The Best Cities for a Fresh Start (2024)

If you aspire to change your job and surroundings for a completely new start, you’re not alone. Many Americans are looking for change in the new year because of high inflation, economic uncertainty, and general job dissatisfaction. 

We surveyed 1,000 Americans to determine their interest in a fresh start and what qualities they want in a new location. We combined their responses with data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow to determine which of America’s most populous metro areas are the best places to start fresh in 2024.

Key Findings

• Our survey found that 82% of Americans are interested in a fresh start, including changes to their career, lifestyle, relationships, and personal development.
• Of those interested in a clean slate, the majority would consider relocating or moving.
• Low prices, low unemployment, and lots of fresh air make Raleigh, North Carolina, the best city for a fresh start.
• High prices, high unemployment, and poor air quality make Los Angeles, California, the worst city for a fresh start.

Why Start Fresh?

More than four in five Americans want a fresh start in at least one aspect of their lives. Financial freedom was overwhelmingly the top reason across all demographics, but meeting new people was also a main interest.

Both men and women cited financial freedom as the top reason for wanting a fresh start. However, women more often craved change due to unhappiness or disliking where they live. Men were more motivated by the prospect of reinventing themselves or meeting new people.

New Place, New Me: What Do Americans Want in a New City?

Starting over in a new city feels like hitting a reset button. Undiscovered opportunities paired with new surroundings can reignite your passion. So, it’s not surprising that among those interested in starting fresh, 82% would consider relocating to start their next chapter.

When choosing where to move, respondents value a city’s affordability, job opportunities, and air quality the most. Weather and walkability were also top considerations.

Fresh Starts by Demographics

What does a fresh start look like? We compared responses between genders and generations to see what people want. 

Ninety percent of men would consider relocating, while only 81% of women would do the same. Women were also more concerned with city affordability: 90% of women ranked it a top concern, compared to 78% of men. Alternatively, 23% of men cared if a city had many single people, compared to 12% of women.

Millennials and Gen Xers overwhelmingly agreed they would consider relocating for a fresh start, with 89% of millennials and 87% of Gen Xers willing to move. However, they disagree on where to live: Millennials were nearly twice as likely as Gen Xers to opt for a highly populated area.

The Best Cities for a Fresh Start

Most respondents were willing to move for a fresh start, but where’s the best place to go? We compared the 50 most populous metro areas in the United States, ranking them on respondents’ most important factors. This includes affordability, air quality, weather risk, and job availability.

The 10 Best Cities for a Fresh Start

Raleigh, North Carolina, is the best city for a fresh start. It has a booming job market, plentiful walking trails, and great air quality.

Raleigh is a top option for anyone who enjoys spending time outside but still wants to live near a city. Of the 50 metro areas we compared, it has the second-highest number of walking trails per capita and third-highest number of good air quality days. Prices in Raleigh are lower than those at the national level, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

On average, the top-rated cities had better air quality days more frequently, more green space, and a lower risk of climate hazards compared to the lowest-ranked cities. Our highest-ranking cities also saw an average rent increase of 10% from 2021–2023, compared to an average 15% increase in the bottom 10 metros.

The 10 Worst Cities for a Fresh Start

Los Angeles, California, is the worst city for a fresh start. Of all our reviewed cities, it had the second-highest unemployment rate and the fewest good air quality days. 

Higher costs and fewer employment opportunities can make it difficult for new residents to establish themselves in a city. Our worst-ranked, fresh-start cities have higher living costs, rent increases, and unemployment rates than the best-ranking metros. They also ranked lower overall for air quality and green space and have a higher average risk of climate hazards.

Honorable Mentions

See which cities ranked well for affordability, livability, and job opportunities:

Tips for Relocating

If you’re relocating to a new city, consider the following tips: 

• Create a moving budget with room for unexpected expenses: Hiring movers, purchasing furniture, and fueling your car are just some expenses to factor into your moving budget. Consider the time of year and travel distance to help make accurate calculations. 
• Write a to-do list with a concrete timeline: Create a list of everything you must accomplish before moving day. Determine “due dates” for your tasks to help you stay on track. 
• Ask for help: Moving to a new city can be challenging. If you don’t have the help of family or friends, it may be worth hiring a top-rated moving company or long-distance moving company to ease the burden.

Expert Tips and Insights

We asked experts to share their insights on relocating to a new city. Read their tips below.

Seamus Nally

CEO

TurboTenant
Read more

See answers

Read bio

​​What factors make a city a good place to start fresh?

One factor that can make a city a good place to start fresh is housing affordability. Especially when moving away from highly-populated metropolitan areas, people often find that housing is more accessible across the board. The supply/demand ratio may not be nearly as significant, and the cost of renting and home buying may be more feasible. This could even mean that people have the opportunity to get into real estate investing when they may not have been able to before, which can thus really start to build wealth.

