Small Cities Rankings - 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

Read about how we selected the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

2012 New Geography Rankings - SMALL (< 150k employment)






2012  Rank Among Small Cities
Area
2012 Weighted INDEX
  

2011 Nonfarm Employment (1000s) 
2011 Size Ranking
Size Movement
1
Odessa, TX
99.4
68.3
8
7
2
Midland, TX
99.0
75.3
4
2
3
Columbus, IN
95.6
47.7
143
140
4
Lafayette, LA
92.5
156.3
111
107
5
San Angelo, TX
89.2
46.7
23
18
6
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
87.8
73.9
168
162
7
Casper, WY
84.8
40.9
119
112
8
Williamsport, PA
83.7
55.4
55
47
9
Glens Falls, NY
83.0
55.6
59
50
10
Lubbock, TX
82.6
131.4
74
64
11
Laredo, TX
82.1
95.0
56
45
12
Columbia, MO
82.1
96.7
20
8
13
Cumberland, MD-WV
82.0
41.7
32
19
14
Gainesville, GA
81.9
75.8
52
38
15
Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA
81.7
56.0
34
19
16
Holland-Grand Haven, MI
80.9
113.1
138
122
17
Bismarck, ND
79.2
65.7
2
-15
18
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
78.8
95.1
65
47
19
State College, PA
78.5
76.4
49
30
20
Fargo, ND-MN
78.4
127.3
29
9
21
Ocean City, NJ
78.0
36.8
61
40
22
Owensboro, KY
77.6
51.8
66
44
23
Charlottesville, VA
77.0
102.3
78
55
24
Tyler, TX
76.9
96.0
64
40
25
Cheyenne, WY
76.8
44.7
99
74
26
Barnstable Town, MA NECTA
76.2
94.4
70
44
27
Longview, TX
76.1
98.0
15
-12
28
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
76.0
36.6
135
107
29
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
75.8
99.0
17
-12
30
Victoria, TX
75.6
50.6
96
66
31
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX
74.6
129.0
1
-30
32
Grand Junction, CO
73.8
60.5
142
110
33
St. Joseph, MO-KS
72.8
60.6
105
72
34
Lafayette, IN
72.4
95.6
104
70
35
Pueblo, CO
72.4
58.7
73
38
36
Sherman-Denison, TX
72.2
43.6
117
81
37
Erie, PA
72.1
131.2
87
50
38
Fayetteville, NC
71.7
132.0
98
60
39
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
71.6
135.9
38
-1
40
Morgantown, WV
71.0
66.5
24
-16
41
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
70.8
81.0
191
150
42
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
70.7
90.9
84
42
43
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR
70.6
58.1
45
2
44
Utica-Rome, NY
69.8
133.1
114
70
45
Amarillo, TX
69.7
113.1
67
22
46
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
69.6
129.5
19
-27
47
Palm Coast, FL
69.6
19.0
90
43
48
Rapid City, SD
69.5
60.5
72
24
49
Columbus, GA-AL
69.1
120.6
125
76
50
Winchester, VA-WV
69.0
56.4
95
45
51
Greeley, CO
68.7
80.3
123
72
52
Mankato-North Mankato, MN
68.7
53.5
110
58
53
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
68.5
94.3
33
-20
54
Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, MA-NH  NECTA Division
68.3
78.1
42
-12
55
Sioux Falls, SD
67.4
135.6
71
16
56
Ames, IA
66.0
48.2
77
21
57
Johnson City, TN
65.9
79.9
102
45
58
Dubuque, IA
65.8
56.6
5
-53
59
Logan, UT-ID
65.6
54.4
9
-50
60
Danbury, CT NECTA
65.6
67.8
159
99
61
Altoona, PA
65.4
61.5
69
8
62
Peabody, MA  NECTA Division
65.3
101.4
149
87
63
Jacksonville, NC
65.3
47.8
12
-51
64
Auburn-Opelika, AL
65.1
53.6
21
-43
65
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
64.7
38.4
36
-29
66
Harrisonburg, VA
64.4
63.7
40
-26
67
Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH  NECTA Division
64.0
117.5
122
55
68
Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA
62.6
114.2
53
-15
69
Coeur d'Alene, ID
62.5
53.0
101
32
70
Clarksville, TN-KY
61.9
84.2
22
-48
71
Joplin, MO
61.4
80.0
16
-55
72
Rochester-Dover, NH-ME NECTA
61.3
56.3
94
22
73
Danville, VA
60.5
40.0
186
113
74
Iowa City, IA
60.5
91.4
41
-33
75
Olympia, WA
60.4
99.4
158
83
76
Sandusky, OH
