Austin Takes First Place Ranking For 2017’s Most Recession-Recovered Large Cities

January 20, 2017
0 12 minutes read

The data set ranges from “inflow of college-educated workers” to “share of households receiving public assistance” to “homeownership rate.”

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For many Americans today, the Great Recession is nothing more than the distant shadow of a troubled economic past. After all, the longest downturn since the Great Depression officially ended in June 2009, and cities coast to coast have completely bounced back. Some have even surpassed their pre-recession economic levels, thanks to lucrative industries that helped them rebuild or stay afloat through the crisis.

Yet the effects of the recession still reverberate in various parts of the U.S., falling deeper into debt and leaving millions of Americans wondering whether the recession has indeed blown over. More than a dozen municipalities, including Detroit, have declared the rare Chapter 9 bankruptcy since 2008.

To measure the progress of local economies since the financial crisis and how much work remains to be done in the name of recovery, WalletHub compared 505 U.S. cities of varying sizes across 18 key economic indicators. The data set ranges from “inflow of college-educated workers” to “share of households receiving public assistance” to “homeownership rate.”

Continue reading below for their findings, and a full description of their methodology.

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Source: WalletHub

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Rank City Total Score ‘Employment & Earning Opportunities’ Rank ‘Economic Environment’ Rank
1 Midland, TX 69.12 1 1
2 Odessa, TX 65.09 2 4
3 The Woodlands, TX 63.12 27 2
4 College Station, TX 59.91 7 10
5 Edinburg, TX 59.88 9 7
6 Santa Clara, CA 58.55 5 83
7 Mountain View, CA 58.19 6 66
8 Austin, TX 57.41 17 12
9 Provo, UT 57.41 3 148
10 Denver, CO 56.53 8 69
11 Brownsville, TX 56.42 103 3
12 Fargo, ND 56.39 26 18
13 El Paso, TX 56.24 49 9
14 Macon-Bibb, GA 55.83 89 6
15 Redwood City, CA 55.73 4 255
16 Bryan, TX 55.29 40 21
17 Fort Worth, TX 54.96 67 13
18 Sunnyvale, CA 54.72 11 97
19 Boulder, CO 54.66 14 94
20 Killeen, TX 54.65 31 40
21 North Charleston, SC 54.45 21 68
22 Denton, TX 54.32 68 23
23 Corpus Christi, TX 54.27 42 46
24 Lakewood, CO 54.19 41 51
25 Oklahoma City, OK 54.16 32 64
26 League City, TX 54.15 77 19
27 Charleston, SC 54.12 16 99
28 Houston, TX 54 55 34
29 Irving, TX 53.81 51 48
30 Grand Prairie, TX 53.75 95 15

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Ranking by City Size

 

Rank

Large City Name (Score)

Rank

Midsize City Name (Score)

Rank

Small City Name (Score)

1

Austin, TX 
(57.409)

1

Brownsville, TX 
(56.421)

1

Midland, TX 
(69.115)

2

Denver, CO 
(56.531)

2

Macon-Bibb, GA 
(55.831)

2

Odessa, TX 
(65.089)

3

El Paso, TX 
(56.237)

3

Sunnyvale, CA 
(54.719)

3

The Woodlands, TX 
(63.123)

4

Fort Worth, TX 
(54.961)

4

Killeen, TX 
(54.645)

4

College Station, TX 
(59.908)

5

Corpus Christi, TX 
(54.268)

5

Denton, TX 
(54.321)

5

Edinburg, TX 
(59.875)

6

Oklahoma City, OK 
(54.162)

6

Lakewood, CO 
(54.186)

6

Santa Clara, CA 
(58.554)

7

Houston, TX 
(53.995)

7

Charleston, SC 
(54.117)

7

Mountain View, CA 
(58.194)

8

San Antonio, TX 
(53.34)

8

Irving, TX 
(53.806)

8

Provo, UT 
(57.406)

9

Dallas, TX 
(52.48)

9

Grand Prairie, TX 
(53.746)

9

Fargo, ND 
(56.385)

