| Forbes magazine recently released the annual | | | | of the cities were sourced from the FBI Index |
| top ten rankings of best small cities for | | | | of Crime. The following are the top ten best |
| business and careers. These best cities to | | | | small metro cities to live and work and their |
| live and work were chosen based on a variety | | | | approximate populations: 1. Sioux Falls, |
| of factors such as availability of labor, tax | | | | S.D.: Sioux Falls captured the top spot of |
| rates and other living costs, quality of life | | | | smaller cities that are best for business and |
| issues, educational opportunities, crime | | | | careers. The metro area consists of 210,000 |
| rates and cultural and recreational | | | | residents. 2. Bismarck, N.D.: Bismarck ranked |
| opportunities. The rankings of best cities in | | | | second in the list and has a population of |
| the U.S. were partly based on data supplied | | | | 100,000. 3. Columbia, Mo.: Columbia with a |
| by Economy.com, a Pennsylvania-based economic | | | | population of 154,000 clinched the third |
| research firm. The firm's business cost index | | | | place. 4. Fargo, N.D.: At fourth place was |
| factors in the costs of labor, taxes, energy | | | | Fargo, North Dakota with approximately |
| and office space. Cost of living was | | | | 186,000 residents. 5. Iowa City, Iowa: Fifth |
| considered by various aspects such as | | | | on the list of best small cities to live and |
| housing, utilities, transportation, and food | | | | work was Iowa City with a total population of |
| and household expenditures. The firm also | | | | 139,000. 6. Bloomington, Ind.: Bloomington |
| provided five-year annualized figures on job | | | | was sixth on the annual list of the best |
| and income growth and migration trends. | | | | smaller metro areas for business and careers |
| Another research firm that contributed | | | | and has a population of 139,000. 7. Rapid |
| towards the rankings is Sperling's Best | | | | City, S.D.: South Dakota's Rapid City was |
| Places. Forbes magazine uses the culture and | | | | number seven on the list. The metro area has |
| leisure index developed by Researcher | | | | a population of 119,000 residents. 8. Las |
| Bertrand Sperling of Sperling's 'Best Places | | | | Cruces, N.M.: Las Cruces, New Mexico ranked |
| to Live' fame for quality-of-life issues such | | | | eighth with a population of 193,000. 9. |
| as cultural and recreational opportunities. | | | | Morgantown, W.Va.: At ninth spot was |
| The culture and leisure index is based on | | | | Morgantown, West Virginia with a population |
| museums, theaters, golf course, sports teams | | | | of 115,000 residents. 10. Johnson City, |
| and other activities. The data also includes | | | | Tenn.: Rounding up the top ten smaller metros |
| the education scenario in the cities and the | | | | was Johnson City, Tennessee. The metro area |
| presence of four-year colleges. Crime rates | | | | has about 190,000 residents. |