60.2
35.2
60
-16
77
St. Cloud, MN
60.2
99.6
54
-23
78
Bay City, MI
59.3
36.9
205
127
79
Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA
59.3
19.8
51
-28
80
Las Cruces, NM
59.2
69.8
43
-37
81
Springfield, IL
59.0
111.8
28
-53
82
Napa, CA
59.0
60.7
209
127
83
Salinas, CA
59.0
123.0
206
123
84
Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA
58.8
48.7
109
25
85
Burlington, NC
58.8
58.0
157
72
86
Jonesboro, AR
58.3
49.2
27
-59
87
Kankakee-Bradley, IL
58.1
43.3
85
-2
88
Greenville, NC
58.0
75.9
83
-5
89
Manchester, NH NECTA
57.8
98.7
115
26
90
Decatur, IL
57.1
52.7
121
31
91
Appleton, WI
57.0
116.7
79
-12
92
Bellingham, WA
56.5
80.4
204
112
93
Bowling Green, KY
56.4
59.8
47
-46
94
Goldsboro, NC
56.1
43.2
178
84
95
Lebanon, PA
56.0
49.8
14
-81
96
Fairbanks, AK
56.0
37.4
10
-86
97
College Station-Bryan, TX
55.8
95.9
3
-94
98
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
55.5
45.8
228
130
99
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
55.0
99.3
150
51
100
Merced, CA
54.9
56.4
103
3
101
Warner Robins, GA
54.9
59.2
35
-66
102
Dover, DE
54.8
64.3
75
-27
103
Elkhart-Goshen, IN
54.8
107.9
155
52
104
Kingston, NY
54.7
61.6
120
16
105
Charleston, WV
54.7
148.1
124
-12
106
Springfield, OH
54.7
49.9
86
-20
107
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
54.3
105.9
18
-89
108
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC
54.2
109.7
39
-69
109
Farmington, NM
54.1
48.8
167
58
110
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
54.0
59.3
82
-28
111
Elizabethtown, KY
54.0
47.0
11
-100
112
El Centro, CA
54.0
45.3
151
39
113
La Crosse, WI-MN
53.2
73.9
108
-5
114
Naples-Marco Island, FL
53.2
117.5
224
110
115
Grand Forks, ND-MN
53.1
54.0
30
-85
116
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ
51.6
59.3
203
87
117
Decatur, AL
51.3
54.4
161
44
118
Yakima, WA
51.1
75.9
50
-68
119
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL
51.1
71.4
107
-12
120
Monroe, LA
51.1
76.7
179
59
121
Corvallis, OR
50.9
37.8
31
-90
122
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
50.2
120.1
198
76
123
Santa Fe, NM
50.1
61.0
139
16
124
Punta Gorda, FL
50.0
42.4
145
21
125
Salisbury, MD
49.9
52.9
170
45
126
Florence, SC
49.6
82.7
173
47
127
Binghamton, NY
49.4
109.9
140
13
128
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
49.4
87.8
211
83
129
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
49.2
73.3
129
0
130
Jefferson City, MO
49.2
76.9
80
-50
131
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
48.8
60.2
239
108
132
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
48.6
135.7
210
78
133
Bangor, ME NECTA
48.1
64.6
166
33
134
Kokomo, IN
47.8
41.6
133
-1
135
Waco, TX
47.6
104.4
37
-98
136
Yuba City, CA
47.3
37.5
218
82
137
Jackson, MI
47.2
54.6
238
101
138
Wheeling, WV-OH
46.0
66.7
25
-113
139
Macon, GA
45.9
96.6
171
32
140
Idaho Falls, ID
45.6
48.7
134
-6
141
Lewiston, ID-WA
45.5
26.0
189
48
142
Johnstown, PA
45.4
60.0
44
-98
143
Athens-Clarke County, GA
45.4
84.1
89
-54
144
Cedar Rapids, IA
45.1
136.2
63
-81
145
St. George, UT
44.9
46.3
199
54
146
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
44.8
55.1
88
-58
147
Rockford, IL
44.2
146.8
190
20
148
Pascagoula, MS
44.1
56.1
7
-141
149
Bloomington-Normal, IL
43.9
89.8
97
-52
150
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA
43.7
117.5
160
10
151
New Bedford, MA NECTA
42.8
64.8
57
-94
152
Topeka, KS
42.5
106.9
118
-34
153
Abilene, TX
42.5
64.7
106
-47
154
Battle Creek, MI
42.1
56.0
128
-26
155
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
42.0
114.3
181
26
156
Manhattan, KS
41.9
54.5
6
157
Hot Springs, AR
41.7
36.9
100
-57
158
Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA  NECTA Division
