Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
Composite Index – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 45
Bellingham, 53
Grand Forks, 57
Great Falls, 35
Sheboygan, 42
Rochester, 18
Lafayette, 26
La Crosse, 20
Fargo, 19
Eau Claire, 41
Wausau, 28
Bismarck, 10
Muncie, 95
Janesville, 92
Billings, 4
Kankakee, 79
Kokomo, 96
Benton Harbor, 74
Elkhart, 54
Jackson, 65
Kenosha, 44
Lima, 90
Mansfield, 87
Steubenville, 72
Sharon, 80
Medford, 31
Glens Falls, 78
Dubuque, 52
Casper, 23
Redding, 12
Waterloo, 55
Elmira, 88
Williamsport, 59
Rapid City, 17
Yuba City, 16
Sioux Falls, 11
Pocatello, 38
Yolo, 21
State College, 15
Cheyenne, 8
Grand Junction, 50
Altoona, 62
Sioux City, 61
Bloomington, 40
Iowa City, 1
Champaign, 43
Pueblo, 48
Decatur, 94
St. Joseph, 71
Wheeling, 76
Bloomington, 93
Topeka, 60
Terre Haute, 82
Columbia, 64
Lawrence, 14
Owensboro, 49
Joplin, 84
Goldsboro, 68
Decatur, 66
Enid, 47
Pine Bluff, 77
Lawton, 37
Santa Fe, 5
Florence, 67
Yuma, 6
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 51
Tuscaloosa, 75
Tyler, 2
Las Cruces, 3
Vineland, 34
Dover, 29
Cumberland, 63
Parkersburg, 73
Charlottesville, 30
Danville, 85
Greenville, 24
Jacksonville, 39
Florence, 86
Sumter, 56
Athens, 27
Gadsden, 91
Anniston, 89
Abilene, 69
Bryan, 9
San Angelo, 33
Sherman, 70
Victoria, 36
Albany, 83
Panama City, 25
Texarkana, 81
Lake Charles, 58
Alexandria, 46
Dothan, 32
Ft. Walton Bch., 13
Monroe, 22
Punta Gorda, 7
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
5-Year Indexed Job Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 16
Bellingham, 38
Grand Forks, 64
Great Falls, 41
Sheboygan, 43
Rochester, 2
Lafayette, 51
La Crosse, 30
Fargo, 29
Eau Claire, 39
Wausau, 21
Bismarck, 27
Muncie, 90
Janesville, 72
Billings, 36
Kankakee, 67
Kokomo, 93
Benton Harbor, 69
Elkhart, 66
Jackson, 42
Kenosha, 34
Lima, 74
Mansfield, 82
Steubenville, 71
Sharon, 46
Medford, 24
Glens Falls, 61
Dubuque, 75
Casper, 19
Redding, 15
Waterloo, 78
Elmira, 86
Williamsport, 55
Rapid City, 20
Yuba City, 10
Sioux Falls, 6
Pocatello, 17
Yolo, 7
State College, 40
Sioux City, 73
Cheyenne, 28
Pueblo, 22
Grand Junction, 35
Iowa City, 4
St. Joseph, 83
Altoona, 56
Bloomington, 8
Champaign, 31
Decatur, 89
Vineland, 62
Dover, 26
Wheeling, 65
Bloomington, 81
Terre Haute, 76
Columbia, 52
Lawrence, 13
Owensboro, 45
Joplin, 70
Goldsboro, 49
Decatur, 79
Enid, 88
Pine Bluff, 84
Lawton, 50
Cumberland, 54
Topeka, 57
Santa Fe, 32
Florence, 37
Yuma, 1
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 80
Tuscaloosa, 59
Tyler, 12
Las Cruces, 5
Parkersburg, 77
Charlottesville, 33
Danville, 87
Greenville, 23
Jacksonville, 25
Florence, 96
Sumter, 48
Athens, 63
Gadsden, 94
Anniston, 92
Abilene, 91
Bryan, 11
San Angelo, 58
Sherman, 85
Victoria, 44
Albany, 95
Panama City, 14
Texarkana, 60
Lake Charles, 68
Alexandria, 47
Dothan, 53
Ft. Walton Bch., 9
Monroe, 18
Punta Gorda, 3
