25 Best Cities for Financial Analysts in 2026
Financial analysts are concentrated in metros with major finance, banking, and corporate headquarters. We ranked cities balancing high incomes, low unemployment, and safety, with a secondary weight on affordability since analyst salaries vary more by market than many professions.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (40%), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), rent-to-income ratio (20%, inverted), violent crime rate (15%, inverted).
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Unemployment
2.1%
Violent Crime
107/100k
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Unemployment
3.6%
Violent Crime
508/100k
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
426/100k
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Unemployment
2.4%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Unemployment
1.6%
Violent Crime
210/100k
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Unemployment
3.1%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Unemployment
2.3%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Unemployment
2.2%
Violent Crime
102/100k
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
187/100k
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Unemployment
2.7%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Unemployment
2.0%
Violent Crime
267/100k
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Unemployment
3.0%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,131
Median Rent
$2,033/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
187/100k
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Unemployment
1.9%
Violent Crime
107/100k
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Unemployment
2.6%
Violent Crime
261/100k
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Massachusetts
Median Income
$110,697
Median Rent
$2,000/mo
Unemployment
3.2%
Violent Crime
314/100k
Charlottesville
Virginia
Median Income
$92,265
Median Rent
$1,540/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
236/100k
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Unemployment
2.3%
Violent Crime
289/100k
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
California
Median Income
$127,792
Median Rent
$2,397/mo
Unemployment
3.6%
Violent Crime
508/100k
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Unemployment
2.5%
Violent Crime
289/100k
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Unemployment
2.4%
Violent Crime
232/100k
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
Connecticut
Median Income
$92,176
Median Rent
$1,397/mo
Unemployment
3.2%
Violent Crime
150/100k
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cities pay financial analysts the most?
New York City leads by a wide margin, followed by San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. These metros concentrate the largest financial institutions and offer the most senior analyst and associate roles.
Can financial analysts work remotely?
Increasingly possible, especially in corporate FP&A roles. However, investment banking, asset management, and trading roles typically require in-office presence, making city choice more consequential.
Is the CFA designation worth pursuing for financial analysts?
For investment management and equity research, the CFA is widely considered the gold standard. It signals quantitative rigor and commitment to the profession, and often accelerates promotion and compensation.