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Atlanta is Best City to Start A Career

Posted: May 12, 2025 | Categories: News

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Best & Worst Places to Start a Career (2025)

John S Kiernan, WalletHub Managing EditorMay 12, 2025

Deciding where to lay the foundation for a long and prosperous career can be a tall order, especially for recent graduates entering the job market for the first time. After all, there are many factors — job-market saturation, housing affordability and commuter-friendliness, for instance — to consider about each prospective area.

Fortunately, new graduates are entering the market at a good time, as there is currently an employment shortage and many places are eager to hire. In fact, employers plan to hire 7.3% more graduates from the Class of 2025 than they did from the Class of 2024.

In order to help new graduates start their search for a career, WalletHub compared the relative market strength and overall livability of more than 180 U.S. cities to help recent college graduates find the best cradles for their budding careers. We examined each city based on 25 key metrics that range from the availability of entry-level jobs to the average monthly starting salary to housing affordability.

“Transitioning out of school and into the workforce can be a difficult and stressful process, but certain cities make things a lot easier than others. The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions. It’s also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career.” – CHIP LUPO, WALLETHUB ANALYST

In-Depth Look at the Best Place to Start a Career

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta is the best place to start a career, boasting one of the highest growth rates in the median household income, at around 8.2% annually. The median annual household income in Atlanta is already pretty high as well, at nearly $85,400.

In addition, Atlanta has a lot of job opportunities at companies that are rated at least 4 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, along with plentiful entry-level jobs, and people have a high rate of satisfaction with their jobs.

For people who want to not only start a career but also start their own business, Atlanta ranks as the eighth-best large city. It also ranks fourth among the most fun cities and it's the best city for singles, allowing people who move for their career to also find happiness outside of work.

Author: John S Kiernan

BUYING A HOME

New homes at Lake Arrowhead start from the mid $400s. Pricing varies by neighborhood and home type — Woodlands ranch homes start from the mid $400s, Waterview Townhomes and Fort Gibson ranch homes from the low $500s, and Timber Ridge luxury homes from the low $600s to the $800s. View current pricing on each neighborhood page.

All homes sold through the Lake Arrowhead sales office are new construction, built by award-winning veteran Georgia builders, including Majestic Lifestyle Builders, Rezide Properties, TIH Homes, and JW Collection.

Yes — resale homes are available, though they are not listed through the Lake Arrowhead sales and information center. Community covenants allow a uniform neighborhood resale sign on properties, so we recommend working with a local realtor familiar with the community to find resale listings.

Lake Arrowhead offers something for everyone: single-family ranch homes, waterview townhomes, and luxury custom homes with all the bells and whistles across multiple neighborhoods, including: Woodlands, Fort Gibson, Timber Ridge, and Waterview Townhomes.

Yes — Lake Arrowhead offers a Discovery Stay & Play program where you can reserve a luxury golf villa for a short stay to experience the community before deciding on the type of home and neighborhood of choice. Contact the sales and information center at 770-720-2700 to arrange a visit.

Once you close, please contact the Membership Director at 770-721-7913 or membership@lakearrowheadga.com to schedule your Membership Orientation — you'll receive gate devices, set up billing, and obtain your welcome package.