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