Strength of Tech Sector Credited for Region’s 53-Spot Jump in Annual Index of Best Performing Cities

The Milken Institute has released its annual study of Best Performing Cities in America, citing the Columbus metro with a 53-spot jump in performance over the previous year, thanks in large part to the continuing growth and strength of the region’s tech sector.  The Columbus Region was ranked 55th (up from 108 in 2010) over all, and 20th in its one-year growth of technology output.  (The city was ranked 38th in terms of five-year growth of the tech sector.) This continued growth in technology output is one of the strongest contributors to the region’s 99-spot ascension in the index over the last four years.  (The region ranked 154th in the 2007 index.)

The Best-Performing Cities index includes measures of job, wage, and technology performance to rank the nation's 200 large metropolitan areas. Unlike other "best places" rankings, it does not use quality-of-life metrics, such as commute times or housing costs. In the Institute's index, employment growth is weighted most heavily due to its critical importance to community vitality. Wage and salary growth measures the quality of jobs created and sustained.

San Antonio topped the list of 200 large metros.

For the full report, visit: 
http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2011.taf?rankyear=2011&t...