Taking a look at the most promising areas for U.S. job seekers this year.

There are more than 19,000 cities in the U.S., but which are the best hubs for job seekers?

NerdWallet, a financial literacy website, decided to find out. The company used four factors — population growth, income, unemployment rate, and the cost of living — to determine which U.S. cities are the best for job seekers.

Check out the top five cities below, and then head over NerdWallet to see the full list.

No. 1: Austin, TX
Population Growth: 3.8%
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%
Median Income: $31,170
Median Rent: $968

No. 2: Washington, DC
Population Growth: 2.7%
Unemployment Rate: 10.2%
Median Income: $43,993
Median Rent: $1,823

No. 3: San Francisco, CA
Population Growth: 0.9%
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%
Median Income: $46,777
Median Rent: $2,702

No. 4: Denver, CO
Population Growth: 3.3%
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%
Median Income: $32,051
Median Rent: $931

No. 5: Houston, TX
Population Growth: 2.2%
Unemployment Rate: 8.2%
Median Income: $26,849
Median Rent: $1,311

Austin landed in the number one spot thanks to its wild population growth and low unemployment rate. Rent is relatively cheap, and the city is a hotbed for tech jobs due to the presence of companies like IBM, Dell, and Google.

Big cities like San Francisco and Washington, DC offset their high costs of living by offering job seekers a higher median income. Still, emerging markets like Denver and Houston underscore the importance of being open-minded when it comes to your job search, especially if you work in dynamic fields such as healthcare or aerospace.

Would you be willing to relocate to boost your current career, or find a new one? Let us know in the comment section below!

Photo via Flickr, StuSeeger

Search and apply to jobs online or on the go with Proven Job Search: