25 Best Cities for Pharmacists in 2026
Pharmacists work in retail, hospital, and specialty settings across virtually every US metro. The best cities for pharmacists combine stable demand, reasonable compensation relative to cost of living, and low crime rates. We weighted affordability strongly, since pharmacist salaries are more uniform nationally than physician or surgeon pay.
Methodology
Scoring weights: rent-to-income ratio (35%, inverted), median income (25%), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (15%, inverted).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Rent/Income
13%
Unemployment
2.1%
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
2.5%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.0%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Rent/Income
17%
Unemployment
2.3%
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.4%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
1.6%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
3.0%
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
1.9%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.5%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.2%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.5%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
2.3%
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.7%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
3.1%
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.7%
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.9%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.6%
Grand Forks
North Dakota
Median Income
$71,529
Median Rent
$908/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
2.2%
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Rent/Income
21%
Unemployment
2.6%
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
Median Income
$72,902
Median Rent
$895/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
2.3%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.4%
Grand Island
Nebraska
Median Income
$70,919
Median Rent
$947/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
2.2%
Faribault-Northfield
Minnesota
Median Income
$81,455
Median Rent
$1,028/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
2.8%
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hospital pharmacists paid more than retail pharmacists?
Generally yes. Hospital and clinical pharmacists earn higher salaries on average, though retail chains offer consistent hours and strong benefits. The gap varies significantly by market and setting.
Is pharmacy a good career in smaller cities?
Often excellent. Smaller metros frequently have lower pharmacist density and stronger community-based opportunities. Rural areas can offer loan forgiveness programs and higher demand.
How is automation affecting the pharmacist job market?
Automation is reducing dispensing roles in retail, shifting demand toward clinical, consulting, and specialty pharmacy roles. Cities with academic medical centers and specialty practices offer the most insulation from automation.