The Milken Institute’s annual “Best-Performing Cities” index ranks the largest 200 metros throughout the nation. Kern County’s Bakersfield MSA ranked# 28 in the U.S. and #5 in California. The most dynamic U.S. metros hold the secrets to economic success: the crucial factors that help them thrive, grow, and prosper.
Kern County Ranks
#5 in California
#28 in U.S.
The Milken Institute’s index shows that technology and shale energy were the biggest factors behind America’s booming cities — especially technology. Tech titan San Francisco claimed the top spot and last year’s No. 1, Austin, Texas, dropped a slot. California’s top five list boasts thriving tech sectors as well: San Francisco (first, up two ranks from last year); San Jose (unchanged at fourth); San Diego(22nd, up from 43rd place); San Luis Obispo (24th, up one spot from last year); Santa Barbara (27th, up twelve spots); and Bakersfield (28th, down nine spots).
Interactive Map
2014’s Top 30 Best-Performing Large Cities in the U.S.
U.S. Rank | Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) | State | Jobs Growth (2008-13) | Wages Growth (2011-12) | Short-term job growth (2013-2014) | High-tech GDP growth (2008-13) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Francisco–San Mateo–Redwood City | CA | 11 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
2 | Austin–Round Rock–SanMarcos | TX | 1 | 10 | 9 | 21 |
3 | Provo–Orem | UT | 3 | 4 | 33 | 10 |
4 | San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara | CA | 19 | 34 | 26 | 16 |
5 | Raleigh–Cary | NC | 25 | 29 | 4 | 23 |
6 | Salt LakeCity | UT | 30 | 14 | 18 | 20 |
7 | Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown | TX | 4 | 3 | 6 | 85 |
8 | Fort Worth–Arlington | TX | 15 | 28 | 21 | 40 |
9 | Dallas–Plano–Irving | TX | 28 | 20 | 13 | 68 |
10 | San Antonio–NewBraunfels | TX | 8 | 56 | 38 | 38 |
11 | Seattle–Bellevue–Everett | WA | 59 | 9 | 35 | 26 |
12 | Denver–Aurora–Broomfield | CO | 31 | 16 | 57 | 80 |
13 | Boulder | CO | 36 | 23 | 24 | 34 |
14 | Greeley | CO | 2 | 7 | 3 | 45 |
15 | Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin | TN | 7 | 2 | 14 | 159 |
16 | Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro | OR–WA | 79 | 32 | 32 | 1 |
17 | Fort Collins–Loveland | CO | 16 | 53 | 65 | 86 |
18 | Laredo | TX | 10 | 18 | 55 | 7 |
19 | Lafayette | LA | 14 | 12 | 37 | 124 |
20 | Lubbock | TX | 22 | 31 | 47 | 172 |
21 | Baton Rouge | LA | 43 | 45 | 11 | 99 |
22 | San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos | CA | 75 | 40 | 39 | 67 |
23 | Charlotte–Gastonia–Rock Hill | NC–SC | 51 | 19 | 52 | 51 |
24 | San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles | CA | 45 | 95 | 44 | 18 |
25 | Grand Rapids–Wyoming | MI | 17 | 11 | 36 | 94 |
26 | Indianapolis–Carmel | IN | 46 | 38 | 41 | 143 |
27 | Santa Barbara–Santa Maria–Goleta | CA | 77 | 39 | 107 | 25 |
28 | Bakersfield–Delano | CA | 29 | 6 | 28 | 76 |
29 | Holland–Grand Haven | MI | 38 | 62 | 2 | 28 |
30 | Madison | WI | 44 | 75 | 86 | 19 |