Move over, Manhattan — the hottest job markets may be just a train ride (or tank of gas) away.
A new LinkedIn study has crowned America’s “Cities on the Rise” for jobs and talent — and some of the winners are closer to Times Square than Times Square is to affordable rent.
While Grand Rapids, Michigan, took the top spot thanks to its growing tech scene and insurance boom, the real eyebrow-raiser for New Yorkers is Albany — the Empire State’s own capital — landing at No. 4.
Yes, Albany. Once better known for politics and potholes than paychecks, the upstate hub — just a little under a 3-hour drive from NYC — is now a rising star in high-tech jobs and semiconductor research.
Hans Pennink for the NY Post
The University at Albany pumps more than $1 billion into the local economy, with top employers like Regeneron and Albany Medical Center drawing talent — and paychecks averaging nearly $72,000.
Median home listings hover around $604,000, making it pricier than many upstate peers but still a bargain compared to NYC.
But here’s the kicker — Albany didn’t even nab the highest-ranking spot for a nearby market. That honor goes to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which somehow beat it at No. 3.
Pennsylvania’s capital — about three hours from Midtown — scored high thanks to its low cost of living, healthcare expansion, and a tourism boost.
With median home listings around $431,000 and an average income of $64,000, Harrisburg is attracting retirees and young professionals alike.
Boise, Idaho, claimed No. 2 for its booming tech industry and mountain-town lifestyle, while Milwaukee, Wisconsin, rounded out the top five, buoyed by tech jobs and a surging tourism scene.
LinkedIn says the ranking was based on hiring trends, job postings and talent migration — essentially, where Americans are packing up and moving for better career prospects without needing to sell a kidney for rent.
The full top 25 list shows that the action is increasingly in mid-sized metros — from semiconductor-fueled Sacramento to biotech-booming Raleigh-Durham — not just in coastal megacities.
LinkedIn’s top 25 cities on the rise:
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Boise, ID
- Harrisburg, PA
- Albany, NY
- Milwaukee, WI
- Portland, ME
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Hartford, CT
- Nashville, TN
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
- Wilmington, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Sacramento, CA
- Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC
- Austin, TX
- Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- Portland, OR
- Fayetteville, AR
- Reno, NV
- San Antonio, TX
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Pensacola, FL
So if you’re over subway delays and $20 cocktails, Albany might be calling. Just don’t tell Harrisburg — they’re still enjoying their victory lap.
And if neither capital city strikes your fancy, there’s always Long Island, where another community just nabbed bragging rights of its own.
As previously reported by The Post, New York’s Massapequa Park was crowned the Empire State’s best place to live in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings — though it only came in at No. 140 nationwide.
The close-knit South Shore village scored points for its strong public schools, quick commute to NYC and nearby beach access, with homes selling for a median $746,500 — more than double the statewide median (excluding the city).
Looks like the road to the good life might just run through the capital — or a Long Island cul-de-sac.