10

Minneapolis, MN 
(52.367)

10

Frisco, TX 
(53.277)

10

Redwood City, CA 
(55.734)

11

Omaha, NE 
(52.092)

11

Waco, TX 
(53.205)

11

Bryan, TX 
(55.292)

12

San Jose, CA 
(52.029)

12

Lubbock, TX 
(52.994)

12

Boulder, CO 
(54.659)

13

San Francisco, CA 
(51.977)

13

Grand Rapids, MI 
(52.902)

13

North Charleston, SC 
(54.453)

14

Pittsburgh, PA 
(51.845)

14

Anchorage, AK 
(52.209)

14

League City, TX 
(54.152)

15

Washington, DC 
(51.407)

15

Carrollton, TX 
(52.031)

15

Somerville, MA 
(53.746)

16

Oakland, CA 
(51.262)

16

McKinney, TX 
(51.867)

16

Farmington Hills, MI 
(53.612)

17

Nashville, TN 
(50.734)

17

Fort Collins, CO 
(51.646)

17

Jacksonville, NC 
(53.232)

18

St. Louis, MO 
(50.559)

18

Sioux Falls, SD 
(51.058)

18

Atascocita, TX 
(53.139)

19

Columbus, OH 
(50.29)

19

Cedar Rapids, IA 
(50.926)

19

Wyoming, MI 
(53.036)

20

Aurora, CO 
(50.057)

20

Columbia, SC 
(50.738)

20

Missoula, MT 
(53.007)

21

Raleigh, NC 
(50.024)

21

McAllen, TX 
(50.714)

21

East Orange, NJ 
(52.983)

22

Seattle, WA 
(49.906)

22

Madison, WI 
(50.609)

22

Cambridge, MA 
(52.833)

23

Boston, MA 
(49.762)

23

Amarillo, TX 
(50.55)

23

Milpitas, CA 
(52.827)

24

Tulsa, OK 
(49.76)

24

Garland, TX 
(50.548)

24

Allen, TX 
(52.813)

25

Portland, OR 
(49.11)

25

Plano, TX 
(50.458)

25

Norman, OK 
(52.75)

26

Arlington, TX 
(49.039)

26

Stamford, CT 
(50.349)

26

Greeley, CO 
(52.73)

27

Kansas City, MO 
(49.002)

27

Jersey City, NJ 
(50.134)

27

Richardson, TX 
(52.708)

28

New York, NY 
(48.743)

28

Kansas City, KS 
(50.001)

28

Flower Mound, TX 
(52.561)

29

Louisville, KY 
(48.713)

29

St. Paul, MN 
(49.907)

29

Sugar Land, TX 
(52.552)

30

Miami, FL 
(48.296)

30

East Los Angeles, CA 
(49.77)

30

Lawton, OK 
(52.512)

31

New Orleans, LA 
(48.11)

31

Bellevue, WA 
(49.417)

31

Mission, TX 
(52.474)

32

Lexington, KY 
(47.897)

32

Lincoln, NE 
(49.299)

32

Arvada, CO 
(52.445)

33

Philadelphia, PA 
(47.805)

33

Buffalo, NY 
(49.232)

33

Newton, MA 
(52.352)

34

San Diego, CA 
(47.603)

34

Arlington, VA 
(49.046)

34

Murfreesboro, TN 
(52.209)

35

Charlotte, NC 
(46.804)

35

Olathe, KS 
(48.928)

35

Berkeley, CA 
(51.837)

36

Honolulu, HI 
(46.417)

36

Durham, NC 
(48.79)

36

Centennial, CO 
(51.788)

37

Chicago, IL 
(46.065)

37

Metairie, LA 
(48.676)

37

Tyler, TX 
(51.714)

38

Atlanta, GA 
(46.003)

38

Pasadena, CA 
(48.427)

38

Lynn, MA 
(51.546)

39

Sacramento, CA 
(45.792)

39

Alexandria, VA 
(48.359)

39

Cheektowaga, NY 
(51.523)

40

Milwaukee, WI 
(45.666)

40

Laredo, TX 
(48.312)

40

Kendall, FL 
(51.517)

41

Cleveland, OH 
(45.496)

41

Pasadena, TX 
(48.219)

41

Lawrence, MA 
(51.516)

42

Los Angeles, CA 
(45.493)

42

New Haven, CT 
(48.13)

42

Ann Arbor, MI 
(51.297)

43

Long Beach, CA 
(45.136)

43

Rochester, NY 
(48.083)

43

St. Joseph, MO 
(51.26)

44

Bakersfield, CA 
(45.106)

44

Baton Rouge, LA 
(48.06)

44

San Angelo, TX 
(51.247)

45

Indianapolis, IN 
(45.049)

45

Salt Lake City, UT 
(48.028)

45

Iowa City, IA 
(51.118)

46

Wichita, KS 
(44.929)

46

Cincinnati, OH 
(47.967)

46

San Mateo, CA 
(51.064)

47

Santa Ana, CA 
(44.738)

47

Thornton, CO 
(47.847)

47

St. Cloud, MN 
(50.988)

48

Baltimore, MD 
(44.308)

48

Providence, RI 
(47.649)

48

Duluth, MN 
(50.816)

49

Colorado Springs, CO 
(44.239)

49

Worcester, MA 
(47.594)

49

Sioux City, IA 
(50.685)

50

Tampa, FL 
(44.155)

50

Fort Wayne, IN 
(47.571)

50

Round Rock, TX 
(50.599)

51

Memphis, TN 
(43.809)

51

Oxnard, CA 
(47.536)

51

Missouri City, TX 
(50.539)

52

Anaheim, CA 
(43.65)

52

Toledo, OH 
(47.468)

52

Pearland, TX 
(50.531)

53

Virginia Beach, VA 
(41.78)

53

Santa Rosa, CA 
(47.281)

53

Columbia, MO 
(50.37)

54

Albuquerque, NM 
(41.029)

54

Yonkers, NY 
(47.26)

54

Billings, MT 
(50.302)

55

Riverside, CA 
(40.622)

55

Augusta, GA 
(46.96)

55

Costa Mesa, CA 
(50.24)

56

Jacksonville, FL 
(40.238)

56

Columbus, GA 
(46.834)

56

Parma, OH 
(50.079)

57

Fresno, CA 
(39.31)

57

Springfield, MO 
(46.813)

57

Green Bay, WI 
(49.953)

58

Las Vegas, NV 
(38.599)

58

Tacoma, WA 
(46.725)

58

Asheville, NC 
(49.505)

59

Phoenix, AZ 
(38.484)

59

Overland Park, KS 
(46.501)

59

Hawthorne, CA 
(49.464)

60

Mesa, AZ 
(38.138)

60

Fremont, CA 
(46.471)

60

Clifton, NJ 
(49.452)

61

Detroit, MI 
(38.071)

61

Cary, NC 
(46.46)

61

Santa Maria, CA 
(49.361)

62

Tucson, AZ 
(37.431)

62

Richmond, VA 
(46.431)

62

Plymouth, MN 
(49.323)
   

63

Savannah, GA 
(46.417)

63

New Bedford, MA 
(49.31)
   

64

Syracuse, NY 
(46.324)

64

Santa Monica, CA 
(49.309)
   

65

Mesquite, TX 
(46.297)

65

Bloomington, MN 
(49.289)
   

65

Topeka, KS 
(46.297)

66

Bloomington, IN 
(49.189)
   

67

Chula Vista, CA 
(46.137)

67

Champaign, IL 
(49.158)
   

68

Des Moines, IA 
(45.987)

68

Rochester, MN 
(49.111)
   

69

Knoxville, TN 
(45.811)

69

Richmond, CA 
(48.983)
   

70

Chattanooga, TN 
(45.687)

70

Edmond, OK 
(48.945)
   

71

Little Rock, AR 
(45.682)

71

New Rochelle, NY 
(48.919)
   

72

Springfield, MA 
(45.677)

72

Westminster, CO 
(48.884)
   

