#1 Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
Rank Last Year: 7
· Median Household Income Rank: 30
· Unemployment Rank: 13
· Income Growth Rank: 12
· Cost Of Living Rank: 45
· Job Growth Rank: 10
North Carolina's housing market has been relatively stable, so Raleigh has few possibilities of an inevitable economic downturn. The three universities in the area, Duke, the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State University, attract more highly educated employees and technology firms.
#2 Phoenix-Mesa- Scottsdale, Ariz.
Rank Last Year: 2
· Median Household Income Rank: 34
· Unemployment Rank: 16
· Income Growth Rank: 2
· Cost Of Living Rank: 64
· Job Growth Rank: 5
Phoenix has a good housing market with a lower cost of living. Arizona has attracted many technology companies and especially in biotech. There is substantial migration from southern California into Phoenix at this time, including companies and households. It's like a cheaper way to live in California, and nearby.
#3 Jacksonville, Fla.
Rank last year: 8
· Median Household Income Rank: 40
· Unemployment Rank: 15
· Income Growth Rank: 6
· Cost Of Living Rank: 49
· Job Growth Rank: 13
Jacksonville moved up in the rankings with a fair housing market. There is a lot of defense spending in Jacksonville that contributes to job growth in the local area job market.
#4 Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.
Rank Last Year: 4
· Median Household Income Rank: 57
· Unemployment Rank: 6
· Income Growth Rank: 3
· Cost of Living Rank: 57
· Job Growth Rank: 4
Orlando is suffering somewhat from a housing slumps, while travel and tourism keep the local economy vital. The American dollar (USD) will likely remain weak against the Euro, so international tourism to Florida should remain stable or increase.
#5 Washington, D.C.
Rank Last Year: 1
· Median Household Income Rank: 14
· Unemployment Rank: 4
· Income Growth Rank: 19
· Cost Of Living Rank: 86
· Job Growth Rank: 15
Federal spending will probably keep Washington's economy strong this year. When the US government outsources work to private companies, many of those jobs stay in the Washington DC-Maryland-Virginia area. The housing market in Washington is starting to slow, and could downturn the city economy as well as that of Maryland and parts of Virginia.
