Leading the way is Raleigh, N.C., which grabbed the top spot for a third straight year on the strength of strong job growth (both past and projected), low business costs and a highly educated workforce.
Employment is expected to fall during 2009 in Raleigh after jobs were added at a 4% annual clip the past five years. But the job picture is expected to brighten in 2010 and 2011, and the three-year projected annual employment gain is 1.4%. According to Moody's Economy.com, 15th best in the country.
Helping fuel Raleigh's strong economy is the Research Triangle Park, one of the oldest and largest science parks in North America. It is located between Raleigh and Durham and is home to 170 companies employing 42,000 people. Big employers include Biogen Idec, Cisco Systems and IBM.
"Raleigh is holding up better than any other place in North Carolina," says Matthew Martin, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Va. He cites the significant higher education presence and low manufacturing base in the area for Raleigh's steady economy.
Keeping Raleigh company at the top are fellow Tar Heel State metros Durham (ranked third), Asheville (sixth), Wilmington (13th), Winston-Salem (18th) and Charlotte (19th).
Our rankings looked at the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., which range from the New York metro and its 11.7 million people to Olympia, Wash, with a population of 241,000. We examined each on 11 different criteria. Economic research firm Moody's Economy.com supplied data on job growth over the past five years and projections through 2011. Economy.com also provided business and living cost data as well as income growth and migration trends.
We also turned to Bert T. Sperling, city researcher and co-author of Cities Ranked & Rated for some labor supply and quality of life information. Sperling furnished data on college attainment, crime rates, local colleges and cultural and recreational opportunities in the area.
In a nod to the current economic climate, we added two new categories this year: projected job growth and subprime mortgages as a percentage of total originations over a three-year period. This change helped boost several metros in the rankings, most notably Austin, Texas, which ranked eighth this year, up from 47th last year. Austin's projected annual job growth rate of 2.3% is fifth fastest in the country, and its subprime mortgage exposure clocked in at 13th.
The city has a fan in the Charles Schwab Corporation. "The city of Austin is extremely business-friendly. They have bent over backwards to accommodate us," says Glenn Cooper, head of real estate at Schwab, which expanded its Austin presence in 2007 when it purchased the 401(k) Co. Cooper highlights the political environment, culture and cost of living as draws for Schwab to Austin.
Bringing up the rear of our rankings are the troubled spots in California. The Golden State had its worst showing ever in our tally. It is home to six of the seven lowest-rated spots, and Riverside was the only one of its 21 metro areas (among the country's 200 biggest) that cracked the top 100. Most California metros are burdened with sky-high living and business costs, and the job outlook is week. The unemployment rate in 199th-ranked Merced, Calif., is expected to hit 21% in 2010.
The current recession is too deep and widespread for even our best-rated cities to escape damage. Yet when things do turn around, expect many places ranked at the top to be at the head of the pack, notes Marisa Di Natale, an economist at Economy.com.
Top 5 Best Places
1. Raleigh, NC
Metro Area Population: 1,086,000
2. Fort Collins, CO
Metro Area Population: 292,000
3. Durham, NC
Metro Area Population: 487,000
4. Fayetteville, AR
Metro Area Population: 442,000
5. Lincoln, NE
Metro Area Population: 296,000
Source: realestate
Lucky Official Video (Music Video) Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
Hips Don't Lie (Music Video) by Shakira from the album Oral Fixation Vol. 2
Womanizer (Music Video) Director's Cut by Britney Spears
Single Ladies (Music Video) Put A Ring On It by Beyonce
I hate This Part (Music Video) by The Pussycat Dolls
Hot N Cold (Music Video) by Katy Perry from the album One of the Boys
And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going (Music Video) by Jenniefer Hudson from the album Dreamgirls [Original Soundtrack]
22nd annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Winners:
• Favorite Movie: "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."
• Favorite Movie Actor: Will Smith, "Hancock."
• Favorite Movie Actress: Vanessa Hudgens, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."
• Favorite Animated Movie: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."
• Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Jack Black, "Kung Fu Panda."
• Favorite Song: Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)."
• Favorite Male Singer: Jesse McCartney.
• Favorite Female Singer: Miley Cyrus.
• Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers.
• Favorite TV Show: "iCarly."
• Favorite Reality Show: "American Idol."
• Favorite TV Actress: Selena Gomez, "Wizards of Waverly."
• Favorite TV Actor: Cole Sprouse, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody."
• Favorite Cartoon: "SpongeBob SquarePants."
• Favorite Male Athlete: Peyton Manning.
• Favorite Female Athlete: Candace Parker.
• Favorite Video Game: "Guitar Hero World Tour."
• Favorite Book: "Twilight" series.
Source: By The Associated Press (newsyahoo)
Oriental Pearl Tower, left, tallest building, and Shanghai World Financial Center, right tallest, are darkened for one hour to mark Earth Hour in Shanghai, China, Saturday, March 28 , 2009. The lights are going down from the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower to Sears Tower, as more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries plan Saturday to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour.
