Adams Morgan: A cool place for 20-somethings! Photo by oscarpetefan.

What do 20-somethings want in a city? Panda hunts? Decadent desserts? Whatever it is, D.C. apparently has it.

According to a ranking from NerdWallet, the Washington Metro Area is the best place in America for 20-somethings. Better than San Francisco, better than New York City and better than Boston.

The rankings were based on five factors: economic opportunity, percentage of the population in their 20s, cultural events and activities, the rental market and affordability. Those first three? Yeah, we’ve got that.

According to the Census Bureau, there were 135,760 people between the ages of 20 and 29 living in D.C. as of July 2012. That’s out of a population of just over 632,000.

But the city’s rental market, which boasts the second highest median rents in the country, leaves much to be desired for 20-somethings without fancy engineering jobs. The city’s affordability isn’t much better, even if one goes by NerdWallet’s “general cost of living,” which was “based on the prices of everyday goods like movie tickets and pizzas.” Enough AMC tickets and Pete’s Apizza pizzas can put a young person in the poor house.

The reasoning for the D.C. area earning the top spot follows:

The greater Washington D.C. area has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation as well as one of the highest median incomes. This is an area of great economic opportunity for 20-somethings to start their careers, and many of them live in Adam’s Morgan [ed note: Yes, NerdWallet spelled Adams Morgan “Adam’s Morgan.”] and U Street, home to a great selection of restaurants, nightclubs and coffee houses. Young professionals should also think about Logan Circle, where a lot of new restaurants are popping up.

D.C.’s reputation as a 20-something hot spot is nothing new. Last year, the Post’s Jonathan O’Connell said that D.C. is “an urban playground” for young professionals, who are fueling the city’s growth.