The document provides rankings and performance metrics for the top 50 best performing metropolitan areas in the United States in 2010. It includes data on population, economic growth rates, job growth, wages, and other indicators. The Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area in Texas ranked first overall based on strong performance across several metrics including population and economic growth rates between 2008-2009.

1. 2010 Best Performing Metros
Largest 200 Cities List
2010 2009
Population
2009 Overall
rank rank Metropolitan area 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank Growth Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank (thousands) index**
1 2 Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX MSA 110.75 7 103.84 4 122.72 1 106.18 1 1.52% 3 148.17 4 104.96 12 1.05 76 6 100 379 100.0
2 1 Austin-Round Rock, TX MSA 114.09 2 102.17 19 110.06 15 101.89 34 -0.09% 24 103.68 53 101.68 44 1.87 16 15 6 1,705 137.5
3 8 Huntsville, AL MSA 108.72 12 101.98 22 106.22 33 103.35 17 0.14% 18 104.54 48 103.67 21 2.57 6 11 28 406 137.6
4 4 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA 117.75 1 103.54 5 115.15 5 103.57 14 1.61% 2 110.69 32 105.53 9 0.38 196 4 146 741 195.1
5 6†
Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA MSA 111.75 4 105.84 1 102.75 60 104.84 5 4.55% 1 87.19 157 105.19 11 1.56 35 5 116 246 206.0
6 25 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MD 104.51 41 102.81 11 105.36 42 101.59 41 0.27% 13 95.69 109 102.81 34 1.87 16 9 54 4,277 227.9
7 10 Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA 111.85 3 100.13 84 109.82 16 101.15 51 -0.90% 56 109.14 34 101.48 53 1.83 19 13 12 1,126 241.3
8 40 Anchorage, AK MSA 106.64 21 104.22 2 104.30 48 103.25 20 0.41% 9 104.39 49 101.23 57 0.92 103 4 146 375 248.1
9 14 El Paso, TX MSA 106.26 26 102.26 17 104.47 45 102.59 29 -0.04% 23 113.53 23 100.93 63 0.84 120 7 80 751 253.3
10 5 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA 111.30 5 101.81 28 118.15 3 104.21 9 -1.57% 101 106.76 40 100.56 67 1.06 74 6 100 5,867 256.5
11 9 Lafayette, LA MSA 111.29 6 101.50 40 118.50 2 104.10 12 -1.41% 87 119.64 18 109.02 4 0.87 114 4 146 263 257.8
12 46 Trenton-Ewing, NJ MSA 102.39 60 101.78 30 103.92 52 104.14 10 -1.22% 77 120.48 17 102.98 31 1.63 30 10 42 366 259.2
13 70 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA 107.90 17 102.62 13 103.59 53 103.45 16 0.64% 6 160.26 2 115.68 1 0.51 183 2 185 396 259.8
14 11 San Antonio, TX MSA 110.28 9 102.30 16 106.87 30 101.73 36 -1.40% 86 100.78 74 99.42 91 1.10 70 11 28 2,072 276.3
15 6 Durham, NC MSA 108.03 16 101.96 23 106.18 34 100.26 105 -0.28% 29 113.36 24 96.54 151 2.64 4 11 28 501 278.3
16 35 Amarillo, TX MSA 104.54 40 102.22 18 110.52 12 105.42 2 -0.63% 42 93.03 125 103.43 23 0.60 167 5 116 246 294.6
17 13 Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX MD 106.38 25 100.36 73 106.16 35 101.04 61 -0.62% 41 100.83 73 98.68 103 1.80 21 15 6 4,326 301.6
18 31 Fayetteville, NC MSA 109.61 11 104.18 3 111.75 10 104.68 6 0.15% 16 103.44 56 92.63 186 0.53 179 0 200 360 318.3
19 30 Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA 104.86 36 99.49 117 108.06 24 100.82 73 0.25% 15 119.60 19 103.88 20 0.97 90 9 54 659 319.6
20 51 Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD MD 100.47 88 101.81 28 100.94 77 99.94 117 0.02% 20 106.71 41 109.89 3 1.84 18 12 18 1,200 332.1
21 26 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 104.44 42 101.62 37 106.43 32 104.56 8 -1.22% 78 96.38 105 105.26 10 0.80 124 5 116 1,227 335.3
22 45 Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA MD 101.93 67 100.55 68 101.95 64 101.22 49 -0.91% 58 100.58 77 100.08 72 3.25 3 18 1 1,505 343.1
23 12 Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MD 107.39 19 101.35 45 105.69 38 101.08 56 -1.08% 66 90.76 139 99.06 96 1.30 49 8 64 2,121 356.4
