#1 Raleigh Named the Best U.S. City for Gen Z in 2026

Raleigh has earned another major national accolade, ranking #1 among the nation’s best cities for Generation Z in CommercialCafe’s 2026 analysis of large U.S. cities. The report evaluated locations across the nation based on key career factors that matter most to young adults, including educational opportunities, affordability, employment prospects and overall quality of life. Raleigh won the top spot nationally with a score of 65.9 points, additionally ranking #1 top Southern City for Gen Z, ahead of Atlanta and Austin.

These rankings reinforce the region’s greatest competitive advantage: its ability to attract, develop and retain the next generation of workforce talent. Furthermore, the ranking reflects Wake County’s long-term investments in education, workforce development, quality of life, and innovation, being recognized by the generation that will shape the future workforce.

Why Raleigh Ranked #1

CommercialCafe’s analysis demonstrated that Raleigh excels across several factors that are particularly important to Gen Z residents and young professionals. Gen Z prioritizes a sense of community, economic opportunity, affordability, education and quality of life.  The city’s strong educational ecosystem, growing job market, and affordability advantages helped it rise to the top of the national rankings.

Among the report’s key findings:

• Gen Z residents make up 9.7% of Raleigh’s population, the third-highest share among all cities included in the ranking.
• 31.6% of local employment is concentrated in jobs suited for recent graduates, ranking Raleigh fifth nationally.
• Nearly 46.4% of Gen Z residents are enrolled in some form of education, reflecting the strength of the region’s academic institutions and talent pipeline.
• Living costs run around 5.3% below the national average
• Within the Southern region, Raleigh ranked 2nd-highest share of jobs suited for recent graduates, demonstrating strong career opportunities for young professionals entering the workforce.