Best Cities: It's All About Jobs
Stable employment and new career opportunities give these cities an edge.
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2009
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What a difference a year makes. Last summer, the energy and finance sectors of the economy seemed to be thriving, and manufacturing was going strong.
Today, many cities are relying on government programs, universities and stalwart industries, such as health care, to bolster employment in a weak economy. Those factors appeared frequently when we assembled candidates for our 2009 Best Cities list, which focuses on places that have stable employment plus the talent to create new, well-paying positions. A robust job market makes these cities safe havens during the recession and will give them a head start toward growth when the recovery takes off.
When our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, evaluated U.S. cities for their growth potential, he looked not just at the overall number of jobs, but also at the quality of those positions and the ability of cities to hold on to them when the economy softens. (See our Methodology) Says Stolarick, who is research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity: "Although downturns are felt by everyone, our research has shown that the impact is less severe for those in the creative class -- people who are paid to think."
One key indicator of such heartiness is the presence of people who work in professional occupations, such as science, engineering, architecture and education. And given that many of you, our readers, work in such professions, these are places where you may find not only a job but also the company of people like yourselves.
We included the cities' greater metro areas because the suburbs and surrounding communities contribute to job stability. And big cities don't have a monopoly on vitality; this year we considered smaller metro areas as well.
Take a spin through our 2009 Best Cities to see which places have the right stuff in these tough times.
No. 1: Huntsville, Alabama
No. 2: Albuquerque, New Mexico
No. 3: Washington D.C.
No. 4: Charlottesville, Virginia
No. 5: Athens, Georgia
No. 6: Olympia, Washington
No. 7: Madison, Wisconsin
No. 8: Austin, Texas
No. 9: Flagstaff, Arizona
No. 10: Raleigh, North Carolina
For More Places, Tools and Walking Tours, Visit Our Best Cities Center
Reader Comments (54)
Posted by: dasfiend at 05/26/2009 05:56:53 PM
There is something fundamentally wrong with this list...
Posted by: Daryle at 05/26/2009 07:41:22 PM
Albuquerque's a desert. Can't grow anything. It's nowhere. It's outgrown its roads. Many $'s wasted on marketing (why do they need marketing?). Windy as all get out. Infrastructure is bad. A city hall that's nonresponsive. A high crime rate. So how the heck does a city with all of this going for it, end up ranked 2nd for best cities? Rank indeed.
Posted by: L H at 05/26/2009 11:30:28 PM
Someone bumped their head on #9. Flagstaff is an awesome place to live (if you like high taxes) ... but to work it is dismal! The city makes it so hard for businesses to operate and almost impossible to open a new business without years of red tape -- and they prevent large companies from expanding no matter how much they want to. If you move here because of a job great -- but if you lose it you are probably moving away because there are no more. There are no free apartments (college town), but you can rent a house for the low-low mortgage payment some idiot paid for it during the boom -- or buy it for 3x its value since the current owner won't take a loss and they overpaid
Posted by: OutsideCville at 05/27/2009 12:34:32 AM
Regarding Charlottesville? (1) A hiring freeze is in effect at Cville's largest employer (UVA). (2) Housing inventory is at record levels. Google Charlottesville Bubble for all the gory details. (3) The town is actually losing population. I don't get this list either.
Posted by: George at 05/27/2009 01:16:02 AM
I understand job security is important, but being in an environment from which you receive stimulation and inspiration is also important. And there's only a certain amount of inspiration you can get from rifle-toting bible-hauling rednecks reeking of fried chicken and gravy. Maybe there's a reason why jobs are so safe in these areas -- because not many smart people want to live there!
Posted by: Taylor at 05/27/2009 07:19:02 AM
Hmm..dont agree with a few on this list. I have visited 4 of the 10. Maybe i should give them a re-look and i will change my mind.
Posted by: Huntsville Resident at 05/27/2009 07:49:35 AM
As a recent transplant to Huntsville, I have to say it is very nice. There are a plenty of jobs. There are a number of restaurants, although mostly chains, and lots of shopping. It is a very family friendly town with good schools and plenty of things to do for kids.
Posted by: Brooke at 05/27/2009 09:05:08 AM
"Although downturns are felt by everyone, our research has shown that the impact is less severe for those in the creative class -- people who are paid to think." Yay! Maybe my philosophy degree isn't a waste after all!
