9. Denver, Colorado
Denver is a great city for young professionals with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. The violent crime rate (676 per 100,000 residents) in Denver is low compared to the national average (895 per 100,000 residents). The unemployment rate (3.2%) in Denver is also lower than the national average (3.7%). However, housing affordability is a concern in Denver, as the average home value is $671,055, much higher than the U.S. average of $449,718.