24 29 Lubbock, TX MSA 104.60 39 103.35 6 101.30 71 103.72 13 -0.46% 37 88.09 154 94.70 171 1.30 49 6 100 277 360.5
25 28 Provo-Orem, UT MSA 110.17 10 99.39 124 116.80 4 100.91 70 -1.84% 118 104.70 47 100.89 64 1.71 25 11 28 556 366.0
26 18 Baton Rouge, LA MSA 108.67 13 103.31 7 112.06 9 105.00 4 -1.50% 94 104.89 46 94.85 170 0.61 164 2 185 787 366.1
27 36 Bakersfield, CA MSA 108.06 15 100.07 86 110.36 14 102.72 26 -2.13% 132 130.66 9 101.75 40 0.81 121 5 116 807 372.8
28 57 Cedar Rapids, IA MSA 106.15 27 102.50 14 103.54 54 102.72 26 -1.59% 102 95.48 112 91.99 189 1.25 55 9 54 256 383.2
29 16 Corpus Christi, TX MSA 106.50 24 101.60 38 107.71 25 104.63 7 -0.45% 35 82.85 171 96.63 148 0.59 168 5 116 416 384.8
30 64 Baltimore-Towson, MD MSA 100.94 82 101.03 55 101.15 74 100.15 108 -0.65% 44 108.81 35 104.87 14 1.36 44 9 54 2,691 391.6
31 63 Madison, WI MSA 101.36 77 101.64 36 99.13 100 101.29 48 -1.72% 110 121.67 13 102.64 35 1.43 41 10 42 570 391.7
32 109 Pittsburgh, PA MSA 99.23 115 101.89 24 97.08 133 101.43 45 -0.40% 31 114.45 22 101.66 45 1.04 77 10 42 2,355 395.5
33 53 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA 106.60 23 102.13 21 104.22 50 101.08 56 -1.16% 71 100.20 81 100.27 70 0.71 146 4 146 563 396.1
34 24 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA 104.30 44 101.72 33 102.33 62 102.07 32 -1.52% 97 128.49 10 98.95 97 0.77 133 5 116 392 399.5
35 60 Lynchburg, VA MSA 101.89 69 99.54 114 100.18 88 100.98 66 0.29% 12 149.67 3 104.03 18 1.01 83 6 100 247 404.5
36 7 Olympia, WA MSA 107.69 18 100.96 58 105.57 40 101.86 35 -0.69% 46 112.50 26 96.19 155 0.57 173 3 171 251 411.1
37 17 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA MD 105.34 33 99.05 134 104.45 46 100.62 83 -2.08% 127 106.42 42 104.86 15 2.58 5 11 28 2,611 420.1
38 19 Tulsa, OK MSA 105.47 31 99.60 110 107.04 28 102.80 24 -2.13% 134 110.94 30 101.54 49 0.88 111 6 100 929 423.1
39 136 Clarksville, TN-KY MSA 100.43 89 101.34 47 114.67 7 103.51 15 0.37% 10 69.07 196 100.31 69 0.49 185 3 171 269 427.9
40 39 Savannah, GA MSA 105.33 34 99.31 125 107.35 26 100.30 104 -0.99% 61 138.80 7 110.94 2 1.17 65 2 185 343 429.9
41 72 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA 100.24 95 102.34 15 94.23 168 102.86 22 -0.83% 52 99.35 84 101.10 59 1.53 36 7 80 858 431.7
42 61 Boston-Quincy, MA MD 101.03 81 100.87 61 101.60 67 100.93 69 -1.03% 64 96.80 101 101.82 39 0.97 90 9 54 1,918 433.9
43 27 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO MSA 106.63 22 100.82 62 109.60 17 101.71 37 -1.35% 84 96.89 100 99.73 85 0.58 172 3 171 465 434.9
44 128 St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 98.71 122 100.20 81 97.42 126 103.26 19 -0.90% 57 104.18 50 102.07 37 1.22 57 12 18 2,853 436.0
45 112 Columbus, GA-AL MSA 98.24 132 101.12 52 99.93 90 101.49 43 -0.85% 54 98.62 90 99.81 82 2.08 10 8 64 293 443.0
46 66 Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA MSA 104.34 43 102.16 20 99.60 95 100.98 66 -1.21% 76 100.62 76 97.57 127 0.97 90 6 100 850 444.7
47 21 Tacoma, WA MD 105.83 28 100.21 79 111.63 11 102.69 28 -1.95% 125 112.66 25 97.13 138 0.71 146 4 146 797 446.3
48 38 N Y k Whit Pl i W NY NJ MD 102 26 63 101 23 48 108 34 22 99 52 135 0 92% 59 98 82 88 99 96 76 0 93 101 7 80 11 732 447 6
5-yr job growth
2004–2009
1-yr job growth
2008–2009
5-yr wages/salaries
growth 2003–2008
1-yr wages/salaries
growth 2007–2008
# of HT GDP
LQs over 1 2009
Job growth
(Apr 09–Apr 10)
5-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2004–2009
1-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2008–2009
High-Tech
GDP LQ 2009
48 38 New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ MD 102.26 63 101.23 48 108.34 22 99.52 135 -0.92% 59 98.82 88 99.96 76 0.93 101 7 80 11,732 447.6
49 3 Salt Lake City, UT MSA 108.54 14 99.61 109 110.48 13 100.04 114 -2.40% 155 104.02 51 100.04 73 1.29 52 12 18 1,130 450.3
