2008 Best Performing Cities

More evidence of Oklahoma City Progress.

The Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth.  The components include job, wage and salary and technology growth. 

This year the Oklahoma City, OK MSA ranked 50 out of the 200 largest cities as opposed to 2007 when it ranked 108.  Tulsa also moved up to 72 from a previous rank of 98. 

Provo Utah was ranked number 1.  Texas was the state with the most cities in the top 25 with 6 while the bottom 25 was littered with cities from the rust belt.  Evidence that the rust belt has been hit hard by the manufacturing decline of industries like automobile manufacturing and steel.  Michigan was the state with the most cities in the bottom 25 with 9.

Below is a table showing Oklahoma City’s rank and score in the individual categories.  We as citizens of Oklahoma City have become wealthier.  Our best rank is 17 in the category of 1-yr Wages and Salaries Growth. 

 The complete report can be purchased at the Milken Institute.