Small Cities Rankings - 2011 Best Cities for Job Growth

Read about how we selected the 2011 Best Cities for Job Growth






2011 Size Ranking
Area
2011 Weighted INDEX
2010 Nonfarm Empl (1000s)
2010 Size Rank
Size Rank Change from 2010
1
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX
93.8
129.0
4
3
2
Bismarck, ND
92.8
63.0
2
0
3
College Station-Bryan, TX
92.3
98.5
3
0
4
Midland, TX
90.8
69.2
45
41
5
Dubuque, IA
88.6
56.6
68
63
6
Manhattan, KS
88.3
57.0
7
Pascagoula, MS
85.4
58.7
21
14
8
Odessa, TX
84.1
61.8
65
57
9
Logan, UT-ID
82.2
54.4
81
72
10
Fairbanks, AK
81.0
37.7
31
21
11
Elizabethtown, KY
81.0
47.6
77
66
12
Jacksonville, NC
80.5
47.2
1
-11
13
Lawton, OK
80.5
44.0
7
-6
14
Lebanon, PA
80.5
50.1
79
65
15
Longview, TX
79.4
97.0
94
79
16
Joplin, MO
79.1
79.8
78
62
17
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
79.0
99.2
12
-5
18
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
78.9
105.3
124
106
19
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
77.9
127.2
22
3
20
Columbia, MO
77.2
93.4
23
3
21
Auburn-Opelika, AL
77.0
53.3
58
37
22
Clarksville, TN-KY
76.6
83.4
86
64
23
San Angelo, TX
76.4
44.9
63
40
24
Morgantown, WV
76.4
65.4
13
-11
25
Wheeling, WV-OH
76.2
67.9
59
34
26
Ithaca, NY
76.1
65.6
17
-9
27
Jonesboro, AR
75.9
49.2
32
5
28
Springfield, IL
74.6
111.7
42
14
29
Fargo, ND-MN
74.6
122.4
8
-21
30
Grand Forks, ND-MN
74.4
54.0
27
-3
31
Corvallis, OR
74.2
38.1
166
135
32
Cumberland, MD-WV
73.8
39.9
88
56
33
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
73.5
92.7
96
63
34
Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA
73.5
53.7
43
9
35
Warner Robins, GA
73.3
59.7
18
-17
36
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
73.2
38.6
26
-10
37
Waco, TX
73.0
105.8
30
-7
38
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
72.9
133.6
50
12
39
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC
72.7
110.8
128
89
40
Harrisonburg, VA
72.6
62.7
51
11
41
Iowa City, IA
72.6
90.5
19
-22
42
Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, MA-NH  NECTA Division
72.3
76.5
48
6
43
Las Cruces, NM
72.3
69.1
24
-19
44
Johnstown, PA
71.9
60.7
89
45
45
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR
71.9
56.9
55
10
46
Eau Claire, WI
71.7
80.4
117
71
47
Bowling Green, KY
71.6
59.7
158
111
48
Great Falls, MT
71.3
35.6
15
-33
49
State College, PA
71.2
74.4
20
-29
50
Yakima, WA
71.2
76.5
9
-41
51
Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA
71.1
19.5
14
-37
52
Gainesville, GA
71.1
72.8
148
96
53
Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA
70.7
113.1
125
72
54
St. Cloud, MN
69.9
99.0
54
0
55
Williamsport, PA
69.8
52.6
131
76
56
Laredo, TX
69.7
88.4
70
14
57
New Bedford, MA NECTA
69.4
64.9
92
35
58
Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA  NECTA Division
69.3
87.7
129
71
59
Glens Falls, NY
69.1
53.0
35
-24
60
Sandusky, OH
68.9
35.5
132
72
61
Ocean City, NJ
68.6
36.3
90
29
62
Hattiesburg, MS
68.6
59.3
11
-51
63
Cedar Rapids, IA
68.6
137.5
34
-29
64
Tyler, TX
67.7
93.3
49
-15
65
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
67.3
94.1
73
8
66
Owensboro, KY
67.3
49.8
97
31
67
Amarillo, TX
67.2
110.8
39
-28
68
Elmira, NY
67.1
40.1
137
69
69
Altoona, PA
66.7
60.5
83
14
70
Barnstable Town, MA NECTA
66.4
92.2
82
12
71
Sioux Falls, SD
66.3
133.0
36
-35
72
Rapid City, SD
65.9
59.3
38
-34
73
Pueblo, CO
65.7
57.1
25
-48
74
Lubbock, TX
65.1
129.5
28
-46
75
Dover, DE
64.3
63.4
111
36
76
Flagstaff, AZ
63.6
61.5
75
-1
77
Ames, IA
63.3
47.5
72
-5
78
Charlottesville, VA
63.2
98.7
62
-16
79
Appleton, WI
63.2
116.0
134
55
80
Jefferson City, MO
63.0
77.7
61
-19