73

Vancouver, WA 
(45.657)

73

Muncie, IN 
(48.777)
   

74

Roseville, CA 
(45.587)

74

Lewisville, TX 
(48.734)
   

75

Orlando, FL 
(45.565)

75

Waukesha, WI 
(48.716)
   

76

Enterprise, NV 
(45.499)

76

Alameda, CA 
(48.71)
   

77

Garden Grove, CA 
(45.488)

77

Scranton, PA 
(48.527)
   

78

St. Petersburg, FL 
(45.487)

78

Highlands Ranch, CO 
(48.266)
   

79

Irvine, CA 
(45.479)

79

Abilene, TX 
(48.225)
   

80

Hayward, CA 
(45.407)

80

Broken Arrow, OK 
(48.013)
   

81

Elizabeth, NJ 
(45.389)

81

Quincy, MA 
(47.956)
   

82

Warren, MI 
(45.25)

82

Kalamazoo, MI 
(47.942)
   

83

Dayton, OH 
(44.828)

83

Warwick, RI 
(47.937)
   

84

Fullerton, CA 
(44.775)

84

Wichita Falls, TX 
(47.868)
   

85

Gainesville, FL 
(44.708)

85

Napa, CA 
(47.863)
   

86

Jackson, MS 
(44.684)

86

Greenville, NC 
(47.837)
   

87

Bridgeport, CT 
(44.58)

87

Baytown, TX 
(47.812)
   

88

Shreveport, LA 
(44.56)

88

Waterloo, IA 
(47.751)
   

89

Concord, CA 
(44.497)

89

Hillsboro, OR 
(47.685)
   

90

West Valley City, UT 
(44.387)

90

Norwalk, CT 
(47.64)
   

91

Hollywood, FL 
(44.345)

91

Appleton, WI 
(47.457)
   

92

Clarksville, TN 
(44.046)

92

Silver Spring, MD 
(47.424)
   

93

Glendale, CA 
(43.993)

93

West Palm Beach, FL 
(47.373)
   

94

Fort Lauderdale, FL 
(43.75)

94

Boca Raton, FL 
(47.36)
   

95

Orange, CA 
(43.634)

95

Burbank, CA 
(47.344)
   

96

Joliet, IL 
(43.522)

96

Lansing, MI 
(47.341)
   

97

Naperville, IL 
(43.445)

97

Longview, TX 
(47.268)
   

98

Port St. Lucie, FL 
(43.391)

98

Lake Charles, LA 
(47.199)
   

99

Lancaster, CA 
(43.35)

99

Mount Vernon, NY 
(47.144)
   

100

Torrance, CA 
(43.283)

100

Framingham, MA 
(47.097)
   

101

Newport News, VA 
(43.269)

101

Miami Beach, FL 
(47.043)
   

102

Huntsville, AL 
(43.231)

102

Lowell, MA 
(47.025)
   

103

Sterling Heights, MI 
(43.127)

103

Cranston, RI 
(47.019)
   

104

Thousand Oaks, CA 
(43.09)

104

Rochester Hills, MI 
(46.986)
   

105

Greensboro, NC 
(42.943)

105

Troy, MI 
(46.983)
   

106

Huntington Beach, CA 
(42.902)

106

Fayetteville, AR 
(46.876)
   

107

Winston-Salem, NC 
(42.892)

107

Lawrence, KS 
(46.832)
   

108

Spokane, WA 
(42.792)

108

Daly City, CA 
(46.702)
   

109

Boise, ID 
(42.608)

109

Lynwood, CA 
(46.684)
   

110

Norfolk, VA 
(42.586)

110

Longmont, CO 
(46.618)
   

111

Pembroke Pines, FL 
(42.479)

111

Gastonia, NC 
(46.58)
   

112

Fayetteville, NC 
(42.216)

112

Yakima, WA 
(46.519)
   

113

Scottsdale, AZ 
(42.125)

113

Albany, NY 
(46.507)
   

114

Akron, OH 
(42.087)

114

Roanoke, VA 
(46.495)
   