50 22 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA 104.15 45 101.20 50 99.08 101 100.60 85 -1.72% 109 102.64 60 98.80 99 1.68 27 10 42 298 452.0
51 34 Wilmington, NC MSA 110.30 8 99.07 133 112.64 8 99.85 121 -2.22% 140 144.39 5 104.39 16 1.13 68 5 116 355 459.7
52 69 Nassau-Suffolk, NY MD 99.13 117 101.40 44 97.94 120 100.33 102 0.86% 5 95.27 113 101.03 61 1.29 52 10 42 2,876 468.0
53 32 Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA 105.37 32 100.39 71 102.49 61 99.54 132 -1.45% 90 110.94 30 104.24 17 0.88 111 5 116 542 468.9
54 97 Lincoln, NE MSA 103.67 48 102.65 12 96.65 139 100.79 77 -1.11% 70 99.71 82 98.74 100 0.95 95 7 80 298 470.0
55 100 Honolulu, HI MSA 102.29 62 101.03 55 103.32 56 101.03 62 -0.32% 30 95.55 110 101.47 54 0.56 175 1 194 908 475.7
56 44 Boulder, CO MSA 101.93 67 99.49 117 99.83 92 100.66 82 -1.44% 88 99.32 85 97.91 118 3.30 1 16 5 303 493.8
57 67 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA 103.89 46 100.44 69 108.29 23 105.17 3 -2.43% 158 101.96 64 91.21 193 0.74 139 5 116 378 496.9
58 54 Utica-Rome, NY MSA 99.47 108 103.02 9 94.95 157 101.00 65 0.15% 17 85.50 164 95.60 160 1.21 58 11 28 293 502.6
59 59 Mobile, AL MSA 103.17 52 99.01 137 105.27 43 101.97 33 -3.12% 182 121.20 16 107.37 6 0.79 128 7 80 412 504.1
60 52 Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 101.83 70 100.92 60 98.98 103 101.03 62 -1.49% 93 91.18 137 98.17 111 1.51 38 8 64 2,068 504.6
61 144 Charleston, WV MSA 100.34 92 101.69 34 100.48 82 103.34 18 -1.81% 116 94.10 119 102.97 32 0.79 128 3 171 304 507.9
62 47 Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC MSA 105.50 30 98.33 161 105.70 37 99.09 147 -0.66% 45 109.81 33 101.64 47 0.89 105 5 116 1,746 511.5
63 55 Denver-Aurora, CO MSA 103.05 55 99.91 92 101.44 68 101.03 62 -2.43% 159 97.05 99 96.88 145 1.93 14 13 12 2,552 512.0
64 42 Albuquerque, NM MSA 102.80 56 100.31 77 100.90 78 100.56 87 -1.61% 104 70.58 194 97.69 125 2.05 11 11 28 858 520.8
65 56 Columbia, SC MSA 100.91 83 99.52 115 101.19 73 100.37 98 -0.46% 36 101.01 71 103.18 28 0.65 158 6 100 745 523.0
66 113 Jackson, MS MSA 99.17 116 101.43 43 98.89 105 100.59 86 -0.28% 28 96.15 106 101.74 41 0.72 143 4 146 541 534.0
67 68 Springfield, MO MSA 104.76 37 100.61 66 100.65 81 100.36 99 0.37% 11 81.92 174 97.18 136 0.72 143 3 171 431 542.4
68 58 Salem, OR MSA 102.53 58 100.16 83 101.72 65 100.76 78 -0.82% 51 89.84 142 97.16 137 0.81 121 4 146 396 544.4
69 86 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 98.63 125 101.89 24 92.15 180 100.68 80 -0.22% 27 92.08 130 100.00 75 1.19 61 7 80 1,124 545.9
70 124 Visalia-Porterville, CA MSA 103.41 51 99.04 135 104.43 47 102.83 23 -1.49% 92 101.35 67 99.42 91 0.38 196 3 171 430 546.7
71 82 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA 98.32 130 101.18 51 95.21 155 101.64 39 -0.57% 39 119.20 20 96.57 149 0.79 128 6 100 539 548.9
72 15 Wichita, KS MSA 103.63 49 99.17 130 103.22 57 102.10 31 -4.09% 197 105.78 44 92.97 185 2.19 7 8 64 613 550.6
73 149 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA 99.46 109 101.60 38 98.15 118 102.79 25 -0.77% 48 121.45 14 96.41 152 0.42 194 1 194 286 550.7
74 41 Spokane, WA MSA 105.06 35 100.08 85 104.24 49 101.05 59 -2.66% 168 101.41 66 97.45 129 0.76 134 5 116 469 554.2
75 111 Peabody, MA MD 99.46 109 101.45 42 93.50 174 100.10 109 -0.49% 38 87.99 155 97.84 123 2.17 8 14 8 743 555.1

2. 2010 Best Performing Metros
Largest 200 Cities List
2010 2009
Population
2009 Overall
rank rank Metropolitan area 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank Growth Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank (thousands) index**
5-yr job growth
2004–2009
1-yr job growth
2008–2009
5-yr wages/salaries
growth 2003–2008
1-yr wages/salaries
growth 2007–2008
# of HT GDP
LQs over 1 2009
Job growth
