November 5, 2014
By Angela Rose for BioSpace.com
Are you a single scientist, research associate, QA specialist, or other biotech or pharma professional? If so, you’re not alone. A recent report by a U.S. financial researcher indicates that—for the very first time—there are more single people in our country than married couples. Back in 1976, when the government first began gathering such data, 37.4 percent of the population was single. Today, 50.2 percent of those 16 years or older have never been married or are currently divorced.
Embracing this trend, Rent.com, the nation’s leading rental-listing website, recently analyzed its database to determine the top 10 U.S. cities for single adults. After examining locations with more than 50,000 rental units, populations of 100,000 or more, and high concentrations of singles, they narrowed their selection to those with single-friendly rental rates, superior safety, nightlife and restaurant options. They based their ratings index on a scale from one to 1,000, with higher scores more favorable than lower ones.
We’ve taken their approach a step further for biotech and pharma professionals, combining information from the Rent.com report with details from the BioSpace database to create the ultimate “Best Cities” list for single biotech and pharma professionals.
10. Chicago, Illinois
With a population of 2,703,799, Chicago is the third most populous city in the U.S. Twenty-three percent of the city’s residents are single, and they pay a median one-bedroom rental rate of $1,150. The city scored high on the nightlife options index (869) and very well on the restaurant options index (507). There are 24 biotech and pharma jobs in Chicago currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Amgen , inVentiv Health and AuraSense Therapeutics.
9. Jersey City, New Jersey
Located in the Pharm Country Hotbed, the population of Jersey City is 252,335—23 percent of which is single. Median rent in this NYC adjacent metropolis is $2,480. It earned a 421 on the nightlife options index and 512 on the restaurant options index. There are 114 biotech and pharma jobs in the Jersey City area currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Celgene , Novartis Oncology and Frontage Laboratories.
8. Portland, Oregon
With a population of 605,247—24 percent of which is single—Portland landed in eighth place on Rent.com’s list. Median one-bedroom rent is $1,335, and the city earned a nightlife options index of 383 and restaurant options index of 168. There are two biotech and pharma jobs in Portland currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Galena Biopharma and Roche .
7. Minneapolis, Minnesota
With median one-bedroom rent at $1,395, Minneapolis is quite affordable. It has a population of 389,314—25 percent of which is single—and earned a 149 on the nightlife options index and 108 on the restaurant options index. LinkedIn previously ranked it as the third best city for recent college graduates as well. There are 10 biotech and pharma jobs in Minneapolis currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include University of Minnesota and Real Staffing.
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The City of Brotherly Love boasts a population of 1,543,884—26 percent of which is single. Median one-bedroom rent is affordable at $1,295 and nightlife (502 on the index) and restaurant (340 on the index) options are plentiful. There are 45 biotech and pharma jobs in Philadelphia currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include University of Pennsylvania, MedImmune and Vigilare International.
5. Seattle, Washington
With a population of 627,704 and median one-bedroom rental rate of $1,584, Seattle landed fifth on Rent.com’s list. Comprised of 30 percent singles, this java mecca scored a 302 on the nightlife options index and 199 on the restaurant options index. There are 24 biotech and pharma jobs in Seattle currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Personalis Inc., Juno Therapeutics and Seattle Genetics .
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Located in the Genetown Hotbed, the population of Boston is 632,091—a whopping 33 percent of which is single. Median rent in this historical metropolis is $3,150. It earned a 192 on the nightlife options index and 224 on the restaurant options index. There are 112 biotech and pharma jobs in the Boston area currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Broad Institute, Editas Medicine, Intarcia Therapeutics, Synlogic and Vertex .
3. Washington, D.C.
Located in the BioCapital Hotbed, this capital city has a population of 623,996—38 percent of which is single. Median one-bedroom rent is on the higher side at $2,300 per month, though the thriving town earned a 173 and 228 on the nightlife and restaurant options indices respectively. There are 241 biotech and pharma jobs in the D.C. area currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Leidos Biomedical Research, MedImmune and Sucampo Pharmaceuticals .
2. New York, New York
Centered in the Pharm Country Hotbed, the Big Apple boasts a population of 1,572,295—38 percent of which is single—as well as the least affordable median one-bedroom rental rate on the list ($3,800/month). The cost of living may be worth it, however. The city scored a perfect 1,000 on both the nightlife and restaurant option indices. There are also 100 biotech and pharma jobs within a 50-mile radius of New York City currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Avatar Biotechnologies, Synmetallc, Pacira Pharmaceuticals and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals .
1. San Francisco, California
At the center of the Biotech Bay Hotbed, San Francisco has a population of 813,433—39 percent of which is single. While the median one-bedroom rental rate is on the high side at $2,920 per month, the city has a nightlife options index score of 374 and restaurant option index score of 236. There are also 254 biotech and pharma jobs in the San Francisco area currently posted on BioSpace. Biopharma employers in the area include Amgen , Celgene , Depomed Inc. , Genentech Inc. , Medivation Inc. , Nektar Therapeutics , and Pfizer Inc. .
