# Where Should Young Pros Actually Move? The Real Talk

Looking to relocate but tired of the same old "move to NYC or LA" advice? U.S. News ranked 150+ metro areas and here's what they found:

**The Wild Card: Huntsville, Alabama**
Avg salary $61k, median age 39. Cheap housing (only 19.6% income goes to rent), aerospace/defense hub. Honestly, if you're into rockets and not drowning in debt—solid move.

**The Colorado Paradox**
Boulder ($73k avg) vs Colorado Springs ($57.5k avg)—both have that outdoor lifestyle flex, but Boulder's salary is $18k higher. Springs ranks #2 in "desirability" though, so it's a toss-up depending on your priorities.

**The Tech Coast Reality Check**
San Francisco ($86.5k) = "Paris of the West" but with brutal housing costs. San Jose ($99.4k avg, THE strongest job market) is literally Silicon Valley—basically the highest earner but also the most expensive place in America. You're paying premium prices for premium salaries.

**The Bottom Line**
Trade-off city: If you want affordable + decent jobs = Huntsville. If you want the career rocket ship = San Jose/SF (but be ready to hustle). If you want the sweet spot = Boulder.

Where are you actually thinking?