Report: Tucson ranks among best AZ cities for millenials

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Tucson ranks among the best cities in the state for job-seeking millenials, according to a new report.

NerdWallet.com said tech jobs, affordability and culture help draw millenials to Arizona, with help from about 63,000 added jobs in 2014 in fields including hospitality, education, health services and business.

A Pew Research Center report describes millenials as workers ages 18 to 33. NerdWallet determined its rankings, among the 44 cities with populations greater than 17,000, based on job availability, the cost of rent near the workplace and the number of millenials in the area.

NerdWallet.com ranking:

1. Chandler

2. Scottsdale

3. Tempe

4. Phoenix

5. Flagstaff

6. Douglas

7. Tucson

8. Sierra Vista

9. Sahuarita

10. Prescott

Tucson, ranked seventh, has the highest unemployment rate among the top 10 cities on the list, yet it is noted for its affordability and diversity, especially in the arts scene. The University of Arizona helps make approximately 25 percent of the city a millennial town and Tucson's other top employers are Raytheon and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Eighth-ranked Sierra Vista is another military town with the Army's Fort Huachuca as its biggest employer. The city draws outdoor tourism and wine connoisseurs.

The last Southern Arizona city on the list is Sahuarita, which has grown, in large part, because of two major mining companies. However, its median rent edges toward $2,000 per month, the most expensive on the top 10 list.

Four of the top five cities listed are in Maricopa County. Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix top the list because of their high wages and high-profile companies in the area, from Intel and PayPal in Chandler to Arizona State University in Tempe, the report states.