.9%
Single Women 43.3%
7. Dallas
Home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other city, Dallas is a city where young Latinos can work hard and play hard, ranking high when it comes to opportunities for minority entrepreneurs, affordability and low rent.
Residents 18-34 29%
Percent Latino 43.1%
avg. Salary $46,860
Median Rent $773
Unemployment Rate 7.9%
Single Men 42.3%
Single Women 34.5%
6. Los Angeles
One of the oldest "Latino cities", L.A. ranks high when it comes to income growth over time, and solidly when it comes to a high percentage of singles, low crime and opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Residents 18-34 28%
Percent Latino 48.5%
avg. Salary $50,120
Median Rent $1029
Unemployment Rate 11.1%
Single Men 46.4%
Single Women 38.8%
5. Phoenix
Despite bad press because of harsh state anti-immigrant laws, Phoenix is still one of the country's most Latino cities, ranking as the youngest and sunniest on our list, and as one of the best for minority entrepreneurs.
Residents 18-34 47%
Percent Latino 43.2%
avg. Salary $43,450
Median Rent $824
Unemployment Rate 8%
Single Men 40.6%
Single Women 31.8%
4. New York
The original multi-culti city is still a great place for young Latinos to call home, ranking number one when it comes to safety, and high when it comes to singles, the number of colleges/universities and Latino graduation rates (state).
Residents 18-34 28%
Percent Latino 29%
avg. Salary $55,080
Median Rent $1029
Unemployment Rate 8.3%
Single Men 44.5%
Single Women 39.2%
3. Denver
Denver has become one of the most Latino cities in the country and ranks high when it comes to a sizeable young population, diversity and solid Latino college graduation rates (state).
Residents 18-34 31%
Percent Latino 34
avg. Salary $49,440
Median Rent $779
Unemployment Rate 8.5
Single Men 43.2%
Single Women 34.7%
2. Austin
A city known for its exceptional music scene, Austin also has the most residents with college degrees, and ranks high when it comes to affordability, low unemployment, young residents and diversity.
Residents 18-34 35%
Percent Latino 35.1%
avg. Salary $46,130
Median Rent $860
Unemployment Rate 6.7%
Single Men 45.9%
Single Women 37.8%
1. Boston
Boston ranks ahead of the rest when it comes to the city's overall young population, the percentage of singles, overall diversity, low unemployment, and the college graduation rates of Latinos in the state.
Residents 18-34 40%
Percent Latino 17.5%
avg. Salary $56,560
Median Rent $1,161
Unemployment Rate 6.6%
Single Men 53.1%
Single Women 58.6%
How we ranked the cities

mun2 identified the largest metropolitan cities with populations over 500,000 residents.

We then analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and several large national studies that used similar data to narrow the list.

Next, we analyzed more than a dozen criteria for our rankings, including the percentage of 18-34 year-olds per city, Latino college graduation rates, the number of colleges and universities, affordability, housing costs, income growth over time, average salary, percentage of singles, weather, safety, how the city's diversity compares to the national average, and opportunities for minority entrepreneurs, among others.

Finally, we weighted how each city scored according to these categories to come up with the final ranking.

20 responses to “The 15 Best Cities for Young Latinos”

read: newest first | oldest first

What about miami?

Anonymous's picture

sophia lopez

10/14/2011

Ive lived in HOUSTON for the past five years in Sugarland to be exact. Its been the best decision ive made, there's plenty of beautiful latinos, work, parties and clubs, the party scene in houston is great and only 3 hours to Austin, 4 to San Antonio, and 5 to Dallas. You cant go wrong with Texas much love to all my Latinos

Anonymous's picture

ADRIAN GARAY

(CORONA CALIFORNIA)

10/13/2011

You All Should Go To The RGV In Texas The Vally Lot of Fun Best Place Ever 956 All The Way......

Anonymous's picture

Lalo956

(mission tx)

10/12/2011

I live in Boston and that is SO TRUE. I LOVE BOSTON with a passion. It's amazing here. There are so many hot guys. There is always a party somewhere, clubs are always popping. I love it down here. I've lived here for 16 years. I'm 18 now, and I'm Dominican. There are so many Latinos. It's amazing down here, promise! :)

Anonymous's picture

Katherine Castillo

(Boston, MA)

10/4/2011

I live in queens ny & all i can say is that it is pretty nice around here ,I grew up here so to me its nothing new

Anonymous's picture

Jacqueline santos

(NYC)

9/30/2011

I live in long island, ny and everything is so Damn expensive!!! I love it tho, bc I'm an hr away from the greatest city in the world yessss be jealous :) and 30 mins from the hamptons! So u can imagine my summers at these wonderful beaches...BUT my home city is Austin, tx, so seeing all these stats makes me wanna go live there right nowww! I'm going on 23 soon and I could def c myself moving to beautiful clean Austin :)

Anonymous's picture

oralia

9/28/2011

hello im looking for new opportunities,job,anything if anybody is interested and have the potential hit me up 714 249-8990 so we can make something happen something big though!! im willing to do anything!!my name is abraham t. love you all! like an investor or something off the hook!!! im bilingual!! =p

abrahamabk's picture

abrahamabk

9/26/2011

Lmao, jajaja i love new yorkk but damm all you see is Freakin Indians ... no latino need more latinos derr

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Anonymous's picture

Yoana Rodiguez

9/21/2011

Boston and NYC rent average is hysterical! Only a $1,029 for NYC? Remember folks, you will only get an apartment the size of a bedroom for a thousand dollars!

Anonymous's picture

Ken

9/9/2011

Fuck mexican ,go away

Anonymous's picture

chorypann

9/6/2011

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