Top 25 Cities for Jobs and Business in America

These America cities for great business are not the ones expected by many people.. They aren't on the glamorous coasts and are not the biggest cities. In fact, many are in the Southeast, including Atlanta, ranked as the best over all city for American business. Regions that consistently produce new jobs in a broad range of industries rank at the top of the list. During this George Bush Administration, the best cities are predominantly suburban and, perhaps most importantly, relatively affordable in housing prices, cost of living, and business costs. Younger families, well-educated people, upwardly mobile immigrants, and even singles, are migrating to these cities fast.

THE 25 BEST LARGE CITIES

Number 1. Atlanta. "Hotlanta" is the hottest economy of America. Hit hard by the 2000 recession, the sprawling Greater Atlanta Area is back, on the foundation of a strong service sector, pro-business climate, and affordable housing. Spread out over 28 counties in north-central Georgia, the Greater Atlanta Area includes over 4.5 million people. It has top universities, major corporate HQs, and a world-class airport. Atlanta has one of the most diversified economies in the country. Atlanta's cost of living, particularly housing, is lower than in places like Boston, New York City, Seattle, or San Francisco. Atlanta may lack some of the Bay Area's edginess and beauty but presents many lifestyle options. Atlanta's airport and history of logistics expertise provide logistical support for the chemical industry globally.

The Inland Empire of California. Here the best city is 2. Riverside-San Bernardino -- 3 million people just east of Los Angeles. Its major industries are housing construction, warehousing, and diversified manufacturing. Over 660,000 people have moved into the inland. The bulk of this growth comes from ethnic minorities, predominantly Latinos (+500,000) and Asians. Ramon Alvarez, is the owner of the nation's only Latino-owned Jaguar dealership, in Riverside, Calif.

3. Las Vegas At first hurt by the downturn in tourism after 9/11, the Nevada metropolis has gotten its groove back. Although tourism remains the linchpin, the area is creating jobs in high-end sectors and even manufacturing, in large part because of an exodus from more expensive locales on the Western Seaboard.

4. San Antonio Largely unnoticed amidst the mega-hype surrounding media favorite Austin, this more affordable Texas city has benefited from steady population growth, a diversifying economy, and a strong military presence.

5. West Palm Beach This part of Florida is getting crowded, so relatively low prices could soon be a thing of the past. Right now, the perceived high quality of life and reasonable housing prices make this area an almost irresistible lure.

6. Southern New Jersey, New Jersey

7. Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood-Pompano Beach, Florida

8. Jacksonville, Florida

9. Newark, New Jersey

10. Suburban Maryland-D.C., Maryland

11. Orlando, Florida

12. Phoenix, Arizona

13. Washington MSA, District of Columbia

14. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida

15. San Diego, California

16. Nassau-Suffolk, New York

17. Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia

18. New Orleans, Louisiana

19. Austin, Texas

20. Northern Virginia, Virginia

21. Middlesex-Somerset- Hunterdon, New Jersey

22. Miami-Hialeah, Florida

23. Orange County, California

24. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

25. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York

THE 25 BEST MIDSIZE CITIES

A surprising trend is the economic rebound of the Midwest and Great Plains States. The longtime out-migration of young professionals and skilled workers from the Midwest had declined. The Internet has helped. Digital technology has cured the traditional sense of isolation from the big city felt in the Midwest and Great Plains. Some populations and employment rates are growing faster than the national average. With job pools of 150,000 - 450,000, midsize best cities also include some form the Inland Empire.

1. Green Bay offers a high quality of life, a diversified economy, and a hardworking, skilled labor forces.

2. Madison is well suited for the service economy. As state capital and locale of one of the region's top universities, its population is well educated.

3. Sarasota is located in an affordable coastal region and attracts skilled, middle-class emigrants from the north. A sizable tech work force adds to one of the fastest-growing areas for IT.

4. Fresno real estate success us oaring, in large part due to affordability and Latino and Asian immigration. This boosts high-end service, manufacturing, and information sectors.

5. Bakersfield has become a distant suburb of Los Angeles, and people commute over the mountains. It is more affordable and a good place for business startups.

6. Reno, Nevada

7. Albuquerque, New Mexico

8. Tucson, Arizona

9. Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, California

10. Modesto, California

11. Stockton, California

12. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Florida

13. Corpus Christi, Texas

14. Syracuse, New York

15. Springfield, Missouri

16. Monmouth-Ocean, New Jersey

17. Westchester County, New York

18. Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pennsylvania

19. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

20. Daytona Beach, Florida

21. Jackson, Mississippi

22. Lancaster, Pennsylvania

23. Portland, Maine

24. Boise City, Idaho

25. Akron, Ohio

TOP 25 SMALL CITIES

Small cities with job pools to 150,000 have suffered declining populations, but their affordability is reversing that trend

1. Montpelier, Vermont enjoys a large insurance industry and is the state capital and home to several colleges.

2. Missoula, Montana's has a local university and its population has doubled recently. Financial and professional business services and IT are on the upswing.

3. Casper, Wyoming has business services industries that are growing. The Greater Wyoming area has 66,000 residents and is increasing.

4. Rockland County, New York's population growth is triple that of the New York state average since 2000. IT and business services are booming.

5. Sioux Falls, South Dakota no longer suffers out-migration, but enjoys a growing population. The skilled work force in financial and professional services, IT, and biological sciences is exemplary and these businesses are growing.

6. Waco, Texas

7. Burlington, Vermont

8. Dutchess County, New York

9. Anchorage, Alaska

10. Manchester, New Hampshire

11. Bismarck, North Dakota

12. Bryan-College Station, Texas

13. Danbury, Connecticut

14. Altoona, Pennsylvania

15. Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota

16. Las Cruces, New Mexico

17. La Crosse, Wisconsin

18. Newburgh, New York

19. Albany, Georgia

20. Medford, Oregon

21. Utica-Rome, New York

22. Lake Charles, Louisiana

23. Bristol, Virginia

24. Fort Smith, Arkansas

25. Enid, Oklahoma