50 Cities With Abundant Housing and Jobs

The unemployment rate in the U.S. is near a 50-year low. Employers have continued to add jobs month after month. And there are more job openings than job seekers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On the surface, all of this is good news for people looking for jobs. But dig a little deeper and you’ll learn that actually finding a job isn’t that easy for everyone. A survey by job recruitment software company Jobvite found that certain segments of the population are having a harder time finding work. Among those are people living in rural areas, who are much more likely than city dwellers to believe that finding a job is tough, according to the survey.

These findings aren’t surprising, considering that rural areas tend to have fewer businesses, organizations and agencies. Fewer employers means fewer jobs. So does that mean you can increase your chances of getting a job – or a better job – if you look beyond the area where you live and are willing to move for work? Certainly. The top reason people move is for a higher-paying job or career advancement, according to a survey by moving company Allied Van Lines.

If you’re willing to move for work, that begs the question: Which cities have an abundance of job openings? But it’s also important to identify places where there’s plenty of housing. After all, you need a place to live. Ideally, it’s better to be looking for a house in a buyer’s market so you can have the upper hand in negotiations.

To help, GOBankingRates identified cities with both abundant housing and jobs.  The study looked at more than 500 cities with populations of at least 50,000, then used home listing data from Zillow to identify which cities experienced an increase in listings from September 2018 to September 2019. GOBankingRates also reviewed metro area data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on job growth in non-farm employees from September 2018 to September 2019.

GOBankingRates then ranked the 171 cities that had both positive growth in home listings and jobs. It also considered the actual number of new home listings and number of employees in each city as of September 2019 to narrow down the list to 50. Keep reading to find where you can find both abundant housing and job opportunities.

San Antonio

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 1,595
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 17.8%
• Number of employees: 1,086,400
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.6%

Fort Worth, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 927
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 0.22%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Philadelphia

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 1,681
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 5.33%
• Number of employees: 2,981,300
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

North Richland Hills, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 120
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 73.91%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

West New York, New Jersey

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 67
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 109.38%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Atlanta

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 1,006
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 18.49%
• Number of employees: 2,851,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.9%

Charlotte, North Carolina

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 932
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 0.11%
• Number of employees: 1,239,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.3%

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 487
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 16.79%
• Number of employees: 651,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Denton, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 140
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 23.89%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Richland, Washington

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 89
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 23.61%
• Number of employees: 121,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 4%

Ogden, Utah

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 131
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 0.77%
• Number of employees: 274,400
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 4.3%

Pasco, Washington

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 85
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 23.19%
• Number of employees: 121,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 4%

Mansfield, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 87
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 22.54%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

More on Jobs: 20 Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Job

Lehigh Acres, Florida

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 151
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 6.34%
• Number of employees: 278,900
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 4.1%

Mesquite, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 131
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 14.91%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Springdale, Arkansas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 82
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 41.38%
• Number of employees: 269,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.5%

Cary, North Carolina

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 154
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 40%
• Number of employees: 651,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Kennewick, Washington

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 119
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 7.21%
• Number of employees: 121,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 4%

Grand Prairie, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 132
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 4.76%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Grapevine, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 41
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 13.89%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Rowlett, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 77
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 6.94%
• Number of employees: 3,815,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.2%

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 230
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 20.42%
• Number of employees: 274,900
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.3%

Idaho Falls, Idaho

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 106
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 11.58%
• Number of employees: 71,300
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.8%

Washington, District of Columbia

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 889
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 4.1%
• Number of employees: 3,340,000
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.2%

St. George, Utah

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 197
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 1.55%
• Number of employees: 72,100
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.7%

Newark, New Jersey

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 156
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 28.93%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Clarksville, Tennessee

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 354
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 14.56%
• Number of employees: 95,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3%

Meridian, Idaho

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 206
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 17.05%
• Number of employees: 346,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.1%

Nampa, Idaho

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 228
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 12.32%
• Number of employees: 346,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.1%

Pleasanton, California

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 70
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 32.08%
• Number of employees: 2,511,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.6%

Lakewood, New Jersey

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 90
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 23.29%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Union, New Jersey

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 69
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 25.45%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Conroe, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 171
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 3.01%
• Number of employees: 3,172,000
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.7%

Louisville, Kentucky

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 876
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 3.67%
• Number of employees: 682,100
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.4%

Tucson, Arizona

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 709
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 2.9%
• Number of employees: 391,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.9%

Caldwell, Idaho

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 90
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 21.62%
• Number of employees: 346,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.1%

Pocatello, Idaho

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 56
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 19.15%
• Number of employees: 37,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 3.3%

Novato, California

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 66
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 24.53%
• Number of employees: 2,511,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.6%

Mount Vernon, New York

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 40
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 17.65%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Pasadena, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 66
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 4.76%
• Number of employees: 3,172,000
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.7%

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 35
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 12.9%
• Number of employees: 9,920,500
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.1%

Carson, California

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 36
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 44%
• Number of employees: 6,227,600
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.2%

Tamarac, Florida

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 179
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 20.95%
• Number of employees: 2,729,400
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2%

Cincinnati

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 306
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 10.07%
• Number of employees: 1,139,000
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.1%

Lexington, Kentucky

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 331
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 16.14%
• Number of employees: 283,400
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.1%

Roswell, Georgia

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 144
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 22.03%
• Number of employees: 2,851,200
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.9%

Mission, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 61
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 8.93%
• Number of employees: 270,600
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.9%

Pictured: McAllen, Texas -- bordering the east of Mission, Texas

Whittier, California

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 96
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 24.68%
• Number of employees: 6,227,600
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 1.2%

New Braunfels, Texas

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 166
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 0.61%
• Number of employees: 1,086,400
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.6%

Victorville, California

• Number of new home listings in September 2019: 181
• Year-over-year change in home listings: 8.38%
• Number of employees: 1,537,700
• Year-over-year change in job growth: 2.3%

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Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at 503 U.S. cities with populations above 50,000 and sufficient housing and employment data, as sourced from the 2017 American Community Survey conducted by the U. S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. First GOBankingRates found each city's 1) percent change of new monthly home listings from September 2018 to September 2019 and 2) number of new monthly home listings for September 2019, both sourced from Zillow. GOBankingRates then found the 3) percent change of non-farm employee job growth and 4) the number of employees on non-farm payrolls for September 2019 for the metro areas where the cities are located, both sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics October 2019 Economic News Release.

GOBankingRates then took the 171 cities that had both positive change for both factors 1 and 2 and scored all four factors for each of the 171 cities, with the lowest score being best. These four factors were then combined to give a final score. In the final rankings, factors 1 and 4 were weighted 0.5 rather than 1 so results wouldn't be swayed as a result of the size of the housing and job markets. All data was collected and was up to date as of Nov. 4, 2019.

About the Author

Cameron Huddleston

Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years of experience writing about personal finance. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Fortune, MSN, USA Today and many more print and online publications. She also is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. U.S. News & World Report named her one of the top personal finance experts to follow on Twitter, and AOL Daily Finance named her one of the top 20 personal finance influencers to follow on Twitter. She has appeared on CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and “Fox & Friends” and has been a guest on ABC News Radio, Wall Street Journal Radio, NPR, WTOP in Washington, D.C., KGO in San Francisco and other personal finance radio shows nationwide. She also has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch and more. She has an MA in economic journalism from American University and BA in journalism and Russian studies from Washington & Lee University.

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