Boomtowns '06: Hottest Large Cities

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Overall Rank 81 | 1-Year Job Growth 2.6% | 5-Year Job Growth 5.5% | Index Score 66.9

12Charlotte, North Carolina
The Charlotte area is home to Bank of America and Wachovia, whose presence has spawned a financial services sector that includes customer-service and data-processing centers. Medical equipment and pharmaceutical makers appreciate a highly skilled work force.

Overall Rank 91 | 1-Year Job Growth 3.3% | 5-Year Job Growth 4.3% | Index Score 65.8

13Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
The Research Triangle area thrives on innovation in life sciences, information technology, and software development. Raleigh is also the state capital and the government accounts for two of every 10 jobs.

Overall Rank 92 | 1-Year Job Growth 2.8% | 5-Year Job Growth 5.0% | Index Score 65.6

14Richmond, Virginia
The health care, leisure, and hospitality sectors all recorded high growth last year. Construction projects were boosted by the revitalization of the city's downtown district, which includes condos, retail shops, and office space. The city recently opened a business-development office in Guangzhou, China.

Overall Rank 96 | 1-Year Job Growth 2.9% | 5-Year Job Growth 4.9% | Index Score 64.9

15Salt Lake City
From industrial banks to medical-device makers, back-office call centers to pharmaceutical labs, Salt Lake City is firing on all cylinders. Real-estate costs have edged up, but the city hopes tax breaks and other incentives will lure new companies.

Overall Rank 98 | 1-Year Job Growth 3.3% | 5-Year Job Growth 3.8% | Index Score 64.4

16Putnam-Rockland-Westchester counties, New York
Proximity to New York City and the scenic Hudson Valley, and a high-tech infrastructure make these suburban counties an obvious choice for small firms and blue-chip corporations alike. Clusters of biotech and IT outfits have formed in the region.

Overall Rank 121 | 1-Year Job Growth 2.3% | 5-Year Job Growth 5.1% | Index Score 60.5

17Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California
Orange County got whacked by the tech downturn of 2001, shedding thousands of jobs. Today the area is on the rebound, led by explosive growth in the services sector. Financial services added 4,100 jobs last year alone, and the health care industry is scooping up as much medical personnel as it can find.

Overall Rank 124 | 1-Year Job Growth 1.7% | 5-Year Job Growth 6.5% | Index Score 60.1

18Miami-Miami Beach
More companies are taking advantage of the region's proximity to markets in the Americas and the Caribbean. The Port of Miami creates jobs in wholesale trade, and professional services and construction are seeing robust growth. Tourists inject $13.5 billion a year into the local economy.

Overall Rank 126 | 1-Year Job Growth 2.2% | 5-Year Job Growth 3.1% | Index Score 59.2

19Sacramento
Construction is booming as the population expands beyond the urban center of Sacramento and into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Population growth is also ratcheting up demand for services, especially health care and education.

Overall Rank 132 | 1-Year Job Growth 1.5% | 5-Year Job Growth 8.5% | Index Score 58.2

20San Diego
Construction crews have been busy with new hotels, condos, and homes. Action in biotech and telecom (Qualcomm is based here) has sparked a boom in services, which has added some 10,000 jobs since 2000.

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