Life Beneath is an ambitious new city-builder that blends marine biology with ideas from the likes of SimCity.

Austin, Texas, topped the list for the second year in a row thanks to its low rent-to-income ratio (18.9%) and high share of jobs (29.4%) that require a bachelor’s degree but no prior experience.

Realtor.com analyzed more than 300 cities and towns to find the most “grad-friendly” rental markets in 2025, weighing factors like housing affordability, rental availability and job opportunities.