Posted by: think about it at 05/27/2009 10:16:22 AM
Clearly another list created from raw handpicked statistics. Albuquerque is the closest thing the US has to a major 3rd world city. There is a very small middle class. 40% of drivers dont have auto insurance. 50% of students dont graduate. It is cheaper for call centers to be placed in New Mexico than India. Corruption is built into the NM government by having closed door politics. If you are a global corp looking for free labor in the US NM is for you. Dont believe me? Look it up for yourself
Posted by: pollyanna at 05/27/2009 10:28:40 AM
I can't believe that Flagstaff made your list, if job opportunities and cost of living are priorities. It's a great place to live or visit, if you have a source of income from outside Flag (retirees, college students, summer residents from PHX), but it's really hard to get jobs that pay enough to afford to live there--mostly service-related tourist jobs. The housing market is tight and pricey, because 1) prices that soared during the bubble have not gone down much, 2) college students grab up most of the rentals and wealthy retirees, summer folk, and investors jack up the home prices, and 3) most of the city is surrounded by national forest or other public land, so the city can't expand and land is at premium prices. Also, the main white-collar employers, the university and the state and county governments, have been hard hit by the recession and are all laying off, freezing hires, or otherwise cutting costs. It's a great place to live if you can afford to, but that's really hard for most people to do.
Posted by: Daniel, Italy at 05/27/2009 11:57:40 AM
This list is also good for a foreigner that wants to transfer in the U.S.? or only for U.S. citizens who want to change the city?
Posted by: KK at 05/27/2009 12:14:10 PM
I have been living in Huntsville for about a year now and I have to say that it was a great move for me especially considering the present economic situation. I am originally from Washington, DC and I am enjoying my new life in Huntsville. I don't have much contact with the rifle toting rednecks that smell of fried chicken and gravy (what a terrible thing to say)! I come in contact with lots of professional folks and I think that Huntsville has been a well kept secret for a while...secret's out now!
Posted by: jim jenkins at 05/27/2009 12:31:29 PM
...Just as a starter Olympia has a population of 44,000 not 220,000. Editor's Note: To Jim and everyone, the population numbers for all our Best Cities are statistical metropolitan area population, not the population within the city limits. Hope This Helps.
Posted by: janice james at 05/27/2009 12:39:53 PM
Most of the data for Olympia, wa is wrong. Beginning with: a 233,000 population is about 8x larger than it really is. This smallish population actually makes job competition tough, etc. Editor's Note: The population numbers are for the metropolitan area, not for the city itself. Hope this helps.
Posted by: Sean Thomes at 05/27/2009 12:44:52 PM
as a resident of Charlottesville, have to disagree with its placement on the list. it is a nice little sleepy hamlet, but cost of living here is out of control compared to average salaries, and that does not seem to have entered in to the calculus. UVA provides some stability, but I dont think that applies to the rest of the town...
Posted by: Reyn Bowman at 05/27/2009 01:02:52 PM
No disputing the Raleigh ranking but the reasons given are inaccurate. Two of the three universities noted and Research Triangle Park are located in the Durham NC MSA which is a different set of counties than Raleigh.
Posted by: M at 05/27/2009 01:21:17 PM
Ok, Flagstaff??? Really??? The major complaints in Flag is how few jobs there are, how low the wages are and how expensive the homes are. Sounds like somebody didn't do any real research on Flagstaff. I've lived it and know it ever so true.
Posted by: Dirk at 05/27/2009 01:26:18 PM
The majority of these cities appear to be principally "university towns".
Posted by: Rebecca Purcell at 05/27/2009 05:10:05 PM
Actually, Huntsville is NOT a university town, and is primarily a town filled with government jobs - the home of many DOD, NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, etc. bases. In addition to a large army base, Huntsville is home to a lot of science research corporations. There are a couple of universities here, but the main one in the city has under 10,000 students who are mostly commuter students.
Posted by: Paula at 05/28/2009 12:09:01 PM
There is something very wrong with this list. Did the author even bother to do a search for jobs in Flagstaff or Albuquerque? I'm guessing not as I've been searching both for quite some time and opportunities are VERY limited....
Posted by: Tim at 05/28/2009 12:35:14 PM
Flagstaff?!! Really? The only good jobs there are limited to a handfull of businesses. Gore, city & county, the hospital and the university. That's pretty much it. The vast majority of jobs in that town are minimum wage either at restaurants or hotels. It's a nice town to visit but tough to make a living in.
Posted by: Daniel Gansle at 05/28/2009 12:59:14 PM
DC/Raleigh/Austin yes, but Huntsville, Albuquerque, and Athens, GA? What's even there? And they failed to mention Dallas, home of the Richardson Telecom Corridor where commercial property values are relatively low. BTW, tons of construction still goes on in Dallas through this recession.
