DENVER (KDVR) — Millennials are likely to be able to afford more avocado toast living in some cities than others, according to a recent report highlighting where the generation tends to make more money than the typical earner.
One Colorado city ranks among the best in the United States when it comes to millennials qualifying as high earners compared to most households.
The study by financial data website SmartAsset looked at the median household incomes in 357 U.S. cities with more than 100,000 people to determine where millennials are better off, as they are in their prime working years and many are raising families.
Boulder ranked as the No. 12 city where millennials take home the highest earnings premium, which measures how much the median millennial household income outpaces (or falls short of) the median household income for all ages.
According to the report, millennials in Boulder make a 29.35% earning premium, with the median millennial household income at $111,004, while the median household income for all ages sits at $85,761.
In comparison, the top five cities nationwide were:
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Millennial earnings premium: 42.43%
- Median Millennial household income: $143,500
- Median household income, all ages: $100,751
- Berkeley, California
- Millennial earnings premium: 41.71%
- Median Millennial household income: $146,987
- Median household income, all ages: $103,727
- Quincy, Massachusetts
- Millennial earnings premium: 38.21%
- Median Millennial household income: $140,661
- Median household income, all ages: $101,775
- Lakeland, Florida
- Millennial earnings premium: 35.83%
- Median Millennial household income: $86,739
- Median household income, all ages: $63,859
- San Francisco, California
- Millennial earnings premium: 34.73%
- Median Millennial household income: $188,353
- Median household income, all ages: $139,801
Other cities around Colorado made the list, with millennials earning more than the median household income.
| Rank | City | Millennial earnings premium | Median millennial household income | Median household income, all ages |
| 12 | Boulder, Colorado | 29.43% | $111,004 | $85,761 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Arvada, Colorado | 21.21% | $150,685 | $124,317 |
| 78 | Denver, Colorado | 16.19% | $107,481 | $92,504 |
| 144 | Centennial, Colorado | 11.17% | $150,782 | $135,629 |
| 151 | Greeley, Colorado | 10.68% | $84,627 | $76,462 |
| 152 | Fort Collins, Colorado | 10.62% | $89,820 | $81,199 |
| 171 | Longmont, Colorado | 9.03% | $99,973 | $91,696 |
| 180 | Aurora, Colorado | 8.76% | $102,056 | $93,837 |
| 189 | Lakewood, Colorado | 8.47% | $98,543 | $90,852 |
| 204 | Thornton, Colorado | 7.74% | $108,919 | $101,096 |
| 215 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 7.46% | $89,910 | $83,672 |
| 230 | Pueblo, Colorado | 6.53% | $58,796 | $55,194 |
| 255 | Westminster, Colorado | 5.13% | $114,458 | $108,877 |
Some cities on the list had lower earnings for millennials than other generations, such as Lafayette, Louisiana, with a premium of -14.72% and Jackson, Mississippi, with a premium of -13.5%.

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