(Apr 09–Apr 10)
5-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2004–2009
1-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2008–2009
High-Tech
GDP LQ 2009
76 83 San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA MSA 97.92 135 98.90 140 100.42 83 100.89 71 -1.98% 126 108.51 36 99.91 79 1.95 13 17 2 3,054 556.5
77 78 Tucson, AZ MSA 101.81 71 99.16 131 106.14 36 100.32 103 -1.73% 112 85.53 163 98.37 109 1.32 47 12 18 1,020 557.2
78 87 Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 98.99 118 100.79 63 98.30 115 99.64 128 -1.01% 62 99.32 85 103.64 22 0.93 101 8 64 1,674 557.9
79 118 Richmond, VA MSA 100.58 86 100.19 82 101.64 66 99.48 136 -1.84% 119 103.47 54 101.54 49 0.97 90 7 80 1,238 561.0
80 74 Syracuse, NY MSA 99.31 113 101.77 31 93.29 176 100.38 97 -0.44% 34 88.98 151 97.05 140 1.40 42 12 18 646 561.6
81 91 Rockingham County-Strafford County, NH MD 100.08 96 99.59 112 98.38 113 99.17 146 0.03% 19 95.49 111 99.45 90 1.11 69 13 12 423 562.3
82 73 Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY MSA 99.27 114 101.82 26 95.86 146 101.09 55 -1.48% 91 89.02 150 98.09 113 1.18 62 7 80 677 568.7
83 96 Philadelphia, PA MD 99.86 100 101.07 54 98.47 110 100.56 87 -1.20% 75 85.80 161 95.07 167 1.30 49 10 42 4,013 569.5
84 98 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA 101.66 75 99.50 116 105.59 39 100.05 111 -1.73% 111 89.61 145 99.30 95 0.89 105 11 28 1,582 572.4
85 48 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA 103.73 47 102.88 10 98.60 108 99.04 148 -1.84% 117 98.17 92 95.71 159 1.14 67 6 100 1,196 572.7
86 90 Gainesville, FL MSA 99.72 103 99.96 90 107.23 27 98.89 152 0.00% 21 83.19 169 98.48 108 0.71 146 7 80 261 577.3
87 33 Peoria, IL MSA 102.49 59 98.42 156 108.45 20 101.36 47 -2.39% 153 103.00 58 100.43 68 0.67 153 4 146 376 580.3
88 129 Tallahassee, FL MSA 103.12 54 101.73 32 96.69 137 98.50 158 -0.81% 50 91.82 133 97.49 128 0.88 111 8 64 360 581.6
89 89 Rochester, NY MSA 98.75 121 101.82 26 91.73 182 100.44 93 -0.44% 33 84.98 166 97.35 133 1.62 31 7 80 1,036 591.6
90 76 Manchester-Nashua, NH MSA 97.86 138 99.68 104 98.75 106 100.40 95 -1.23% 79 91.97 131 98.73 101 1.70 26 12 18 406 592.0
91 94 Norwich-New London, CT MSA 97.92 135 99.58 113 95.74 148 101.62 40 0.47% 8 92.81 127 97.06 139 1.74 24 4 146 267 593.3
92 119 Knoxville, TN MSA 100.05 97 99.95 91 100.25 86 100.46 92 -0.59% 40 79.83 180 97.86 122 0.86 116 6 100 699 595.7
93 23 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA 103.55 50 101.66 35 101.28 72 97.87 164 -2.29% 149 91.34 136 97.78 124 1.06 74 8 64 685 599.7
94 71 York-Hanover, PA MSA 101.31 78 99.79 96 98.98 103 100.62 83 -1.25% 80 97.38 96 97.37 132 0.74 139 6 100 429 603.5
95 105 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ MSA 101.31 78 101.10 53 97.80 122 99.46 137 -0.84% 53 86.70 158 96.91 144 0.94 97 8 64 816 604.4
96 110 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA 100.52 87 101.47 41 94.29 167 100.22 106 -1.85% 121 107.79 37 97.99 117 0.94 97 9 54 537 604.9
97 102 Montgomery, AL MSA 101.74 72 99.70 101 98.28 116 101.05 59 -1.93% 123 101.22 68 97.88 120 0.80 124 6 100 366 606.8
98 99 Orlando-Kissimmee, FL MSA 104.71 38 97.97 171 107.00 29 97.91 163 -2.45% 161 106.14 43 101.85 38 1.04 77 7 80 2,082 611.0
99 101 Colorado Springs, CO MSA 100.65 85 100.36 73 99.05 102 100.81 75 -2.88% 176 81.45 175 96.71 147 1.96 12 13 12 626 613.3
100 161 Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA 100.41 90 100.32 76 97.23 130 99.45 138 0.25% 14 89.34 147 95.04 168 0.89 105 9 54 471 613.8
101 20 Greeley, CO MSA 106.80 20 99.40 122 109.28 19 103.06 21 -4.13% 198 99.47 83 90.54 194 0.53 179 2 185 255 627.2
102 171 Green Bay, WI MSA 97.78 140 100.56 67 95.02 156 101.14 52 -1.10% 69 105.23 45 101.66 45 0.54 177 3 171 305 630.1