115

Newark, NJ 
(42.026)

115

Brooklyn Park, MN 
(46.443)
   

116

Fontana, CA 
(41.996)

116

Bellingham, WA 
(46.427)
   

117

Paradise, NV 
(41.969)

117

Manchester, NH 
(46.408)
   

118

Elk Grove, CA 
(41.887)

118

Flint, MI 
(46.402)
   

119

Coral Springs, FL 
(41.646)

119

Kenosha, WI 
(46.37)
   

120

Tallahassee, FL 
(41.626)

120

Vacaville, CA 
(46.352)
   

121

Moreno Valley, CA 
(41.587)

121

Camden, NJ 
(46.346)
   

122

Mobile, AL 
(41.524)

122

Chico, CA 
(46.3)
   

123

Chandler, AZ 
(41.19)

123

Florence-Graham, CA 
(46.28)
   

124

Simi Valley, CA 
(41.149)

124

Erie, PA 
(46.262)
   

125

Gilbert, AZ 
(41.054)

125

Evansville, IN 
(46.218)
   

126

Miramar, FL 
(40.918)

126

Livermore, CA 
(46.205)
   

127

Spring Valley, NV 
(40.905)

127

Livonia, MI 
(46.087)
   

128

Salinas, CA 
(40.855)

128

Pawtucket, RI 
(46.085)
   

129

Eugene, OR 
(40.78)

129

Lafayette, LA 
(45.979)
   

130

Chesapeake, VA 
(40.576)

130

Lee’s Summit, MO 
(45.978)
   

131

Aurora, IL 
(40.529)

131

Alhambra, CA 
(45.952)
   

132

Hialeah, FL 
(40.506)

132

Santa Barbara, CA 
(45.792)
   

133

Visalia, CA 
(40.421)

133

Redondo Beach, CA 
(45.768)
   

134

Ontario, CA 
(40.199)

134

Fishers, IN 
(45.745)
   

135

Oceanside, CA 
(40.105)

135

Nashua, NH 
(45.716)
   

136

Birmingham, AL 
(40.045)

136

Clearwater, FL 
(45.709)
   

137

Salem, OR 
(39.969)

137

O’Fallon, MO 
(45.691)
   

138

Rockford, IL 
(39.867)

138

Davenport, IA 
(45.674)
   

139

Montgomery, AL 
(39.845)

139

Springdale, AR 
(45.647)
   

140

Peoria, AZ 
(39.54)

140

Largo, FL 
(45.621)
   

141

Hampton, VA 
(39.519)

141

San Leandro, CA 
(45.573)
   

142

Santa Clarita, CA 
(39.358)

142

Danbury, CT 
(45.534)
   

143

Cape Coral, FL 
(39.227)

143

Arlington Heights, IL 
(45.457)
   

144

Escondido, CA 
(39.21)

144

Davie, FL 
(45.402)
   

145

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 
(38.996)

145

South Bend, IN 
(45.349)
   

146

Modesto, CA 
(38.883)

146

Kenner, LA 
(45.181)
   

147

Pomona, CA 
(38.654)

147

Beaumont, TX 
(45.179)
   

148

Tempe, AZ 
(38.56)

148

Ogden, UT 
(45.177)
   

149

Palmdale, CA 
(38.544)

149

Newport Beach, CA 
(45.164)
   

150

Henderson, NV 
(38.221)

150

Downey, CA 
(45.131)
   

151

North Las Vegas, NV 
(38.027)

151

Kent, WA 
(44.978)
   

152

Corona, CA 
(37.555)

151

Buena Park, CA 
(44.978)
   

153

Sunrise Manor, NV 
(36.982)

153

Fairfield, CA 
(44.967)
   

154

Paterson, NJ 
(36.903)

154

Deerfield Beach, FL 
(44.921)
   

155

Reno, NV 
(36.464)

155

Orem, UT 
(44.881)
   

156

Glendale, AZ 
(35.607)

156

Westland, MI 
(44.845)
   

157

Stockton, CA 
(32.746)

157

Toms River, NJ 
(44.822)
   

