2011
Best-Performing Cities
The 2011 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index
ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining
jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and
technology growth. In most years, these give a good indication of the
underlying structural performance of regional economics.
Click on any of
the links across the top to re-rank the metros by that category.
MSA = metropolitan statistical area
Footnotes
*1 | *2 |
*3 | *4 |
*5 | *6 |
*7 | *8 |
*9
Biggest Gainers
Spots Climbed
2012 Rank
2011 Rank
Metropolitan Area
105
63
168
Merced, CA MSA
88
41
129
Worcester, MA MSA
81
51
132
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA
74
19
93
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA
70
57
127
Springfield, MA MSA
66
74
140
Evansville, IN-KY MSA
65
79
144
Reading, PA MSA
65
110
175
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA MSA
62
32
94
York-Hanover, PA MSA
59
78
137
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME MSA
56
124
180
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA
55
45
100
Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA
53
55
108
Columbus, OH MSA
51
148
199
Holland-Grand Haven, MI MSA
51
52
103
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA MD
47
3
50
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA
43
6
49
Salt Lake City, UT MSA
43
73
116
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA
42
65
107
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA MSA
42
42
84
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA
39
99
138
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA MSA
39
62
101
Greeley, CO MSA
38
15
53
Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA
35
163
198
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI MD
35
40
75
Peabody, MA MD
Biggest Decliners
Spots Declined
2012 Rank
2011 Rank
Metropolitan Area
-88
93
5
Ithaca, NY MSA
-84
100
16
Great Falls, MT MSA
-80
161
81
Hot Springs, AR MSA
-79
178
99
Lawrence, KS MSA
-75
169
94
Lake Charles, LA MSA
-73
173
100
Anniston-Oxford, AL MSA
-70
89
19
Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA
-68
107
39
Eau Claire, WI MSA
-66
123
57
Flagstaff, AZ MSA
-66
130
64
Tuscaloosa, AL MSA