103 85 San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA MD 100.66 84 98.82 143 103.06 59 99.77 125 -3.60% 193 97.16 98 99.71 86 1.81 20 13 12 1,785 638.9
104 80 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA 98.47 127 99.25 127 100.81 79 101.11 53 -2.21% 139 103.79 52 103.25 26 0.67 153 4 146 379 639.7
105 126 Roanoke, VA MSA 99.44 111 100.07 86 97.63 124 100.19 107 -1.60% 103 100.71 75 101.27 56 0.85 118 5 116 300 639.7
106 75 Asheville, NC MSA 102.00 65 98.75 145 100.20 87 99.34 141 -1.78% 115 125.55 12 100.03 74 0.75 135 6 100 413 639.9
107 37 Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA MSA 102.33 61 98.23 165 103.12 58 100.05 111 -2.49% 164 100.96 72 91.78 191 2.11 9 10 42 2,242 642.2
108 108 Columbus, OH MSA 99.51 106 100.93 59 95.22 154 99.58 131 -1.56% 98 94.90 116 100.76 65 1.02 81 7 80 1,802 644.8
109 121 Camden, NJ MD 97.65 143 100.79 63 96.56 141 100.06 110 -1.77% 114 101.06 69 98.07 114 1.04 77 10 42 1,254 647.6
110 146 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV MSA 99.80 102 100.41 70 98.56 109 99.77 125 -2.24% 144 101.04 70 107.74 5 0.64 160 5 116 266 650.6
111 49 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT MSA 96.64 160 98.37 158 101.39 69 96.88 181 -1.03% 63 102.81 59 101.69 43 1.36 44 9 54 901 656.0
112 125 Indianapolis-Carmel, IN MSA 99.88 99 99.77 98 97.13 131 100.34 101 -1.70% 108 80.82 176 98.04 115 1.48 39 8 64 1,744 658.1
113 153 Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA 99.85 101 100.25 78 96.00 145 98.93 151 -1.17% 73 102.50 61 101.56 48 0.67 153 5 116 1,259 660.8
114 130 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA MSA 99.57 105 99.69 102 101.06 76 100.40 95 -3.32% 186 95.05 114 103.04 30 0.75 135 7 80 267 666.7
115 173 Vallejo-Fairfield, CA MSA 95.91 169 99.89 93 99.65 94 101.52 42 -2.99% 178 86.65 159 103.34 24 0.98 88 8 64 407 666.8
116 157 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA 97.43 149 99.64 107 99.50 97 97.78 167 -0.19% 26 96.05 107 101.72 42 0.89 105 4 146 455 668.8
117 93 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA 102.58 57 96.30 190 108.45 20 97.05 176 -2.08% 128 90.95 138 98.70 102 1.23 56 9 54 4,364 669.0
118 123 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MSA 98.35 128 99.64 107 97.31 128 100.42 94 -1.93% 124 93.56 123 97.27 134 1.21 58 12 18 3,270 670.4
119 92 Winston-Salem, NC MSA 101.98 66 99.98 89 94.43 166 99.78 124 -1.38% 85 162.64 1 92.13 188 0.74 139 5 116 485 674.1
120 141 Jacksonville, FL MSA 101.70 74 98.53 153 100.71 80 96.91 180 -1.65% 105 96.66 102 106.47 8 0.89 105 5 116 1,328 679.4
121 132 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA 99.50 107 101.35 45 93.99 171 99.98 116 -0.78% 49 72.36 189 91.27 192 0.85 118 10 42 549 679.6
122 163 Duluth, MN-WI MSA 99.33 112 100.21 79 94.79 159 101.20 50 -1.09% 68 91.75 134 94.56 174 0.61 164 5 116 276 682.6
123 84 New Orleans Metairie Kenner LA MSA 84 90 199 103 25 8 92 14 181 104 13 11 0 02% 22 82 23 172 93 58 180 0 55 176 3 171 1 190 689 9123 84 New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA MSA 84.90 199 103.25 8 92.14 181 104.13 11 -0.02% 22 82.23 172 93.58 180 0.55 176 3 171 1,190 689.9
124 115 Fresno, CA MSA 100.29 94 98.86 142 101.11 75 100.56 87 -3.01% 179 110.99 29 99.89 80 0.59 168 5 116 915 693.6
125 120 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC MSA 103.15 53 97.32 179 103.38 55 95.46 191 0.96% 4 100.53 78 96.95 143 0.48 189 2 185 264 698.3
126 106 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA 101.48 76 98.65 150 98.25 117 97.73 168 -2.12% 130 96.41 104 99.67 87 1.38 43 10 42 5,475 698.9
127 127 Springfield, MA MSA 97.42 150 100.99 57 93.83 172 101.66 38 -2.20% 138 98.65 89 97.26 135 0.71 146 7 80 699 699.2
128 134 Salinas, CA MSA 96.66 159 99.60 110 96.44 142 101.42 46 -1.31% 82 101.58 65 99.33 94 0.52 182 4 146 410 701.3
129 79 Worcester, MA MSA 96.95 156 100.37 72 94.63 163 100.82 73 -2.68% 169 89.78 144 98.35 110 1.47 40 14 8 804 703.3