158

San Bernardino, CA 
(29.42)

158

Rialto, CA 
(44.75)
       

159

Roswell, GA 
(44.723)
       

160

Dearborn, MI 
(44.613)
       

161

Folsom, CA 
(44.561)
       

162

Schaumburg, IL 
(44.422)
       

163

Hammond, IN 
(44.327)
       

164

Union City, CA 
(44.219)
       

165

Wilmington, DE 
(44.189)
       

166

Union City, NJ 
(44.184)
       

167

Hartford, CT 
(44.108)
       

168

Evanston, IL 
(44.018)
       

169

Lorain, OH 
(44.006)
       

170

Carson, CA 
(44.005)
       

171

West Jordan, UT 
(43.964)
       

172

Lake Forest, CA 
(43.933)
       

173

Inglewood, CA 
(43.92)
       

174

Surprise, AZ 
(43.812)
       

175

Beaverton, OR 
(43.69)
       

176

Passaic, NJ 
(43.655)
       

177

Boynton Beach, FL 
(43.641)
       

178

Pleasanton, CA 
(43.629)
       

179

Mission Viejo, CA 
(43.602)
       

180

Everett, WA 
(43.563)
       

181

Compton, CA 
(43.551)
       

182

Hoover, AL 
(43.507)
       

183

Independence, MO 
(43.464)
       

184

Gresham, OR 
(43.426)
       

185

Chino, CA 
(43.416)
       

186

Canton, OH 
(43.368)
       

187

New Britain, CT 
(43.367)
       

188

Fall River, MA 
(43.335)
       

189

Indio, CA 
(43.317)
       

190

Peoria, IL 
(43.244)
       

191

Bloomington, IL 
(43.12)
       

192

Tustin, CA 
(43.114)
       

193

South Gate, CA 
(43.095)
       

193

Baldwin Park, CA 
(43.095)
       

195

Norwalk, CA 
(43.059)
       

196

Wilmington, NC 
(43.014)
       

197

Columbia, MD 
(42.954)
       

198

Bethlehem, PA 
(42.72)
       

199

Tuscaloosa, AL 
(42.682)
       

200

Merced, CA 
(42.637)
       

201

Palatine, IL 
(42.606)
       

202

Sandy, UT 
(42.494)
       

203

Arden-Arcade, CA 
(42.488)
       

204

Racine, WI 
(42.464)
       

205

Elgin, IL 
(42.364)
       

206

Gulfport, MS 
(42.352)
       

207

Allentown, PA 
(42.209)
       

208

West Covina, CA 
(42.13)
       

209

Spokane Valley, WA 
(42.098)
       

210

Reading, PA 
(42.075)
       

211

Youngstown, OH 
(42.056)
       

212

Suffolk, VA 
(41.979)
       

213

Portsmouth, VA 
(41.966)
       

214

Federal Way, WA 
(41.952)
       

215

High Point, NC 
(41.885)
       

216

Dothan, AL 
(41.844)
       

217

El Monte, CA 
(41.837)
       

218

Whittier, CA 
(41.814)
       

219

Las Cruces, NM 
(41.755)
       

219

Lakewood, CA 
(41.755)
       

221

Springfield, IL 
(41.748)
       

222

Gary, IN 
(41.683)
       

223

St. George, UT 
(41.551)
       

224

Fort Smith, AR 
(41.492)
       

225

Lauderhill, FL 
(41.317)
       

226

Brandon, FL 
(41.301)
       

227

Nampa, ID 
(41.293)
       

228

Sunrise, FL 
(41.286)
       

229

Plantation, FL 
(41.235)
       

230

Waukegan, IL 
(41.221)
       

231

Decatur, IL 
(41.169)
       

232

Pueblo, CO 
(41.16)
       

233

Cicero, IL 
(41.008)
       

234

Town ‘n’ Country, FL 
(40.989)
       

235

Sandy Springs, GA 
(40.949)
       

236

San Buenaventura, CA 
(40.941)
       

236

Redding, CA 
(40.941)
       