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
1-Year Indexed Job Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 72
Bellingham, 81
Grand Forks, 62
Great Falls, 14
Sheboygan, 91
Rochester, 57
Lafayette, 10
La Crosse, 2
Fargo, 28
Eau Claire, 32
Wausau, 13
Bismarck, 4
Muncie, 63
Janesville, 25
Billings, 19
Kankakee, 42
Kokomo, 90
Benton Harbor, 34
Elkhart, 22
Jackson, 46
Kenosha, 38
Lima, 79
Mansfield, 60
Steubenville, 33
Sharon, 73
Medford, 56
Glens Falls, 68
Dubuque, 30
Casper, 20
Redding, 43
Waterloo, 80
Elmira, 87
Williamsport, 58
Rapid City, 41
Yuba City, 29
Sioux Falls, 5
Pocatello, 52
Yolo, 36
Cheyenne, 11
Grand Junction, 74
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Altoona, 64
Sioux City, 51
Bloomington, 45
Iowa City, 6
Champaign, 54
Pueblo, 78
Decatur, 94
St. Joseph, 82
Wheeling, 55
Bloomington, 77
Topeka, 71
Terre Haute, 49
Columbia, 70
Lawrence, 44
Owensboro, 8
Joplin, 84
Goldsboro, 48
Decatur, 95
Enid, 37
Pine Bluff, 76
Lawton, 9
Santa Fe, 3
Florence, 39
Vineland, 66
Dover, 23
Cumberland, 59
Parkersburg, 61
Charlottesville, 69
Danville, 88
Greenville, 27
Jacksonville, 35
Florence, 96
Yuma, 18
Top 25%
State College, 24
Wichita Falls, 65
Tuscaloosa, 85
Tyler, 7
Las Cruces, 1
Sumter, 53
Athens, 15
Gadsden, 89
Anniston, 83
Abilene, 86
Bryan, 50
San Angelo, 57
Sherman, 92
Victoria, 67
Albany, 93
Panama City, 31
Texarkana, 75
Lake Charles, 40
Alexandria, 21
Dothan, 47
Ft. Walton Bch., 26
Monroe, 12
Punta Gorda, 16
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
5-Year Salaries Indexed Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 12
Bellingham, 30
Grand Forks, 85
Great Falls, 88
Sheboygan, 44
Rochester, 1
Lafayette, 55
La Crosse, 42
Fargo, 16
Eau Claire, 33
Wausau, 34
Bismarck, 28
Muncie, 91
Janesville, 84
Billings, 27
Kankakee, 67
Kokomo, 92
Benton Harbor, 86
Elkhart, 73
Jackson, 61
Kenosha, 39
Lima, 68
Mansfield, 77
Steubenville, 95
Sharon, 60
Medford, 18
Glens Falls, 79
Dubuque, 78
Casper, 8
Redding, 20
Waterloo, 62
Elmira, 74
Williamsport, 54
Rapid City, 19
Yuba City, 11
Sioux Falls, 2
Pocatello, 46
Yolo, 14
State College, 31
Sioux City, 83
Cheyenne, 35
Pueblo, 29
Grand Junction, 9
Iowa City, 5
St. Joseph, 24
Altoona, 56
Bloomington, 6
Champaign, 22
Decatur, 81
Vineland, 69
Dover, 80
Wheeling, 66
Bloomington, 59
Terre Haute, 87
Columbia, 36
Lawrence, 4
Owensboro, 47
Joplin, 40
Goldsboro, 57
Decatur, 45
Enid, 63
Pine Bluff, 65
Lawton, 76
Cumberland, 72
Topeka, 52
Santa Fe, 15
Florence, 96
Yuma, 23
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 58
Tuscaloosa, 37
Tyler, 17
Las Cruces, 26
Parkersburg, 89
Charlottesville, 10
Danville, 82
Greenville, 25
Jacksonville, 51
Florence, 32
Sumter, 71
Athens, 38
Gadsden, 93
Anniston, 94
Abilene, 75
Bryan, 3
San Angelo, 1
Sherman, 41
Victoria, 13
Albany, 90
Panama City, 48
Texarkana, 64
Lake Charles, 70
Alexandria, 53
Dothan, 49
Ft. Walton Bch., 21
Monroe, 50
Punta Gorda, 7
