Portfolio.com/bizjournals set out to find the U.S. markets that are best for young job seekers. Here are the details:

Goal: The study’s objective was to identify markets that offer the best opportunities for workers in their 20s and early 30s. It gave the highest marks to communities that have strong growth rates, moderate costs of living, and substantial pools of young adults with jobs and college degrees. (Read more about the results by clicking here.)

Areas: The study covered all 67 metropolitan areas that had at least 750,000 residents as of mid-2008. They ranged from New York City, with a population of 19.0 million, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 774,000.

Sources: Most of the raw data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Employment figures came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Income figures came from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growth rates were calculated based on data from all three agencies. All statistics were the latest available when the study was prepared.

Factors: Portfolio.com/bizjournals used a 10-part formula to rate each market’s receptivity to young job seekers. The first five factors dealt with each area’s growth rate and potential. The next four categories assessed conditions for young adults. The final indicator focused on a key component of the cost of living. These were the 10 factors:

1. Annual rate of population growth (2000–2008)

2. Annual rate of employment growth (2004–2009)

3. Short-term rate of employment growth (2008–2009)

4. Per capita income (2008)

5. Annual rate of per capita income growth (2003–2008)

6. Share of all residents who are between the ages of 18 and 34 (2008)

7. Unemployment rate for people between the ages of 18 and 34 (2008)

8. Share of householders under the age of 45 who have household incomes of $100,000 or more (2008); the Census Bureau defines a householder as a person in whose name a house or apartment is bought or rented.

9. Share of people between the ages of 18 and 34 who hold bachelor’s degrees (2008)

10. Median rent (2008)

Availability: Some, but not all, of the statistics for each market are provided in chart form with this report. Space limitations prevented the publication of all figures.

Formula: Each area’s statistics were compared against the averages for the study group in all 10 categories. Above-average performances received positive scores, while below-average results were given negative scores. Each area’s 10 category scores were totaled to determine its overall rank. Opportunity scores ranged from 10.08 points for Austin to negative-12.53 points for Detroit.

(This analysis is part of the Portfolio.com series U.S. Uncovered. To get more in-depth reports exploring the best places to work, play and retire, click here.)