You may have just graduated with your degree in Public health or you’re about to.  You may have even taken public health classes online and are seeking to apply your knowledge to some kind of fruitful career. You’re willing to relocate and wondering, perhaps, what the best cities are for your prospects. Even amid a down economy, there are many cities that are doing well in the field of public health.

Here is a list of five cities with promising outlooks for public health degrees. This does not only factor in the salary available in these cities, but also the cost of living, the length of commute and expected growth rates. Spending three hours a day to get to work will make any salary seem not worth the trip; to properly serve in the field of public health, it’s important that you remain happy. A decent salary, affordable cost of living and easy commute will contribute to that. The cities on this list are most likely to help you find gainful employment.

Raleigh Metro Area, North Carolina

Ranked as the 38^th fastest growing city in the country, the Raleigh metropolitan area of North Carolina earns our number one spot. It offers an average salary of $40,000 in the public health field. It has a reasonable cost of living, ranking 46 out in the top 100 cities in the nation for that criterion. It also has a reasonable average commute of 21 minutes. Obviously, this will depend on where you choose to live and find work. However, on average, citizens of Raleigh do not spend more than 25 minutes in the car on their way to work. Raleigh is one of the nation’s top cities for growth in the health care industry. It is home to WakeMed Health and Duke Raleigh Hospital. This creates tremendous opportunity for those wishing to work directly with patients in need.

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines features one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at a remarkable 3.1 percent. It offers an average salary similar to Raleigh:   $41,000. As Des Moines is the state capitol of Iowa, it is also the center of the health care industry. There are also a number of colleges in town; enhancing the need for medical assistance to that demographic. And there are many big players in the health industry that call Des Moines home, such as: Principal Life Insurance Company, Iowa Health Systems and Wellmark, Inc. All of these companies have a need for those with a degree in public health, creating an abundance of job opportunities.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is well- known for hosting some of the country’s best health care systems. It is home to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel. Each of these hospitals employs thousands of people; this further creates a need for up-and-coming public health practitioners. There is a boundless need in Boston for nurses, physician assistants and primary care physicians. These are all careers in public health that require some form of a public health degree. If you are going the research route with your degree, you will likely find employment in Boston, too:  it is a major research hub at the university level.

Portland, Oregon

Portland ends up landing on many lists as one of the best cities to live in and this list is no exception whatsoever. It makes the cut as one of the best cities for public health careers for several reasons. First, it offers a reasonably high average salary of $45,000, coupled with a reasonably low cost of living. Second, the average commute for a Portland resident is 23 minutes. Portland is also known for its highly functional public transit system, meaning you can save on gas and insurance costs. Portland is home to Legacy Health System, which is constantly hiring people with degrees in public health.

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison boasts an incredibly low unemployment rate of 2.6 percent, which draws jobseekers from many walks of life. Its health care industry is no exception to the unemployment rate, either. It is home to many world-renowned healthcare facilities. There are also numerous colleges and universities, making it a fantastic city for the public health researcher. Nurses, medical assistance and physicians are in high demand in Madison.

Which city is for you?

All of these cities were chosen because they are affordable to live in and offer plenty of employment opportunities for those with a public health degree. Which one is for you? It depends largely on which part of the country you would like to call your new home.