The Best Cities for Hipsters in America

RentPath Admin

5.12.2021 Communities

Look, we get it. You’re unique. A true individual. And you should never be lumped into a group of like-minded folk. How is it even possible to determine the best cities for hipsters?

Well, since you asked …

Finding the best cities for hipsters

It’s difficult to define the undefinable, but we did our best. First, we looked at the percentage of the population between the ages of 20 and 34. Then we crunched some numbers, from a city’s median income to the average rent price for a studio apartment. The bike-a-bility score came into play, along with the density of hipster-friendly businesses. Think: local coffee shops, craft breweries, record stores, organic markets … you get the picture.

So where are the best cities for hipsters? On a map, these spots trend toward the edges of the country with a few surprises sprinkled into the mix. Geographically, it looks a little something like this:

The top 10 cities for hipsters

While there are some surprises in our top 50 (we see you there, Schaumburg, IL), the top 10 features the usual suspects. You’ve got tech hubs, college towns and a few places that really take their coffee seriously. Oh, and a couple of ties (hence our pair of number 6s and 9s).

So load up that vintage suitcase with your vinyl and beard oil (just not together) and set your sights on one of these 10 best cities to live the ultimate hipster lifestyle.

9*. San Francisco, CA

*tied

Our first No. 9 should come as no surprise — though with the recent influx of Silicon Valley bros, perhaps San Francisco isn’t as much of a hipster given these days.

From seaside parks that are perfect for puffing those American Spirits to a slew of beloved coffee outposts like Ritual Roasters and Sightglass Coffee, this city has endless hipster-friendly hangouts. You’ll also find a killer indie music scene and more tattoos than you can shake a wrist arrow at.

As hip as this city is, coolness comes at a premium. San Francisco is easily the most expensive city on our top 10 — and ranks up there among the most expensive cities in America. However! If you work at one of the many successful hipster-driven startups in town, you’ll be fine.

While the average rent for a wee studio is a whopping $2,639, the median income here is an incredibly healthy $112,376.

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9*. Madison, WI

*tied

Madison is a cool Midwestern city — no, that’s not an oxymoron. Home to the University of Wisconsin, which has been showing up on lists of the best party schools for years, Madison also draws more millennials than any other city. So why are the young and hip flocking here? The beard-sporting, PBR-drinking set knows that Madison is a hub for music, art, food and beer.

To make the city even more attractive, the cost of living is lower than the national average. Rent prices for a studio here are among the lowest on our top 10, at around $1,190 per month.

This scenic “green” city also offers ample outdoor activities, festivals and bike paths.

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8. Portland, OR

Portland is the city that put hipsters on the map, and “Portlandia” helped cement the city’s claim to fame (much to the dismay of actual Portland hipsters, who definitely don’t love the “h” word). The city not only boasts forests, mountains and nature galore, it’s also an absolute haven for local coffeehouses, divey music venues, craft breweries and the like.

Unfortunately, the secret has been out for quite a while now and Portland has seen a steady influx of transplants led by the hipster set.

The good news? Prices haven’t caught up to some of the more cost-prohibitive Western cities … yet. Expect to pay around $1,358 for a studio apartment in Stumptown.

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6*. Ann Arbor, MI

*tied

Located on the other side of Lake Michigan from Madison, Ann Arbor has a lot in common with its neighbor to the west. Home to the University of Michigan (another top party school), this college town reaps the benefits of housing nearly 45,000 coeds.

With an impressive number of coffee shops per capita, you’ll also find endless indie rock shows, trendy foodie destinations and more fixies than you can shake a spoke at.

So how much will it cost you to call Ann Arbor home? Studios aren’t exactly cheap here — remember, you’re competing with 45K coeds for a place to live. Budget around $1,536 for your monthly rent.

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6*. Washington, DC

*tied

The second No. 6 on our list may come as a surprise. D.C. is often characterized as a hotbed for politics and not much else, but it’s also home to a lot of young people — including a slew of hipsters.

Don’t believe us? Belly up to a local watering hole like American Ice Co., order a beer served in a mason jar (try local DC Brau) and then catch a show at the nearby venue like the 9:30 club. Now, report back: Are you not surrounded by hipsters? You’re welcome.

Ready to call the U.S. capital home? Find the best DC neighborhood for you (there’s even a quiz), and start packing your bags. You’ll pay around $1,686 in rent for a studio, but you can probably afford it — the average income here is $85,203.