81
Pittsfield, MA NECTA
62.8
35.4
169
88
82
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
62.7
60.3
213
131
83
Greenville, NC
62.5
75.0
37
-46
84
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
62.0
88.6
66
-18
85
Kankakee-Bradley, IL
62.0
42.9
29
-56
86
Springfield, OH
61.8
49.9
155
69
87
Erie, PA
61.7
128.5
180
93
88
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
61.7
54.8
57
-31
89
Athens-Clarke County, GA
61.6
81.0
69
-20
90
Palm Coast, FL
61.5
18.2
113
23
91
Tuscaloosa, AL
60.9
94.1
87
-4
92
Bloomington, IN
60.9
82.6
10
-82
93
Billings, MT
60.8
78.4
44
-49
94
Rochester-Dover, NH-ME NECTA
60.6
55.9
115
21
95
Winchester, VA-WV
60.4
54.4
150
55
96
Victoria, TX
60.4
49.2
141
45
97
Bloomington-Normal, IL
60.2
90.3
64
-33
98
Fayetteville, NC
59.9
128.2
6
-92
99
Cheyenne, WY
59.8
43.4
33
-66
100
Hot Springs, AR
59.8
37.1
107
7
101
Coeur d'Alene, ID
59.5
52.6
80
-21
102
Johnson City, TN
58.1
78.4
160
58
103
Merced, CA
58.0
55.6
174
71
104
Lafayette, IN
57.7
93.2
145
41
105
St. Joseph, MO-KS
57.6
57.3
5
-100
106
Abilene, TX
57.5
65.2
47
-59
107
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL
57.2
70.7
67
-40
108
La Crosse, WI-MN
57.2
73.1
103
-5
109
Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA
56.3
47.9
121
12
110
Mankato-North Mankato, MN
56.1
52.1
119
9
111
Lafayette, LA
56.1
148.0
-26
112
Duluth, MN-WI
55.7
127.8
138
26
113
Alexandria, LA
55.6
64.0
46
-67
114
Utica-Rome, NY
55.4
129.7
60
-54
115
Manchester, NH NECTA
55.0
97.5
71
-44
116
Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA NECTA
54.8
48.5
201
85
117
Sherman-Denison, TX
54.6
42.3
106
-11
118
Topeka, KS
54.6
107.9
93
-25
119
Casper, WY
53.4
38.3
127
8
120
Kingston, NY
53.4
60.7
110
-10
121
Decatur, IL
52.7
52.6
161
40
122
Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH  NECTA Division
52.7
114.7
144
22
123
Greeley, CO
52.4
77.9
130
7
124
Charleston, WV
51.2
147.1
-12
125
Columbus, GA-AL
50.7
117.2
95
-30
126
Savannah, GA
50.6
149.5
-8
127
Rochester, MN
50.2
101.7
53
-74
128
Battle Creek, MI
49.6
56.0
172
44
129
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
49.5
73.1
74
-55
130
Anderson, SC
49.1
60.0
226
96
131
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
48.9
43.8
168
37
132
Wilmington, NC
48.7
135.2
76
-56
133
Kokomo, IN
48.4
41.1
231
98
134
Idaho Falls, ID
48.3
48.2
98
-36
135
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
48.3
35.2
16
-119
136
Champaign-Urbana, IL
47.7
109.4
118
-18
137
Terre Haute, IN
47.7
70.9
177
40
138
Holland-Grand Haven, MI
47.6
104.6
232
94
139
Santa Fe, NM
47.5
60.4
123
-16
140
Binghamton, NY
47.4
109.5
99
-41
141
Spartanburg, SC
46.8
118.9
214
73
142
Grand Junction, CO
46.7
58.8
146
4
143
Columbus, IN
46.2
42.4
188
45
144
Lynchburg, VA
46.1
104.1
101
-43
145
Punta Gorda, FL
45.9
40.7
179
34
146
Chico, CA
45.7
70.2
143
-3
147
Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL
45.4
43.6
40
-107
148
Modesto, CA
45.2
145.6
20
149
Peabody, MA  NECTA Division
43.9
98.5
142
-7
150
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
43.8
96.9
153
3
151
El Centro, CA
43.2
44.3
91
-60
152
Missoula, MT
43.1
54.4
105
-47
153
Fort Smith, AR-OK
42.9
116.5
157
4
154
Gainesville, FL
42.6
127.7
112
-42
155
Elkhart-Goshen, IN
42.6
105.0
233
78
156
Sumter, SC
42.3
37.0
225
69
157
Burlington, NC
41.9
55.8
209
52
158
Olympia, WA
41.7
96.6
52
-106
159
Danbury, CT NECTA
41.6
65.8
208
49
160
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA
41.6
116.9
182
22
161
Decatur, AL
41.6
53.7
199
38
162
Lake Charles, LA
40.8
88.7
133
-29
163
Norwich-New London, CT-RI NECTA
40.6
128.8
100