130 168 Gary, IN MD 97.64 144 98.88 141 96.83 136 102.30 30 -1.57% 100 92.74 128 103.90 19 0.49 185 4 146 704 708.1
131 133 Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA MSA 98.59 126 99.78 97 95.41 152 100.97 68 -2.44% 160 100.48 79 94.64 173 0.95 95 11 28 306 708.9
132 50 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA 99.69 104 97.76 173 102.14 63 96.69 185 -2.24% 142 97.24 97 96.01 157 3.30 1 14 8 1,840 716.4
133 172 Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA 95.97 168 97.00 184 95.35 153 99.31 143 -0.18% 25 137.94 8 103.25 26 0.74 139 7 80 524 717.3
134 147 Edison, NJ MD 98.14 133 99.71 100 95.50 150 99.92 119 -2.32% 151 92.39 129 98.51 107 1.80 21 10 42 2,335 719.9
135 116 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA 96.69 158 99.00 138 98.44 111 97.85 165 -2.18% 136 100.41 80 99.81 82 1.92 15 13 12 536 720.2
136 77 Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC MSA 99.93 98 97.38 178 98.72 107 100.35 100 -1.52% 96 93.80 121 98.63 106 1.01 83 4 146 640 723.4
137 140 Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME MSA 98.65 123 100.76 65 96.92 135 101.08 56 -2.27% 148 88.11 153 92.31 187 0.72 143 7 80 517 724.5
138 43 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA MSA 97.51 146 99.48 120 98.39 112 100.00 115 -2.37% 152 97.39 95 93.91 179 1.64 29 11 28 407 727.0
139 151 Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI MSA 97.70 141 99.21 129 94.53 165 100.49 90 -2.18% 137 114.49 21 95.74 158 1.08 72 9 54 1,560 730.7
140 170 Evansville, IN-KY MSA 96.23 166 100.34 75 91.34 184 100.69 79 -0.76% 47 72.12 191 84.86 198 1.10 70 7 80 352 735.3
141 138 Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA 97.45 148 99.66 106 94.62 164 99.93 118 -1.56% 99 98.22 91 101.09 60 0.90 104 5 116 2,172 735.8
142 117 Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA MSA 97.37 151 98.71 147 99.84 91 99.53 133 -3.26% 183 103.46 55 100.22 71 1.32 47 8 64 2,127 739.0
143 152 Fort Wayne, IN MSA 95.84 170 98.30 163 89.52 187 97.67 171 -0.88% 55 127.39 11 103.34 24 1.18 62 8 64 414 741.9
144 135 Reading, PA MSA 100.30 93 99.75 99 97.27 129 99.53 133 -1.08% 67 78.11 185 95.24 164 0.62 162 4 146 407 761.0
145 156 Lancaster, PA MSA 98.34 129 99.81 95 94.20 170 100.86 72 -1.05% 65 74.37 188 96.72 146 0.61 164 3 171 508 775.3
146 103 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA 97.99 134 96.67 187 105.41 41 97.29 173 -3.26% 184 107.39 38 101.18 58 0.78 131 8 64 4,143 775.6
147 164 Erie, PA MSA 97.10 153 99.89 93 96.24 144 100.81 75 -1.18% 74 66.76 199 90.21 195 0.70 151 5 116 280 778.9
148 148 Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL MD 97.47 147 99.03 136 96.63 140 99.33 142 -2.24% 141 93.02 126 99.47 89 0.99 86 11 28 7,998 780.9
149 150 Port St. Lucie, FL MSA 100.37 91 97.72 174 109.51 18 94.08 195 -2.31% 150 97.75 93 99.82 81 0.59 168 4 146 406 781.7
150 62 Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA 101.18 80 98.70 148 100.26 85 99.81 123 -3.35% 187 94.03 120 104.90 13 0.37 198 2 185 293 789.7

3. 2010 Best Performing Metros
Largest 200 Cities List
2010 2009
Population
2009 Overall
rank rank Metropolitan area 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank 2008 Value* Rank Growth Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank 2009 Value* Rank (thousands) index**
5-yr job growth
2004–2009
1-yr job growth
2008–2009
5-yr wages/salaries
growth 2003–2008
1-yr wages/salaries
growth 2007–2008
# of HT GDP
LQs over 1 2009
Job growth
(Apr 09–Apr 10)
5-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2004–2009
1-yr relative HT GDP
growth 2008–2009
High-Tech
GDP LQ 2009
151 179 Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL MD 98.86 119 98.64 151 99.47 98 98.60 154 -1.28% 81 85.06 165 97.64 126 0.65 158 5 116 2,501 793.6
152 95 Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI MD 98.83 120 99.12 132 99.34 99 97.73 168 -3.57% 191 82.94 170 97.90 119 1.57 34 8 64 878 810.3
153 88 New Haven-Milford, CT MSA 95.46 174 98.42 156 93.50 174 99.85 121 -1.17% 72 82.23 172 93.09 184 1.58 33 11 28 848 812.0
154 114 Boise City-Nampa, ID MSA 105.71 29 97.25 181 104.79 44 95.55 189 -2.26% 147 51.15 200 83.47 199 0.98 88 4 146 606 812.3
155 169 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 96.33 163 98.45 155 98.01 119 97.11 174 -2.12% 131 93.66 122 97.88 120 1.20 60 11 28 2,747 813.7
156 131 Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL MD 98.65 123 97.22 182 100.41 84 96.93 178 -2.75% 173 91.85 132 99.61 88 1.04 77 10 42 1,766 815.9
157 195 Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA 93.40 187 99.40 122 88.27 189 100.47 91 0.61% 7 84.00 168 98.67 104 0.57 173 1 194 454 820.3
158 139 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA MD 96.25 165 98.35 159 97.38 127 99.31 143 -2.41% 157 89.10 149 96.38 153 1.61 32 12 18 9,848 831.6
159 104 Ocala, FL MSA 97.12 152 95.11 197 106.58 31 97.01 177 -4.24% 199 121.36 15 98.01 116 0.94 97 5 116 329 832.5
160 81 Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA 98.31 131 96.11 192 99.99 89 98.88 153 -1.33% 83 76.90 187 77.68 200 1.02 81 6 100 351 835.4
161 191 Ann Arbor, MI MSA 94.02 181 101.23 48 83.40 197 94.54 194 -0.94% 60 72.27 190 95.57 162 1.08 72 7 80 348 835.6
162 181 Spartanburg, SC MSA 96.32 164 97.31 180 96.43 143 100.67 81 -1.84% 120 94.51 118 102.96 33 0.46 191 3 171 287 846.8
163 142 Newark-Union, NJ-PA MD 95.58 171 99.68 104 94.21 169 98.95 150 -2.24% 143 80.01 179 97.41 131 1.34 46 8 64 2,126 849.3
164 107 Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA 102.10 64 94.64 200 114.88 6 97.84 166 -4.62% 200 91.54 135 98.66 105 0.45 192 1 194 1,903 850.5
165 182 Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ MD 97.69 142 99.69 102 94.64 162 98.59 155 -1.65% 106 88.73 152 96.99 141 0.78 131 4 146 702 853.3
166 178 Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA 97.83 139 99.24 128 95.59 149 98.42 159 -3.01% 180 102.36 62 106.63 7 0.62 162 3 171 1,305 857.5
167 137 Lakeland, FL MSA 101.74 72 98.93 139 101.33 70 97.64 172 -2.80% 174 86.37 160 98.12 112 0.40 195 1 194 583 858.0
168 184 Merced, CA MSA 96.64 160 99.30 126 99.60 95 101.45 44 -2.70% 170 87.53 156 91.93 190 0.36 199 2 185 245 860.0
169 183 Dayton, OH MSA 90.89 192 98.75 145 85.40 194 97.11 174 -1.66% 107 89.81 143 99.93 78 1.18 62 12 18 835 863.6
170 189 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MSA 95.46 174 100.03 88 88.09 190 101.10 54 -2.72% 171 71.95 192 96.56 150 0.97 90 4 146 327 865.9
171 167 Akron, OH MSA 96.98 154 98.54 152 94.76 160 99.90 120 -3.40% 189 111.23 27 99.41 93 0.71 146 5 116 700 866.5
172 122 Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA MD 94.54 178 96.74 186 97.87 121 97.68 170 -2.10% 129 89.17 148 93.94 178 1.53 36 17 2 3,027 866.6
173 192 Atlantic City, NJ MSA 92.79 188 98.12 167 92.64 179 99.27 145 -0.43% 32 89.45 146 100.60 66 0.49 185 5 116 272 867.4
174 162 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL MSA 95.57 172 98.03 169 99.68 93 96.25 188 -2.72% 172 94.97 115 103.05 29 0.80 124 7 80 496 868.4
175 187 Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA MSA 94.35 179 99.49 117 92.89 178 99.59 130 -2.86% 175 90.73 140 98.89 98 0.99 86 8 64 1,601 872.8
176 154 Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA 96.84 157 97.84 172 94.70 161 99.03 149 -2.51% 165 98.94 87 96.15 156 0.89 105 11 28 715 889.9
177 177 Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA 97.57 145 98.31 162 98.38 113 99.61 129 -3.29% 185 79.00 184 101.52 51 0.86 116 3 171 1,131 892.1
178 145 Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA MD 94.81 177 98.03 169 95.48 151 98.31 160 -3.63% 194 90.29 141 95.24 164 1.77 23 17 2 2,533 911.6
