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
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