What should someone be wary of when considering cities to relocate to?

One thing to be wary of when relocating is a city whose housing prices are steadily dropping. While this is great for affordability purposes, that may not paint the best light when it comes to the future of the city. You also need to think about factors like job opportunities when picking somewhere to live, and it’s likely that job opportunities may be declining when housing prices are also steadily declining.

Seamus Nally is the CEO of TurboTenant, a rental property management software.

Salvador Ordorica

CEO and Founder

The Spanish Group
Read more

See answers

Read bio

According to our data, 82% of individuals interested in starting fresh would consider relocating to begin their new chapter. What are some potential upsides of relocation?

Relocating can be a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. From my experience as a language expert, I’ve seen how moving to a new city can open up fresh job opportunities, offer a new social scene, and provide a chance to experience different cultures. With proper language support, people can quickly adapt to their new environment, making new friends and establishing professional networks. It’s about creating a new chapter with enriched experiences and broader horizons.

What considerations should you assess before relocating?

When considering relocation, it’s important to be aware of language and dialect differences. Often, people underestimate how these variations can affect their daily lives. For instance, local slang and colloquialisms might be different, leading to potential misunderstandings. It’s essential to research and understand the local way of speaking. This awareness can make a big difference in easing your transition and helping you integrate more smoothly into the community.

What tips do you have for someone who is relocating?

To make your move easier, immerse yourself in the local language and dialect. Learning regional slang and expressions can help you blend in and feel more at home. For example, in some regions, people might have unique ways of greeting each other or specific phrases for social interactions. Adapting to these local communication styles can help you build rapport with your new neighbors. Additionally, language support services can provide valuable guidance, helping you navigate your new surroundings with confidence and ease.

Salvador Ordorica is the founder and CEO of The Spanish Group LLC, a premier certified translation agency based out of Irvine, California. Salvador is committed to using language as a bridge to cultural, business, and family connection and understanding around the globe.

Andrew Rasmussen, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology

Fordham University
Read more

See answers

Read bio

What tips do you have for someone who is relocating?

If something isn’t working out for you after a year or two—whether it’s moving across the country for a relationship that didn’t pan out or any other reason—you have the freedom to reassess and make a change. It’s important not to generalize personal setbacks to an entire city or location; if a relationship didn’t work out, it doesn’t necessarily mean the city itself isn’t right for you. You can always return or explore new opportunities elsewhere. In some ways, the ease of moving within this country, despite the associated stress, is also an asset. Unlike in many places, you’re not locked into staying where you are indefinitely. Especially with the rise of remote work, you can move away and return, or try different locations multiple times while keeping the same job or advancing within it remotely. This flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the American economy that I find attractive.

According to our data, 82% of individuals interested in starting fresh would consider relocating to begin their new chapter. What are some potential upsides of relocation?

Different people can have varied experiences when it comes to moving.  One might feel excited, thinking, “Great, I’m getting out of here!” It can be a very positive experience, especially if you’re moving for a fantastic new job. Your new job might even invite you to the cookout happening on Saturday, which helps you connect with others and feel good about your choices. However, not all companies manage this well; many lack the resources or prioritize it enough.

Andrew Rasmussen, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology (tenured) and head of the Culture, Migration, and Community research group at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. Rasmussen’s research focuses primarily on the psychosocial needs and assessment of forcibly displaced populations (e.g., refugees, asylum seekers).

Full Data

You can review our full list of the best and worst cities for a fresh start in the table below. We considered factors such as climate risk score, regional price parity, and walkability.

Methodology

The research team at This Old House Reviews surveyed 1,000 Americans about their desire to start fresh and the qualities that they think make a city good for a fresh start. Once we established the qualities Americans prioritize, we ranked the 50 most populous metro areas according to those qualities while adding additional important metrics:

• Environmental Protection Agency’s Walkability Index
• Percentage change in Zillow Rent Index from 2021–2023
• Percentage of city area dedicated to parks for each core city in each metro area
• Percentage of good AQI days in 2022
• Regional price parities
• Total change in the civilian labor force from September 2022–2023
• University of Notre Dame’s Global Adaptation Initiative’s overall risk score
• Unemployment rate for September 2023
• Violent crime rate
• Walking trails per 100,000 residents

Sources: U.S. Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Environmental Protection Agency, Trust for Public Land, University of Notre Dame’s Urban Adaptation Initiative, Neighborhood Scout, and TrailLink.

Questions about our study? Please contact the author here.

Fair Use Policy

We encourage journalists and reporters to share our findings on the best cities to start fresh. If you choose to do so, please link back to our original story to give us proper credit for our research.