A man wearing a traditional costume holds a candle to support Earth Hour in Jakarta March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
This is a picture showing buildings turn off their non essential lights during Earth Hour at the main roundabout at the main business district in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March. 28, 2009. From the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the London Eye to the Las Vegas strip, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries planned to join in the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event, a time zone-by-time zone plan to dim nonessential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The monument of the country's national hero Dr. Jose Rizal remains illuminated and a few lights were left on at the park after the switching off of lights as part of the worldwide movement dubbed as Earth Hour Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Manila, Phillippines. The switching off of lights is a worldwide effort of people around the globe to take the seriousness of global warming.
A combination of two pictures shows the Singapore financial district during (top) and after Earth Hour observation as seen from a Singapore Flyer capsule March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
A combination of three pictures shows the Singapore financial district before and during the Earth Hour March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
An Indonesian family sits near candles as lights are turned off during a candlelight vigil marking Earth Hour at the main business district in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March. 28, 2009. From the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the London Eye to the Las Vegas strip, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries planned to join in the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event, a time zone-by-time zone plan to dim nonessential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
This is a combination picture taken before and after the lights at the main roundabout at the main business district are turned off during Earth Hour in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. From the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the London Eye to the Las Vegas strip, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries planned to join in the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event, a time zone-by-time zone plan to dim nonessential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
People wave their glow sticks after the switching off of lights as part of the worldwide movement dubbed as Earth Hour Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Manila, Philippines. The switching off of lights is a worldwide effort of people around the globe to take the seriousness of global warming.
This image of the Bank of China building, the Cheung Kong Centre, the HSBC Building and the Standard Chartered Bank building and the colonial Legislative Council building before "Earth Hour" and during it. The waters of Sydney Harbour plunged into darkness with the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge killing their lights for an hour in a global call for swift action on climate change.
A combination picture shows a view of the Bangkok skyline before (top) and during Earth Hour March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Streaks of light from passing vehicles is the only illumination of the billboards at South Luzon Expressway south of Manila, Philippines on Saturday evening March 28, 2009 as the country is plunged into darkness for the 2nd worldwide Earth Hour, a global campaign to highlight the threat of climate change. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, claimed more than 50 cities participated and about 50 Megawatt hours saved in the country's biggest island of Luzon alone.
A man sits near the highway as the power plant of the country's largest power supplier remains operational on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Philippines is plunged into darkness for the 2nd worldwide Earth Hour, a global campaign to highlight the threat of climate change. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, claimed more than 50 cities participated and about 50 Megawatt hours saved in the country's biggest island of Luzon alone.
A view of the 'Water Cube' National Aquatic Center before it was darkened for one hour to mark Earth Hour in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 28 , 2009. The lights are going down from the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower to Sears Tower, as more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries plan Saturday to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour.
Customers dine in candlelight inside a restaurant during Earth Hour in Manila March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
These two combo photos show the Lan Kwai Fong, a bar street of Hong Kong, before and after turning off lights to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour in Hong Kong Saturday, March 28, 2009. Over 1,700 buildings in Hong Kong joined 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries in the event to highlight global climate change.
Chinese visitors near the 'Bird Nest' National Stadium which has been darkened for one hour to mark Earth Hour in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 28 , 2009. The lights are going down from the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower to Sears Tower, as more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries plan Saturday to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour.
A photographer sets up his camera to capture the 'Bird Nest' National Stadium before it was darkened for one hour to mark Earth Hour in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 28 , 2009. The lights are going down from the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower to Sears Tower, as more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries plan Saturday to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour.
Two Chinese men pose for photos exposed by flash light near the 'Bird Nest' National Stadium which has been darkened for one hour to mark Earth Hour in Beijing, China, Saturday, March 28 , 2009. The lights are going down from the Great Pyramids to the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower to Sears Tower, as more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries plan Saturday to mark the second worldwide Earth Hour.
A combination picture shows a view of the Bund on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai before (top) and during Earth Hour March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Russian students stand with candles in the city centre of Vladivostok as they mark WWF's Earth Hour March 28, 2009. More than 80 countries have signed up for Earth Hour on Saturday in which homes, office towers and landmarks will turn off their lights from 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Moore talks about Adams in the April issue of Marie Claire magazine, saying she is "in awe of him--his brain, his passion. He's truly one of a kind."
1. Kris Allen, 23 years old (Conway, AR)
2. Danny Gokey, 28 years old (Milwaukee, WI)
3. Allison Iraheta, 16 years old (Los Angeles, CA)
4. Adam Lambert, 26 years old (Los Angeles, CA)
5. Scott MacIntyre, 23 years old (Scottsdale, AZ)
7. Michael Sarver, 27 years old (Jasper, TX)
8. Megan Joy Corkrey, 22 years old (Sandy, UT)
10. Anoop Desai, 21 years old (Chapel Hill, NC)