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5. Berkeley, CA

We know what you’re thinking: Is a hippie the same as a hipster? Not exactly, though admittedly there is some overlap. While you’ll still find plenty of tie-dyes, nature marts and protesters in Berkeley, you’ll also find a growing number of handlebar mustaches, cuffed pants and V-necks. Immerse yourself in all of the above here in the home of UC Berkeley — and beyond.

Hipsters flock to Berkeley to soak up all that eclectic culture and proximity to San Francisco Bay.

Remember those “cost-prohibitive” Western cities we referenced in the Portland section? Yeah, this is one of them. While paying $2,250 every month for a studio apartment may sting — it’s not quite as bad as San Francisco, which is around $400 more per month. Silver lining?

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4. Fort Collins, CO

How do you feel about quaint houses from the 1800s? Vintage trolleys? Craft beer? Pretty great, right? Well, Fort Collins‘ Old Town historic district has it all — so hipsters have taken notice.

From grungy rock clubs to more than 20 craft breweries, it should come as no surprise that witty banter and counter-culture vibes are taking over this northern Colorado city.

Let me guess, you’re stuck on the 20-plus craft breweries … we don’t blame you. This is, after all, the home of Fat Tire brewer New Belgian Brewing Co.

If you’re ready to set up shop in this cool corner of Colorado, we’ve got some good news: Rent prices in Fort Collins are the second-lowest among our top 10. You’ll pay just $1,150 a month for a studio here.

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3. Tempe, AZ

Isn’t the desert a little too hot for hipsters? Nope, not according to our data.

Located just east of Phoenix, Tempe attracts a ton of millennials for its unique neighborhoods, eclectic eats, plentiful dive bars and low cost of living. There’s also a strong indie music scene, plus Tempe Town Lake, an ideal place to cool off on a paddleboat or kayak.

If you’re not afraid of the brutal summer sun, this hidden gem has a lot to offer beyond tattoo shops and vintage stores. The low cost of living in Tempe is no joke. At under $1,000 ($993), monthly rent prices for a studio apartment are the lowest on our top 10 list.

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2. Minneapolis, MN

Surprised to see the better half of the Twin Cities in the number two spot? Clearly, you didn’t know that Minneapolis is the unofficial hipster capital of the Midwest. Consider yourself schooled.

The City of Lakes is known for its proximity to parks, lakes (duh) and the Mississippi River, but it’s also home to a thriving contemporary art scene. And there are record stores. A LOT of record stores. Not to mention coffee shops, vintage stores and horn-rimmed glasses. Okay, we made that last one up. Plus, Minneapolis was recently named one of the best cities for millennials to live in.

So yes, it gets cold here. Really cold. But now you have a good reason to wear that vintage scarf and wool fedora that’s been collecting dust in the back of your closet. If you don’t mind the occasional May snowfall, budget around $1,236 every month to rent a studio apartment.

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1. Seattle, WA

Sorry Portland, Seattle is the country’s best city for hipsters. If you smoke a pipe, rock vintage specs and frequent indie-rock house parties — you’ll feel right at home here. While Portland may have a few more coffee shops and Madison may beat out Seattle on breweries, it simply doesn’t get any more hipster than the Emerald City.

Need more convincing? How about an impressive bike score and a healthy annual salary that puts you just shy of six figures? For a city of this size — and cool factor — rent prices are a relatively reasonable $1,481 per month.

Oh, and when you’re scoping out the best neighborhoods in Seattle, don’t miss the hipster havens in uber-cool Capitol Hill.

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The 50 best cities for hipsters

Looking to cast a wider net? Or perhaps you’re plotting a year of #VanLife so you can soak up the hipster vibe from coast to coast. Here are the 50 best cities for hipsters across the country.

