from nerdwallet.com
Millennials who are looking for a Southern sensibility, thriving music scenes and plenty of jobs can find all of that and more in Tennessee. Nearly 1 in 5 residents in Tennessee are millennials, or young adults, and from 2010 to 2013, this population increased about 4%.
Tennessee is continuing a trend of upward economic mobility. It was named State of the Year in economic development for the second year in a row by Business Facilities magazine. Major industries in Tennessee include manufacturing, tourism and agriculture. Millennials can seek job opportunities with some of the country’s largest employers in Tennessee, especially if they want to live in urban centers.
NerdWallet’s analysis
We crunched the numbers for 87 cities and towns with populations over 5,000 in Tennessee to determine the best places for millennial job seekers. Here’s what we focused on:
- Are there jobs in the area?
- Can you afford to rent near work?
- Do other millennials live there?
Best places for millennial job seekers in Tennessee:
1. Oak Ridge
This city’s millennial population growth was the highest on our list at 15%. Millennials have discovered Oak Ridge’s higher salaries, low rent and unique economy, which includes U.S. Department of Energy facilities, such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. The city was founded as a temporary “Secret City” for the Manhattan Project to develop atomic weapons during World War II. Oak Ridge is also home to four industrial parks and a regional medical center.
2. Nashville-Davidson County
Nashville-Davidson County is the second-largest place on our list and includes a millennial population of over 27% of its 614,908 residents. New apartments are sprouting up all over Nashville while rents are sticking at about $835 a month. Job opportunities are centered around big employers, including Bridgestone, Hobby Lobby International and many more. Other employers, such as Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, also attract a large number of workers. Of course, there’s the creative culture in Music City that includes employers ranging from small and large record companies to Gibson Guitar Corp. and CMT.
3. Franklin
Nearly 1 in 5 residents in Franklin are millennials, a city with a combination of a low unemployment rate — the lowest on our list — and higher incomes. As a suburb of Nashville, Franklin millennials have access to all of the big employers Nashville has to offer, along several health care businesses and medical centers. Other big employers in the area include Provident Music Group, CoolSprings Galleria, Magazines.com, Atmos Energy, World Christian Broadcasting and Nissan North America. The city’s music scene has been featured in films over the years and it is home to popular musicians and entertainers.
In total, Nerd Wallet names 87 cities and towns on their list and includes Spring Hill at #13, Brentwood at #25, Fairview at #53 and Nolensville at #79.
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