-63
164
Salem, OR
39.8
142.0
-43
165
Lawrence, KS
39.8
49.9
41
-124
166
Bangor, ME NECTA
39.5
63.9
84
-82
167
Farmington, NM
39.5
48.3
176
9
168
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
39.4
67.9
108
-60
169
Wichita Falls, TX
39.3
58.2
192
23
170
Salisbury, MD
39.2
52.2
162
-8
171
Macon, GA
39.0
95.9
165
-6
172
Madera-Chowchilla, CA
38.9
32.5
56
-116
173
Florence, SC
38.8
82.5
173
0
174
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI
38.7
83.4
186
12
175
Anderson, IN
38.3
40.4
120
-55
176
Cleveland, TN
37.9
39.2
175
-1
177
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
37.9
81.8
85
-92
178
Goldsboro, NC
37.8
42.3
102
-76
179
Monroe, LA
37.6
75.4
114
-65
180
Gadsden, AL
37.4
35.7
200
20
181
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
37.3
113.7
104
-77
182
Port St. Lucie, FL
36.9
120.7
191
9
183
Valdosta, GA
36.8
52.3
149
-34
184
Racine, WI
36.8
74.8
221
37
185
Jackson, TN
36.6
57.9
205
20
186
Danville, VA
35.8
39.7
211
25
187
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
35.7
137.3
185
-2
188
Fond du Lac, WI
35.5
44.9
217
29
189
Lewiston, ID-WA
35.1
25.6
122
-67
190
Rockford, IL
34.5
144.0
20
191
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
34.1
76.2
109
-82
192
Nashua, NH-MA  NECTA Division
33.9
125.1
154
-38
193
Muncie, IN
33.8
49.3
207
14
194
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH
33.7
68.8
126
-68
195
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
32.3
95.9
167
-28
196
Visalia-Porterville, CA
32.1
104.8
139
-57
197
Medford, OR
32.1
75.3
193
-4
198
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
31.7
117.9
181
-17
199
St. George, UT
31.5
45.6
164
-35
200
Rocky Mount, NC
31.1
60.6
196
-4
201
Lima, OH
30.8
52.2
206
5
202
Waterbury, CT NECTA
30.3
62.7
228
26
203
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ
30.1
58.2
116
-87
204
Bellingham, WA
29.9
77.7
140
-64
205
Bay City, MI
29.7
36.2
203
-2
206
Salinas, CA
29.6
119.5
152
-54
207
Albany, GA
29.2
60.9
135
-72
208
Pocatello, ID
28.7
35.6
151
-57
209
Napa, CA
27.6
58.0
163
-46
210
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
26.3
132.3
224
14
211
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
26.2
85.9
183
-28
212
Longview, WA
26.1
34.9
170
-42
213
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
25.9
135.3
195
-18
214
Michigan City-La Porte, IN
24.6
42.4
187
-27
215
Anniston-Oxford, AL
24.1
48.7
156
-59
216
Redding, CA
24.0
57.0
189
-27
217
Wausau, WI
24.0
67.0
210
-7
218
Yuba City, CA
23.9
36.3
159
-59
219
Sheboygan, WI
21.8
58.3
216
-3
220
Bend, OR
21.6
59.6
184
-36
221
Yuma, AZ
21.2
49.7
204
-17
222
Carson City, NV
21.1
28.8
202
-20
223
Brunswick, GA
20.6
40.4
171
-52
224
Naples-Marco Island, FL
20.3
110.7
219
-5
225
Danville, IL
20.2
28.9
178
-47
226
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
18.2
45.2
197
-29
227
Ocala, FL
18.1
89.9
215
-12
228
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
17.8
43.1
198
-30
229
Prescott, AZ
17.7
54.0
190
-39
230
Eugene-Springfield, OR
17.6
140.6
-11
231
Rome, GA
17.2
38.1
147
-84
232
Mansfield, OH
16.7
52.1
212
-20
233
Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV
15.0
43.6
222
-11
234
Monroe, MI
14.1
37.3
223
-11
235
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
13.7
142.7
-1
236
Morristown, TN
13.4
45.3
234
-2
237
Flint, MI
13.4
132.7
218
-19
238
Jackson, MI
13.3
53.0
227
-11
239
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
10.3
57.7
220
-19
240
Dalton, GA
9.6
65.7
229
-11
241
Janesville, WI
9.3
60.8
230
-11
242
Dothan, AL
8.2
56.5
194
-48
243
Pine Bluff, AR
8.2
36.5
136
-107
Subjects: