Why it matters: These metropolitan areas offer high wages, plentiful jobs, a (relatively) low cost of living and thriving tech sectors — making them economic models for the rest of the nation, Axios' Jennifer Kingson writes.
How it works: The Milken Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit, assessed 403 U.S. metropolitan areas using 13 economic metrics, based on data from January 2022-August 2023.
The report divided cities into large metros (more than 275,000 people) and smaller ones.
Zoom in: The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia region entered the top 10 list for the first time in over a decade, the report states. The region jumped 10 spots from the last ranking.
Recent job and wage growth — primarily led by the leisure and hospitality sectors — pushed Charlotte to the top.
Yes, but: Charlotte has the highest income inequality among the top 10 cities, with wide racial and economic disparities across the metro area, the report found.