238

Bellflower, CA 
(40.911)
       

239

Yorba Linda, CA 
(40.887)
       

240

Murrieta, CA 
(40.856)
       

241

Weston, FL 
(40.705)
       

242

Skokie, IL 
(40.657)
       

243

Trenton, NJ 
(40.648)
       

244

Santa Fe, NM 
(40.491)
       

245

Vista, CA 
(40.467)
       

246

Hemet, CA 
(40.293)
       

247

Carlsbad, CA 
(40.24)
       

248

Palm Coast, FL 
(40.114)
       

249

Brockton, MA 
(39.997)
       

250

Bend, OR 
(39.972)
       

251

Tracy, CA 
(39.939)
       

252

Clovis, CA 
(39.772)
       

253

Victorville, CA 
(39.663)
       

254

Antioch, CA 
(39.61)
       

255

Southfield, MI 
(39.455)
       

256

El Cajon, CA 
(39.185)
       

257

Avondale, AZ 
(39.041)
       

258

Westminster, CA 
(38.945)
       

259

Waterbury, CT 
(38.906)
       

260

San Marcos, CA 
(38.836)
       

261

Chino Hills, CA 
(38.811)
       

262

Yuma, AZ 
(38.76)
       

263

Redlands, CA 
(38.625)
       

264

Lynchburg, VA 
(38.512)
       

265

Pompano Beach, FL 
(38.479)
       

266

Temecula, CA 
(38.272)
       

267

Lehigh Acres, FL 
(38.261)
       

268

Melbourne, FL 
(38.241)
       

269

Spring Hill, FL 
(38.016)
       

270

Apple Valley, CA 
(37.872)
       

271

Citrus Heights, CA 
(37.702)
       

272

Medford, OR 
(37.532)
       

273

Albany, GA 
(37.33)
       

274

Bolingbrook, IL 
(37.217)
       

275

Rio Rancho, NM 
(37.141)
       

276

Upland, CA 
(37.065)
       

277

Lakeland, FL 
(36.944)
       

278

Miami Gardens, FL 
(36.64)
       

279

Athens, GA 
(36.096)
       

280

Sparks, NV 
(35.477)
       

281

Turlock, CA 
(35.413)
       

282

Palm Bay, FL 
(35.042)
       

283

Hesperia, CA 
(34.926)
       

284

Vallejo, CA 
(32.11)
       

285

Deltona, FL 
(31.288)

zzz

Methodology 

To assess the progress of local cities in propelling their economic growth, WalletHub’s analysts compared 505 U.S. cities of varying sizes across two key dimensions, including “Employment & Earning Opportunities” and “Economic Environment.”

Their sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area. Each city was categorized based on the following population-size guidelines:

  • Large City: More than 300,000 residents
  • Midsize City: 125,000 to 300,000 residents
  • Small City: Fewer than 125,000 residents

WalletHub evaluated each dimension using 18 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the highest level of economic recovery.

For each metric (except “Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Filing”), they analyzed the change between the city’s pre and post-recession levels. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.

Finally, they calculated overall scores for each city based on its weighted average across all metrics and used the resulting scores to rank the cities accordingly.

Employment & Earning Opportunities – Total Points: 50

  • Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
  • Inflow of College-Educated Workers (%): Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Ratio of Part-Time to Full-Time Jobs: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Median Household Income: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Labor-Force Participation Rate: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
  • Non-Farm Payrolls Change: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)

Economic Environment – Total Points: 50

  • Median Home Price: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Share of Households Receiving Public Assistance: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Population Size: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Bankruptcy: Half* Weight (~2.00 Points)
  • Number of Businesses: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Average Experian Vantage Credit Score: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Consumer Non-Housing Debt: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • GMP (Gross Metropolitan Product): Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
  • Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Filing: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
    Note: This is a binary metric that considers either the presence or absence of a Chapter 9 (municipal) bankruptcy filing.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, ATTOM Data Solutions (RealtyTrac), Experian and United States Common Sense. 

This article originally published by WalletHub.

January 20, 2017
0 12 minutes read

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