Posted by: james jenkins at 05/28/2009 01:28:21 PM
In response to the editor regarding Olympia, wa: 233,000 is the approximate population for all of Thurston county in which Olympia resides. The Olympia metropolitan area is about half of that. Editor's Note: Hi, James, Doug Harbrecht of Kiplinger.com here. I just googled for Olympia metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and the 233,000 number cited appears to be correct (it includes all of Thurston county). Please try yourself, and thank you for visiting Kiplinger. We hope you enjoy the Web site.
Posted by: Lee at 05/28/2009 07:17:49 PM
What's in Huntsville? You can't be serious!
Posted by: Joel at 05/29/2009 09:21:22 AM
What's in Huntsville? Um...a huge presence of aerospace industry tech corporations, that's all. Not to mention all the industry associated with that. You didn't even have to research the web to find this out...just read a few comments above yours....
Posted by: Kevin at 05/29/2009 10:00:53 AM
Yes, Raleigh is a nice place to live but the comments in this article are misleading. "Nevertheless, Raleigh still has an enviable economic base, built on three universities and Research Triangle Park" -The three universities being referred to are not all in Raleigh. Duke is in Durham, UNC is in Chapel Hill, and NC State is in Raleigh. -Research Triange Park is not in Raleigh. RTP is mostly surrounded by the city of Durham with only a small part in Wake county but not the city of Raleigh itself. As usual the great assets of the Triangle are given to Raleigh alone with no mention of the cities they actually belong to. You may live in Raleigh but your J.O.B will likely be in Durham.
Posted by: Blue at 05/29/2009 10:56:48 AM
Engineering jobs seem to be the core of Huntsville, AL
Posted by: Elizabeth Lundahl at 05/29/2009 11:54:48 AM
Have you even spoken to anyone that lives, or rather, tries to live here? It is absurd to recomend that anyone try to make a living in this town. I have lived here 12 years. The locals call it "Poverty with a View!" Don't move here unless you have a job first.
Posted by: Desiree Rye at 05/29/2009 12:45:54 PM
Washington, DC, is NOT the best place to find a new job. It is very difficult to get a job in the government because government jobs require many pages of paperwork and months of waiting. I have been out of work in the DC area for months and many of my cohorts who do have jobs are facing huge salary cuts and a big drop in available work. I have been pumping out resumes daily with very little response. Please do not say that Washington, DC, is #3 based on the available jobs. Please check to see whether those jobs are being filled first.
Posted by: Debra S at 05/29/2009 01:41:16 PM
First of all, you shouldn't move anywhere without a job FIRST! 2nd if in this post you're referring to Huntsville, AL, I've lived here for 20+ years and have had great success in this city. No, I'm not in Engineering nor do I have a BS degree, but I make over 60K year and the cost of living is reasonable. You can purchase a nice 3BR brick home in a great neighborhood and nice schools for around $200K. Granted the nightlife has a little to be desired, but we're not far from ATL which has all you could ask for.
Posted by: RM at 05/29/2009 01:47:09 PM
I can appreciate someone using raw numbers to try and "create" this type of list, but really what good does that do when there are real number available. During this downturn, my hometown Anchorage has had a steady economy with job growth and steady, rather than increasing unemployment. Even loans, commercial and personal, are up with housing prices staying steady.
Posted by: BG at 05/29/2009 02:42:09 PM
I am amazed that Flagstaff, Arizona made this list. I lived there for over 10 years, graduated from Northern Arizona University and tried with all my might to stay and survive there. Flagstaff is a wonderful place to live but there ARE NO jobs there. The majority of work is in the tourist industry. The university and the county are the other big employers but they are in a hiring freeze and they're both losing money. Additionally, if you are lucky enough to get a job with one of these agencies (I held two professional level positions with the county) they don't pay enough to live there. I was even considering a 2nd job just to get by. One of the major issues right now is that residence of Flagstaff cannot afford to buy a home. The housing costs far outweigh the average income. This is due to 2nd home buyers and an influx of multimillion dollar house building there during the bubble years. I think the researchers or authors need to re-analyze Flagstaff before advising people to move there. I'd still be there if I could have survived but it was near impossible to get ahead.
Posted by: james jenkins at 05/29/2009 03:28:37 PM
This is a first hand view for me on how raw statistics can go terribly wrong. I stand here in Thurston county as you suggest that 95+% of the county is metropolitan. You would have to include the Nisqually Indian reservation, Maytown, etc and skip over many miles of forest to bring together that "metropolitan area". The true metropolitan area is Tumwater/Lacey and Olympia which is half of what you state here. Next time I believe it might be in the best interests of accuracy to contact local chambers of commerce and possibly the local paper...
