Portland ranks in top 20 U.S. cities to start a career

Courtesy / WalletHub WalletHub's list of 2023's "Best & Worst Places to Start a Career" ranks Portland at No. 17 and Lewiston at No. 51.

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By Renee Cordes

Just in time for the 2023 college graduation season, a new ranking of best and worst places to start a career features Maine's largest city in the top 20 and Lewiston at No. 51.

The personal finance website ranks Portland at No. 17 on a list topped by Atlanta. The Forest City is sandwiched between Scottsdale, Ariz. (No. 16), and Boise, Idaho (No. 18).

Interestingly, Portland received a much better showing for quality of life than for professional opportunities.

Further down the list, Lewiston comes in just behind Reno, Nev. (No. 50), and Tallahassee, Fla. (No. 53).

"Deciding where to lay the foundation for a long and prosperous career can be a tall order, especially for recent graduates entering the job market for the first time," researchers note.

To help new graduates start their search for a career, WalletHub compared the relative market strength and overall livability of more than 180 U.S. cities based on 26 key metrics, from the availability of entry-level jobs to mostly average starting salary to housing affordability.

Portland also scored high on U.S. News & World Report's recent "Best Places to Live" scoreboard, coming in at No. 7 for "best place to live" and No. 37 for "best place to retire."

Find the full WalletHub report on "2023' Best & Worst Places to Start a Career here.