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.