Posted by: BIGRED at 05/29/2009 06:35:29 PM
...i don't see how a lazy state like Red Neck North Carolina made it on here in the first place...
Posted by: TJ at 05/29/2009 06:54:26 PM
Raleigh, North Carolina =must be joking.
Posted by: Its Obvious at 05/29/2009 09:45:43 PM
The economy and the 'good days' of the past are NEVER going to return, until unions finally force employers to invest in hiring real permanent American employees right here at home, and people have affordable healthcare so they don't go bankrupt every time they get sick----- instead of hiring temporary workers, and outsourcing talent, resources and facilities outside the U.S. to make a quick buck. We as Americans are selling out on ourselves...... shooting ourselves in the foot just to have quick cash in hand. And the folks at the top cannot continue to be bailed out forever!
Posted by: lil T at 05/31/2009 08:41:20 PM
I don't know who came up with this list of cities but it amazes me. Our recession is global and no City/State is untouchable. (Maybe it hasn't hit some of these places as hard as California, Florida or Nevada) yet. And you stated the unemployment is what in these Cities? So, most of us should move and get jobs in these cities today huh?
Posted by: Linda C at 06/01/2009 10:38:16 PM
My daughter has finally gotten a good govt job 2000 miles from IN, and it took over a year to complete the process. She is single and can relocate, but many can't. It takes forever to get the job.
Posted by: Carla at 06/02/2009 02:02:44 AM
Okay, enough with the...comments about southern cities and rednecks. Lots of good decent people there, middle class America is the best.
Posted by: kevin at 06/02/2009 02:22:37 AM
im surprised at how negative these comments are. times are tough - you gotta rise above it though. good luck! your pessimism will take you far.
Posted by: Huntsville Lover at 06/02/2009 03:29:26 PM
Huntsville is beautiful city and though it may be in deep South, you can encounter racism anywhere, as posted in some of these comments. The ecomomy is strong and growing and there is unlimited potential to find jobs, but they won't just fall in your lap.
Posted by: Pam Metzger at 06/02/2009 04:43:29 PM
I took a look at this list expecting to see one or more Colorado cities at the top of the list and was shocked that none of ours made the list. Allbuquerque, Washington DC, Madison, Austin and Raleigh are all much bigger metropolitan areas compared to Boulder, which I think is a plus for Boulder. Who wants the fight the DC area beltway traffic everyday? You can get from one end of Boulder to the other in 15 minutes even at heavy commute times. Score one for Boulder. The statistic that really should have put Boulder on top is the % of Creative-class Workers. According to Kiplingers, creative-class workers -- scientists, engineers, educators, writers, artists, entertainers and others -- inject both economic and cultural vitality into a city and help make it a vibrant place to live. Compared to the top ten ranked cities, and all of the other Colorado cities that made the study, Boulder is second only to the greater Washington DC area for % of Creative-class workers, while the DC area’s population over 18 times bigger than Boulder’s!! Boulder shows 43.4% Creative-class Workers as compared to 43.6% in DC, a scant difference. That to me is amazing. The next closest city on the top ten list was Huntsville with only 39.7%. Clearly there is a significant brain trust that chooses to make their home beneath the Flatirons. Median household income was the next statistic used in the rankings. Clearly a high median household income is indicative of local salary levels, which is a huge draw for people wanting to reside in a given city. Again, Boulder was second only to Washington DC in this category – Boulder’s median household income reported at $63,064 compared to a whopping $81,163 in Washington DC. The next highest median household income was in Madison, WI at $58,090 and Denver was at $58,039. Madison is another college town, with UW often compared to CU in terms of the type of educational experience for students, quality of instruction, college town atmosphere, etc… Four year salary growth was also used to compare the cities, and again Boulder ranked higher than all but one of the top 10 ranked cities. Boulder’s rate was reported at 12.0. The next closest city to Boulder on the top 10 list was Hunstville with 9.7. Interestingly, there were some cities that appeared on the top 10 list, like Charlottesville, that reported only marginal salary growth at 4.8. So why in the heck isn’t Boulder on the top ten list – it should be!!
Posted by: danny at 06/02/2009 09:12:47 PM
statistics are gathered from past trends. Predicting the future is another story. Rome was the biggest most advanced empire on the planet, why isn't Rome in control of the world? That was then, this is now, & predictions sell magazines & may change the course of time, or not....