Rank	City	Population	Income Rank	Studio Apartment Price Rank	Local Business Rank	Population (20-34) Rank	Bikeability Rank
1	Seattle, WA	753,675	16	72	10	17	16
2	Minneapolis, MN	429,606	58	54	2	13	5
3	Tempe, AZ	195,805	66	33	34	3	8
4	Fort Collins, CO	170,243	53	44	41	10	6
5	Berkeley, CA	121,363	29	114	4	7	3
6	Washington, DC	705,749	25	83	19	15	20
6	Ann Arbor, MI	119,980	50	75	11	2	24
8	Portland, OR	654,741	39	66	7	47	4
9	Madison, WI	259,680	57	49	48	5	16
9	San Francisco, CA	881,549	11	123	1	27	13
11	Lawrence, KS	98,193	95	2	45	4	37
12	Eugene, OR	172,622	87	58	8	31	6
13	Denver, CO	727,211	48	94	15	28	12
14	Austin, TX	978,908	43	51	59	20	26
15	Boston, MA	692,600	42	124	20	6	13
16	Santa Clara, CA	130,365	7	125	42	32	16
17	Pittsburgh, PA	300,286	100	50	5	11	59
18	Salt Lake City, UT	200,567	63	69	63	14	22
19	Chicago, IL	2,693,976	73	90	23	37	9
20	Sunnyvale, CA	152,703	2	88	85	48	11
21	Jersey City, NJ	262,075	41	113	23	22	36
22	Tucson, AZ	548,073	105	11	55	43	23
23	Gainesville, FL	133,997	115	24	70	1	33
23	Redmond, WA	71,929	4	105	57	34	43
25	Schaumburg, IL	72,887	27	41	49	101	28
26	Richmond, VA	230,436	98	39	23	19	72
27	Lincoln, NE	289,102	77	19	77	40	41
28	Oakland, CA	433,031	34	120	28	55	20
29	Rochester, NY	205,695	120	36	9	30	68
30	Columbus, OH	898,553	86	45	65	26	43
31	Reno, NV	255,601	74	15	57	65	55
32	Flagstaff, AZ	75,038	69	62	89	8	43
32	Milwaukee, WI	590,157	109	47	36	51	28
34	Burbank, CA	102,511	36	100	29	70	37
34	Atlanta, GA	506,811	54	80	22	18	98
36	Orange, CA	138,669	19	111	18	77	49
37	Philadelphia, PA	1,584,064	103	89	26	44	15
38	Sacramento, CA	513,624	56	103	38	57	24
38	Baltimore, MD	593,490	94	64	27	45	48
38	Orlando, FL	287,442	91	71	6	29	81
41	Chandler, AZ	261,165	24	26	61	112	59
41	Providence, RI	179,883	108	107	16	23	28
43	Springfield, MO	167,882	122	4	72	21	64
44	New Haven, CT	130,250	110	91	59	16	9
44	Albuquerque, NM	560,513	93	13	51	95	33
46	Fargo, ND	124,662	90	12	91	12	81
46	Hartford, CT	122,105	124	38	36	39	49
48	San Diego, CA	1,423,851	31	106	40	35	75
48	Cincinnati, OH	303,940	107	6	21	36	117
50	Tampa, FL	399,700	79	28	30	80	72

The 10 worst cities for hipsters

What, you don’t drink PBR or ferment your own kombucha? OK, fine.

If the counter-culture makes you cringe, set your sights on the 10 worst cities for hipsters. We can almost guarantee you can go an entire week without spotting a newsboy cap or lumberjack beard in these ten hipster-free cities.

Rank	City	Population	Income Rank	Studio Apartment Price Rank	Local Business Rank	Population (20-34) Rank	Bikeability Rank
1	Yonkers, NY	200,370	65	108	50	115	121
2	Mobile, AL	188,720	114	17	110	91	119
3	Memphis, TN	651,073	118	35	119	78	90
4	Jacksonville, FL	911,507	81	53	122	84	95
5	Little Rock, AR	197,312	99	8	100	99	123
6	Blaine, MN	65,607	26	52	125	119	103
7	Brooklyn Park, MN	80,389	46	60	117	107	90
8	Chattanooga, TN	182,799	101	22	108	85	103
9	Fort Worth, TX	909,585	70	46	116	83	103
10	Carson, CA	91,394	23	119	92	103	79

Methodology

To find the best cities for hipsters, we looked at cities with at least 50,000 people according to 2019 U.S. Census population estimates and ranked them on the following factors:

Earnings Potential: Median household income numbers according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Housing Affordability: The average cost of a studio apartment based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.’s multifamily rental property inventory as of April 2021. Our team uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
Prevalence of Local Businesses: The total number of local businesses per square mile. Businesses include coffee shops, breweries, music stores, vintage clothing and thrift shops, tattoo parlors, barbershops, organic food markets and farmers’ markets.
Percentage of Population Between 20 and 34 Years Old: Population breakdown from the U.S. Census Bureau
Bikeability: Bike Score for each city

We ranked each city according to these five categories and assigned a score for each one. We then added the scores for each city to come up with a final ranking. Our methodology allows for ties.

We excluded cities with insufficient data or rental property inventory.

The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.