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
1-Year Salaries Indexed Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 48
Bellingham, 8
Grand Forks, 49
Great Falls, 59
Sheboygan, 81
Rochester, 5
Lafayette, 73
La Crosse, 41
Fargo, 34
Eau Claire, 92
Wausau, 54
Bismarck, 11
Muncie, 77
Janesville, 85
Billings, 9
Kankakee, 67
Kokomo, 96
Benton Harbor, 94
Elkhart, 95
Jackson, 78
Kenosha, 82
Lima, 84
Mansfield, 71
Steubenville, 88
Sharon, 72
Medford, 45
Glens Falls, 74
Dubuque, 68
Casper, 80
Redding, 2
Waterloo, 36
Elmira, 58
Williamsport, 57
Rapid City, 16
Yuba City, 1
Sioux Falls, 25
Pocatello, 47
Yolo, 4
State College, 29
Grand Junction, 10
Altoona, 61
Sioux City, 62
Cheyenne, 18
Bloomington, 27
Iowa City, 6
Champaign, 24
Pueblo, 20
Decatur, 93
St. Joseph, 56
Wheeling, 46
Bloomington, 79
Topeka, 37
Terre Haute, 87
Columbia, 39
Lawrence, 21
Owensboro, 50
Joplin, 53
Goldsboro, 63
Decatur, 32
Enid, 22
Pine Bluff, 52
Lawton, 26
Santa Fe, 13
Florence, 89
Yuma, 3
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 17
Tuscaloosa, 51
Tyler, 42
Las Cruces, 40
Vineland, 60
Dover, 76
Cumberland, 35
Parkersburg, 75
Charlottesville, 31
Danville, 90
Greenville, 69
Jacksonville, 44
Florence, 33
Sumter, 86
Athens, 28
Gadsden, 91
Anniston, 70
Abilene, 66
Bryan, 19
San Angelo, 5
Sherman, 83
Victoria, 12
Albany, 65
Panama City, 14
Texarkana, 64
Lake Charles, 30
Alexandria, 55
Dothan, 43
Ft. Walton Bch., 15
Monroe, 38
Punta Gorda, 7
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
Short-Term Job Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 87
Bellingham, 55
Grand Forks, 43
Great Falls, 33
Sheboygan, 13
Rochester, 58
Lafayette, 46
La Crosse, 82
Fargo, 45
Eau Claire, 6
Wausau, 23
Bismarck, 27
Muncie, 94
Janesville, 69
Billings, 11
Kankakee, 70
Kokomo, 80
Benton Harbor, 85
Elkhart, 3
Jackson, 25
Kenosha, 15
Lima, 64
Mansfield, 79
Steubenville, 32
Sharon, 65
Medford, 16
Glens Falls, 84
Dubuque, 73
Casper, 18
Redding, 1
Waterloo, 72
Grand Junction, 76
Bloomington, 59
Iowa City, 28
Champaign, 49
Pueblo, 77
Decatur, 86
St. Joseph, 90
Wheeling, 93
Bloomington, 91
Topeka, 95
Terre Haute, 78
Columbia, 88
Lawrence, 96
Owensboro, 57
Joplin, 89
Goldsboro, 66
Decatur, 75
Enid, 41
Pine Bluff, 63
Lawton, 17
Santa Fe, 10
Florence, 47
Yuma, 5
Bottom 25%
Altoona, 54
Sioux City, 44
Cheyenne, 56
Third Tier
State College, 9
Sioux Falls, 14
Pocatello, 42
Yolo, 51
Second Tier
Williamsport, 37
Rapid City, 26
Yuba City, 39
Top 25%
Elmira, 81
Cumberland, 62
Parkersburg, 24
Charlottesville, 40
Danville, 7
Greenville, 67
Jacksonville, 68
Florence, 74
Wichita Falls, 92
Tuscaloosa, 29
Tyler, 20
Las Cruces, 4
Vineland, 19
Dover, 38
Sumter, 48
Athens, 50
Gadsden, 22
Anniston, 2
Abilene, 31
Bryan, 21
San Angelo, 58
Sherman, 12
Victoria, 53
Albany, 8
Panama City, 35
Texarkana, 30
Lake Charles, 60
Alexandria, 61
Dothan, 52
Ft. Walton Bch., 34
Monroe, 83
Punta Gorda, 36
