8 Top U.S. Cities for Young Black Professionals
After graduating from college and mapping out a career path, you’re ready to take the next big step in your career: choosing a new city to call home. As a young professional, a strong job market and a high average salary are no doubt high on your list of things you’re looking for in a new hometown. But as a young Black professional, there may be a few additional requirements on your list — things like diversity, Black population, and relative safety, to name just a few. If you’re searching for a city that offers the complete package, pack your bags and consider relocating to one of these Black-friendly metro areas.
Atlanta, Georgia
A cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta has long been described as a center for Black wealth and prosperity. With its low cost of living and loads of high-paying tech jobs, the city attracts young professionals of all demographics. If you’re still choosing a career, Atlanta’s many Black professional events and organizations will give you the support and networking opportunities you need to test out a new career. Young professionals in Hotlanta take full advantage of the city’s thriving nightlife, which offers a trendy mix of bars, clubs, and lounges that are perfect for grabbing an after-work cocktail or beer.
Houston, Texas
If you’re entrepreneurial-minded, consider moving to the Greater Houston area. The city has been called “the next Black mecca” by Black Enterprise for its large number of African-American entrepreneurs, business leaders, and executives. The Greater Houston Black Chamber serves as a go-to resource for outreach, education, and support within the African-American community, and many prominent Black Houstonians are dedicated to revitalizing their community and preventing gentrification. With its large aerospace and energy industries, “Space City” is particularly attractive to Black engineers. Other perks of living in Houston include a strong economy, low cost of living, and no state income tax.
Baltimore, Maryland
Scrumptious seafood, high walkability (to burn off those fried crab cakes), and a Black majority population are just a few things that make Baltimore a top city for Black professionals from all walks of life. The Charmed City boasts a rich African-American culture, which it regularly highlights with celebrations (see: the AFRAM festival), Black history museums, and cultural attractions. Baltimore also has a large number of universities and medical facilities that provides many residents with employment, especially within the biotech industry.
Washington, D.C.
If you want to live in a diverse, highly-educated, and clean city with a robust job market, Washington, D.C. might just be exactly what you’re looking for. Not only does the nation’s capital have some of the highest-paying careers in the nation, its large population of minorities gives the city a truly unique culture. Black women will be pleased to know that the city was voted one of the best metropolitan areas for Black women by CityLab and is currently led by Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Black woman. The city also has plenty of fun things for young professionals to do in their downtime, including live shows, street festivals, sporting events, museums, and monuments.
Dallas, Texas
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metro is quickly becoming a hotspot for young professionals to start their careers, thanks to its relative affordability and diversified economy. Prior to the pandemic, the DFW labor market was doing extremely well, often creating jobs at twice the rate as the country as a whole. According to a WalletHub report, Dallas is one of the most diverse American cities in terms of socioeconomic diversity, cultural diversity, and economic diversity. In their spare time, Dallasites enjoy hitting up trendy bars and restaurants for happy hour, catching a professional sports game, and enjoying the many retail opportunities that the region has to offer.
Raleigh, North Carolina
While racial disparities exist in every large American city, Raleigh does a lot better than most. According to a Bloomberg article, the average Black income in the “City of Oaks” ($38,555) is higher than most cities its size. Black Enterprise once called the Raleigh-Durham Metro the “Startup Capital of the South” for its pro-entrepreneurial environment, which remains highly inclusive of minorities. Historically Black colleges and universities provide additional support and employment opportunities to the Black community, while Raleigh’s low crime rate makes it an appealing place for all.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston draws lots of young professionals for its strong job market, high walkability, delicious seafood, and beautiful green spaces. Home to Harvard, Boston College, and the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the city boasts a large number of research opportunities and is a growing biotech hub. Although Beantown is a pretty expensive city, it makes up for it with high salaries. If you decide to move to Boston, be sure to join Boston Young Black Professionals (BYBP) to maximize your networking opportunities.
Richmond, Virginia
It’s not difficult to see the appeal of Richmond, Virginia. This Black majority city has an educated talent pool, a thriving nightlife, walkability, and close proximity to both D.C. and New York. Not only is Richmond affordable, it’s also a fun and welcoming city that is humming with a lively arts scene. Young professionals enjoy flocking to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Fridays for wine tastings and art exhibitions. Vibrant festivals, theater performances, and a wide array of restaurants will keep foodies and culture-lovers happy. It’s also a great hub for new jobs, with at least seven Fortune 500 companies and a growing tech presence.