Posted by: cberry at 06/04/2009 03:24:06 PM
Hello, Daniel Gansle. You might want to take a moment and google Athens, Georgia. Our city is consistently named as one of the top small cities in America, so we were not surprised to make the Kiplinger list. What's here? Well, perhaps you've heard of the University of Georgia -- it's an SEC school founded in 1785 as the first state chartered university in America. We are a university town filled with music and art, great local restaurants and shops, and a few students and professors. We have such a great town that visitors don't want to leave. So, if you ever make it over to Georgia from the scorched outskirts of Dallas, we'd love to show you around. And a PS to BigRed...North Carolina is NOT a redneck state!
Posted by: Shaun Hess at 06/06/2009 12:53:26 AM
Huntsville, a number one city? Ask anyone in Huntsville and they will agree, with pride and humility. It's a team effort in Huntsville, This was handed down to us through the German Rocket Team, Von Braun, Stulinger, Heimburg and many others, that arrived here in the Rocket City in 1950. The team effort is still here in Huntsville and this shows throughout not only Huntsville, but Space (NASA) and Defense (US Military) as well. Sit in any restaurant at lunch (11 AM in Huntsville!) and you'll probably sit next to a Rocket Scientist. Huntsville is a small international city where most everyone is not only from another State, but another country as well. A small gathering of friends may include many different languages spoken with several speaking three or more with post graduate degrees being the norm. Huntsville is not a Kiplingers #1 city just on their mark (thank you Kiplingers), but for those reasons that make for happy lives for each other.
Posted by: Lea at 06/18/2009 10:37:27 AM
Athens first caught our eye beginning in 2002 when our middle daughter attended the University of Georgia and we came up to see her, and take her out to dinner, about once a month. The restaurants are excellent and easily on par with Atlanta, plus the cost of living is extremely reasonable. We have traveled around the Southeast the last 2 years trying to decide where to retire and we keep coming back to Athens. The university continuously has cultural events and you can audit any class for free once you are 60. Plus, it really is a lovely city that has its head on straight and is definitely headed in the right direction!
Posted by: America-Musashi at 06/23/2009 03:04:22 PM
Raleigh, NC? Best place to live?? If high crime, high foreclosure rates, , high unemployment, landlocked, hot and humid most of the year on your list of "pros" then maybe...
Posted by: Christina at 08/21/2009 05:11:03 PM
It's SHOCKING that Austin, TX is on this list. Austin is a TERRIBLE market to find a job! The only people that move here and are working within a year are those that get transferred. And sadly, those people that move to Austin thinking it's a good job market end up moving out within a year. So, yes, it may appear that there are few people unemployed in Austin, but the reality is that if you don't move to Austin with a job DON'T plan on finding a professional position...
Posted by: usmcguy at 08/31/2009 10:31:04 PM
First off it's best places for jobs not to live. second if you think Raleigh, NC has a high crime rate, you haven't been anywhere. And third NC is not land locked, it is right near the ocean...
Posted by: Jan at 09/01/2009 12:33:42 PM
Austin? This town is beautiful, but I was there only 6 months and was laid off. There was not a job anywhere else there for me, and it was already impossible to enjoy extracurricular activities when the inadequate roads and highways made it impossible to get anywhere on time. Back to good old Houston, TX for me! Roads may be busy here, but at least they move and I found a job within a week.
Posted by: Markus at 09/05/2009 07:46:00 PM
Why does everyone get offended by this list? Calling them redneck cities and landlocked...You just don't understand the draw of these cities..I hope people like you that are from your crowded and uncivilized big cities stay away from our sanctuaries.
Posted by: Arely at 09/22/2009 11:49:17 AM
I live in Austin,TX. and I moved less than 1 year ago, and I found a great Job as well as my husband. I strongly agree with Austin being in the top 10 because Texas is a great state with a lot of money, investment, great weather and central, which makes a lot of companies locate there, but You have to be a good candidate. People is very friendly and peaceful, low crime, multicultural, etc. So, if you're thinking about it, GO FOR IT!
Posted by: j at 10/02/2009 04:50:27 AM
been living in albuquerque for 6 years from asia. Like the climate.. nice culture... people are not rude. loved the mountains...more laid back..cost of living not that bad. used to lived in ca for 6 months and chicago 6 months. But i still went back to albuquerque... hope it helps =)
Posted by: angela at 10/20/2009 02:48:35 PM
Huntsville Rocks!!!! #1 pick for me. I wish my family could leave Orlando and go there.