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
5-Year High Tech GDP Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 40
Bellingham, 87
Grand Forks, 31
Great Falls, 25
Sheboygan, 20
Rochester, 84
Lafayette, 24
La Crosse, 8
Fargo, 35
Eau Claire, 93
Wausau, 78
Bismarck, 38
Muncie, 19
Janesville, 91
Billings, 13
Kankakee, 95
Kokomo, 12
Benton Harbor, 43
Elkhart, 92
Jackson, 83
Kenosha, 67
Lima, 76
Mansfield, 72
Steubenville, 2
Sharon, 62
Medford, 85
Glens Falls, 61
Dubuque, 1
Casper, 52
Redding, 53
Waterloo, 5
Elmira, 79
Williamsport, 81
Rapid City, 46
Yuba City, 26
Sioux Falls, 69
Pocatello, 73
Yolo, 86
State College, 70
Cheyenne, 3
Grand Junction, 94
Altoona, 51
Sioux City, 17
Bloomington, 96
Iowa City, 14
Champaign, 88
Pueblo, 21
Decatur, 41
St. Joseph, 47
Wheeling, 37
Bloomington, 89
Topeka, 28
Terre Haute, 58
Columbia, 63
Lawrence, 6
Owensboro, 80
Joplin, 65
Goldsboro, 57
Decatur, 11
Enid, 22
Pine Bluff, 42
Lawton, 56
Santa Fe, 29
Florence, 33
Yuma, 50
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 18
Tuscaloosa, 77
Tyler, 10
Las Cruces, 45
Vineland, 4
Dover, 7
Cumberland, 23
Parkersburg, 60
Charlottesville, 74
Danville, 27
Greenville, 32
Jacksonville, 15
Florence, 34
Sumter, 16
Athens, 39
Gadsden, 49
Anniston, 82
Abilene, 54
Bryan, 55
San Angelo, 84
Sherman, 90
Victoria, 36
Albany, 75
Panama City, 71
Texarkana, 68
Lake Charles, 59
Alexandria, 48
Dothan, 9
Ft. Walton Bch., 66
Monroe, 44
Punta Gorda, 30
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
1-Year High Tech GDP Growth – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 69
Bellingham, 87
Grand Forks, 18
Great Falls, 19
Sheboygan, 33
Rochester, 91
Lafayette, 22
La Crosse, 30
Fargo, 51
Eau Claire, 86
Wausau, 13
Bismarck, 25
Muncie, 93
Janesville, 85
Billings, 21
Kankakee, 59
Kokomo, 81
Benton Harbor, 15
Elkhart, 83
Jackson, 36
Kenosha, 89
Lima, 80
Mansfield, 74
Steubenville, 32
Sharon, 71
Medford, 90
Glens Falls, 50
Dubuque, 7
Casper, 8
Redding, 65
Waterloo, 9
Elmira, 62
Williamsport, 49
Rapid City, 55
Yuba City, 44
Sioux Falls, 60
Pocatello, 94
Yolo, 88
State College, 58
Altoona, 12
Sioux City, 6
Cheyenne, 26
Bloomington, 96
Iowa City, 5
Champaign, 82
Pueblo, 70
Decatur, 24
St. Joseph, 42
Wheeling, 14
Bloomington, 92
Topeka, 61
Terre Haute, 27
Columbia, 77
Lawrence, 31
Owensboro, 45
Joplin, 66
Goldsboro, 56
Decatur, 10
Enid, 1
Pine Bluff, 20
Lawton, 47
Grand Junction, 76
Santa Fe, 39
Yuma, 28
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Florence, 52
Wichita Falls, 3
Las Cruces, 29
Tuscaloosa, 84
Tyler, 16
Vineland, 2
Dover, 4
Cumberland, 37
Parkersburg, 23
Charlottesville, 67
Danville, 11
Greenville, 46
Jacksonville, 40
Florence, 63
Sumter, 38
Athens, 43
Gadsden, 64
Anniston, 79
Abilene, 41
Bryan, 73
San Angelo, 91
Sherman, 95
Victoria, 34
Albany, 53
Panama City, 68
Texarkana, 78
Lake Charles, 57
Alexandria, 54
Dothan, 17
Ft. Walton Bch., 75
Monroe, 35
