The Raleigh-Cary metropolitan area is ranked number two in the nation’s "Top 100

Best Performing Cities" in an annual economic performance index released by

Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate partners. The annual study ranks

metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic

growth. The Raleigh-Cary area rose from number 10 in 2007. -- September 2008

MSNBC.com ranks Raleigh America’s best city. "Raleigh, N.C., it seems, is the best

place to be in the U.S. right now. It ranks No. 1 in Forbes’ 2008 list and was also top

in 2007 – consistent placement among these lists is truly rare. It ranks No. 2 in

Kiplinger’s list this year. The city is also Fortune Small Business magazine’s No. 20

place to live and launch." -- June 2008

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance names the Triangle the second best urban area in the

U.S. It highlighted undeniable date: population growth since 2000 of 19.9 percent;

percentage of the work force in the creative class, 36.1 percent; cost of living index,

99 with 100 being the national average; median household income of $56,150; and

income growth of 10.3 percent since 2000. This ranking dubbed Houston the best in

America and Omaha, Neb., the third best. -- July 2008

Forbes magazine ranks the Triangle’s economy as fifth on a list of 10 recession-proof

local economies. -- May 2008

A study conducted by American City Business Journals ranked the Raleigh-Durham

market as the best in the nation for young adults, defined as ages 20 to 34. The

study examined 10 factors, including growth rates of employment and per capita

income, unemployment, percentage of people holding bachelor’s degrees and

median rent in the nation’s 67 largest metropolitan areas. Austin was ranked

second, Washington, D.C., third. Charlotte placed seventh. -- May 2008

Raleigh’s growing tech industry, support of entrepreneurs and the $2.5 billion

renaissance downtown place the Capital City at No. 20 in Fortune’s "Best Places to

Live and Launch." -- May 2008

Men's Health: Politically Engaged City

Men’s Health magazine ranked Raleigh the most politically engaged city in America.

The rankings were based on percentages of active registered voters, ballots counted,

percentage of income donated in the current presidential election, campaign

spending, votes cast in the 2008 primary and votes cast in recent elections for

governor and senate. -- Men’s Health magazine, 2008