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Lifestyles & Consumer Interest

No. 2: Albuquerque, N.M.

Population: 819,570
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30
Cost-of-Living Index: 98 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $45,634
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 7.8%
Employment Growth (U.S. Avg.: 1.3%): 1.75%
Jobless Rate (Nat. Avg.: 8.6%): 6.0%



The city and state crave high tech jobs, especially in the renewable-energy industry. Albuquerque is developing its film industry with the same zeal. Albuquerque also bills itself as a green city and, figuratively speaking, it is. The city requires everything from homes to commercial buildings to be energy-efficient.

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