41.6
87.2
58
-100
159
Lawton, OK
41.2
42.4
13
-146
160
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
40.9
43.6
131
-29
161
Anderson, IN
40.6
39.7
175
14
162
Eau Claire, WI
40.1
79.3
46
-116
163
Redding, CA
40.1
58.1
216
53
164
Billings, MT
39.3
76.6
93
-71
165
Fond du Lac, WI
39.2
45.2
188
23
166
Rochester, MN
39.0
101.0
127
-39
167
Lima, OH
38.8
52.5
201
34
168
Tuscaloosa, AL
38.7
93.2
91
-77
169
Hattiesburg, MS
37.9
58.6
62
-107
170
Alexandria, LA
37.9
62.6
113
-57
171
Pocatello, ID
37.6
36.2
208
37
172
Spartanburg, SC
37.4
118.0
141
-31
173
Savannah, GA
37.3
149.6
126
-8
174
Muncie, IN
37.2
50.1
193
19
175
Great Falls, MT
36.9
34.2
48
-127
176
Ithaca, NY
36.7
62.7
26
-150
177
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI
36.3
85.0
174
-3
178
Bloomington, IN
36.1
81.2
92
-86
179
Wilmington, NC
35.5
134.3
132
-47
180
Flint, MI
35.3
136.6
237
57
181
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
35.3
81.8
177
-4
182
Lawrence, KS
34.5
50.3
165
-17
183
Elmira, NY
34.4
39.0
68
-115
184
Salem, OR
34.2
141.0
164
-43
185
Danville, IL
33.7
29.2
225
40
186
Valdosta, GA
33.1
52.1
183
-3
187
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH
33.1
69.2
194
7
188
Lake Charles, LA
32.6
88.2
162
-26
189
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
32.1
96.0
195
6
190
Dothan, AL
31.7
57.7
242
52
191
Pittsfield, MA NECTA
31.6
34.9
81
-110
192
Missoula, MT
31.4
53.8
152
-40
193
Mansfield, OH
31.2
52.5
232
39
194
Gainesville, FL
30.8
125.9
154
-40
195
Visalia-Porterville, CA
29.5
104.5
196
1
196
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
29.4
135.2
213
17
197
Bend, OR
29.1
60.1
220
23
198
Jackson, TN
28.9
58.3
185
-13
199
Medford, OR
28.6
75.1
197
-2
200
Gadsden, AL
28.6
35.6
180
-20
201
Lynchburg, VA
27.8
102.1
144
-57
202
Ocala, FL
27.2
90.9
227
25
203
Port St. Lucie, FL
26.9
120.5
182
-21
204
Racine, WI
26.5
74.8
184
-20
205
Nashua, NH-MA  NECTA Division
26.4
124.0
192
-13
206
Madera-Chowchilla, CA
26.4
31.8
172
-34
207
Norwich-New London, CT-RI NECTA
26.3
125.7
163
-44
208
Flagstaff, AZ
26.2
59.0
76
-132
209
Modesto, CA
25.9
142.5
148
20
210
Wausau, WI
25.8
66.5
217
7
211
Michigan City-La Porte, IN
25.4
42.3
214
3
212
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
24.5
45.6
226
14
213
Duluth, MN-WI
24.1
125.9
112
-101
214
Chico, CA
23.3
67.8
146
-68
215
Waterbury, CT NECTA
23.3
62.5
202
-13
216
Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL
22.7
43.3
147
-69
217
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
21.7
142.9
235
-1
218
Wichita Falls, TX
20.7
57.8
169
-49
219
Terre Haute, IN
20.6
69.7
137
-82
220
Prescott, AZ
20.5
53.3
229
9
221
Cleveland, TN
20.3
38.5
176
-45
222
Sumter, SC
20.0
36.7
156
-66
223
Longview, WA
19.2
35.0
212
-11
224
Yuma, AZ
19.1
49.1
221
-3
225
Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA NECTA
18.3
47.2
116
-109
226
Anderson, SC
18.1
58.2
130
-96
227
Eugene-Springfield, OR
17.8
138.7
230
-11
228
Pine Bluff, AR
17.3
36.6
243
15
229
Brunswick, GA
17.2
39.2
223
-6
230
Anniston-Oxford, AL
15.8
47.7
215
-15
231
Fort Smith, AR-OK
13.6
110.2
153
-78
232
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
13.3
133.7
187
-45
233
Rome, GA
13.2
37.1
231
-2
234
Rocky Mount, NC
12.4
59.6
200
-34
235
Sheboygan, WI
11.1
57.2
219
-16
236
Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV
10.3
43.1
233
-3
237
Monroe, MI
9.3
37.0
234
-3
238
Albany, GA
7.0
59.3
207
-31
239
Champaign-Urbana, IL
6.0
103.4
136
-103
240
Carson City, NV
5.1
27.7
222
-18
241
Janesville, WI
4.4
60.0
241
0
242
Morristown, TN
2.8
43.6
236
-6
243
Dalton, GA
0.5
62.8
240
-3
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