179 194 Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI MSA 94.07 180 98.35 159 88.50 188 98.27 161 -1.51% 95 96.60 103 99.81 82 0.68 152 4 146 778 918.7
180 158 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA 96.48 162 98.66 149 94.89 158 94.73 193 -2.63% 167 77.73 186 93.40 182 1.66 28 14 8 803 924.8
181 188 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI MSA 92.00 190 97.67 175 90.82 185 100.05 111 -2.25% 145 80.49 178 101.51 52 0.81 121 6 100 318 925.1
182 175 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL MD 96.16 167 97.17 183 96.67 138 93.94 196 -2.39% 154 94.77 117 101.45 55 0.80 124 5 116 1,280 936.5
183 186 Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH MSA 93.74 184 98.80 144 89.63 186 98.13 162 -1.44% 89 93.21 124 95.59 161 0.75 135 4 146 2,091 939.6
184 200 Flint, MI MSA 85.81 197 98.13 166 73.10 200 93.11 197 -2.14% 135 111.03 28 102.60 36 0.94 97 4 146 424 940.8
185 160 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA 95.57 172 99.46 121 91.54 183 96.64 187 -2.13% 133 69.17 195 93.23 183 1.01 83 7 80 256 956.3
186 166 Stockton, CA MSA 96.98 154 98.48 154 97.09 132 99.42 139 -2.40% 156 79.23 183 95.23 166 0.44 193 3 171 675 978.2
187 180 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA 97.88 137 96.36 189 103.99 51 91.76 198 -3.55% 190 67.71 198 96.99 141 0.48 189 4 146 587 987.7
188 165 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA MSA 93.73 186 96.84 185 93.69 173 98.57 156 -3.78% 195 79.75 181 93.49 181 1.27 54 12 18 472 997.5
189 155 Naples-Marco Island, FL MSA 93.87 182 95.43 194 97.47 125 90.17 200 -3.39% 188 97.60 94 100.94 62 0.54 177 5 116 319 998.8
190 174 Rockford, IL MSA 93.83 183 95.08 198 93.00 177 98.57 156 -2.25% 146 101.99 63 94.86 169 0.75 135 4 146 354 1,001.3
191 176 Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, FL MSA 92.53 189 96.63 188 96.95 134 91.22 199 -2.46% 162 103.35 57 94.04 177 0.66 157 6 100 688 1,002.2
192 193 Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA 90.52 194 97.54 177 84.10 196 95.50 190 -0.64% 43 84.31 167 94.33 175 0.53 179 5 116 563 1,002.7
193 159 Modesto, CA MSA 95.31 176 98.06 168 95.78 147 99.75 127 -1.89% 122 68.57 197 85.18 197 0.49 185 2 185 510 1,005.4
194 190 Canton-Massillon, OH MSA 91.91 191 98.26 164 88.02 191 99.38 140 -2.93% 177 140.89 6 97.44 130 0.36 199 1 194 408 1,011.1
195 198 Toledo, OH MSA 90.57 193 97.67 175 86.43 193 96.93 178 -1.76% 113 96.02 108 99.94 77 0.51 183 2 185 672 1,011.9
196 143 Reno-Sparks, NV MSA 93.74 184 94.67 199 97.79 123 95.32 192 -3.05% 181 85.56 162 95.37 163 0.59 168 5 116 419 1,061.2
197 185 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA 88.21 196 95.29 195 87.82 192 96.68 186 -2.46% 163 107.23 39 86.30 196 0.63 161 5 116 365 1,065.5
198 197 Warren Troy Farmington Hills MI MD 85 68 198 95 20 196 81 61 198 96 84 182 3 80% 196 80 71 177 96 31 154 1 15 66 5 116 2 478 1 100 1198 197 Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI MD 85.68 198 95.20 196 81.61 198 96.84 182 -3.80% 196 80.71 177 96.31 154 1.15 66 5 116 2,478 1,100.1
199 196 Holland-Grand Haven, MI MSA 88.27 195 95.54 193 84.67 195 96.83 183 -2.55% 166 79.28 182 94.14 176 0.67 153 4 146 262 1,130.2
200 199 Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI MD 84.86 200 96.26 191 81.00 199 96.81 184 -3.59% 192 71.18 193 94.65 172 0.87 114 3 171 1,926 1,157.6
* "Values" are benchmarked against the national average, which is set to 100.
** Index scores are benchmarked against the top performer, which is set to 100. Lower index scores indicate stronger performance.
†
Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA MSA moved to the large cities list. It ranked 6th in the best-performing small cities in 2009.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Moody's Economy.com, Milken Institute.