Punta Gorda, 48
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
High Tech GDP Location Quotient – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 67
Bellingham, 54
Grand Forks, 56
Great Falls, 55
Sheboygan, 45
Rochester, 2
Lafayette, 6
La Crosse, 15
Fargo, 32
Eau Claire, 33
Wausau, 89
Bismarck, 35
Muncie, 68
Janesville, 95
Billings, 14
Kankakee, 53
Kokomo, 51
Benton Harbor, 37
Elkhart, 27
Jackson, 92
Kenosha, 70
Lima, 80
Mansfield, 31
Steubenville, 96
Sharon, 73
Medford, 48
Glens Falls, 12
Dubuque, 23
Casper, 88
Redding, 64
Waterloo, 30
Elmira, 9
Williamsport, 61
Rapid City, 47
Yuba City, 94
Sioux Falls, 59
Pocatello, 3
Yolo, 50
State College, 11
Cheyenne, 7
Grand Junction, 86
Altoona, 46
Sioux City, 72
Bloomington, 87
Iowa City, 28
Champaign, 58
Pueblo, 66
Decatur, 41
St. Joseph, 42
Wheeling, 76
Bloomington, 38
Topeka, 26
Terre Haute, 29
Columbia, 40
Lawrence, 8
Owensboro, 78
Joplin, 63
Goldsboro, 93
Decatur, 44
Enid, 82
Pine Bluff, 77
Lawton, 79
Santa Fe, 19
Florence, 65
Yuma, 57
Top 25%
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Wichita Falls, 25
Tuscaloosa, 90
Tyler, 20
Las Cruces, 18
Vineland, 16
Dover, 39
Cumberland, 75
Parkersburg, 74
Charlottesville, 34
Danville, 84
Greenville, 1
Jacksonville, 81
Florence, 85
Sumter, 43
Athens, 36
Gadsden, 49
Anniston, 91
Abilene, 13
Bryan, 17
San Angelo, 2
Sherman, 4
Victoria, 83
Albany, 24
Panama City, 62
Texarkana, 69
Lake Charles, 60
Alexandria, 71
Dothan, 21
Ft. Walton Bch., 22
Monroe, 10
Punta Gorda, 52
Milken Institute Best Performing Cities
High Tech Sector Concentration – 96 Small Metros, 2003
St. Cloud, 29
Bellingham, 69
Grand Forks, 29
Great Falls, 29
Sheboygan, 8
Rochester, 8
Lafayette, 8
La Crosse, 29
Fargo, 29
Eau Claire, 29
Wausau, 69
Bismarck, 69
Muncie, 69
Janesville, 69
Billings, 3
Kankakee, 29
Kokomo, 69
Benton Harbor, 8
Elkhart, 8
Jackson, 69
Kenosha, 29
Lima, 29
Mansfield, 8
Steubenville, 69
Sharon, 29
Medford, 8
Glens Falls, 3
Dubuque, 29
Casper, 69
Redding, 29
Waterloo, 29
Elmira, 8
Williamsport, 29
Rapid City, 29
Yuba City, 69
Sioux Falls, 69
Pocatello, 29
Yolo, 29
Cheyenne, 8
Grand Junction, 29
Second Tier
Third Tier
Bottom 25%
Altoona, 69
Sioux City, 29
Bloomington, 69
Iowa City, 8
Champaign, 69
Pueblo, 69
Decatur, 69
St. Joseph, 29
Wheeling, 69
Bloomington, 29
Topeka, 8
Terre Haute, 3
Columbia, 29
Lawrence, 3
Owensboro, 69
Joplin, 29
Goldsboro, 29
Decatur, 69
Enid, 69
Pine Bluff, 29
Lawton, 69
Santa Fe, 29
Florence, 29
Vineland, 3
Dover, 8
Cumberland, 69
Parkersburg, 29
Charlottesville, 8
Danville, 69
Greenville, 8
Jacksonville, 29
Florence, 69
Yuma, 29
Top 25%
State College, 1
Wichita Falls, 29
Tuscaloosa, 69
Tyler, 8
Las Cruces, 8
Sumter, 29
Athens, 29
Gadsden, 69
Anniston, 29
Abilene, 1
Bryan, 8
San Angelo, 8
Sherman, 8
Victoria, 69
Albany, 29
Panama City, 29
Texarkana, 69
Lake Charles, 29
Alexandria, 29
Dothan, 29
Ft. Walton Bch., 8
Monroe, 8
Punta Gorda, 29