With inflation easing and the US economy experiencing continued growth, the turbulence triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is now largely behind us. In this post-pandemic landscape, metropolitan areas remain the hubs of economic activity. In 2023, US metros collectively grew by 2.6 percent in real GDP, contributing to 91.1 percent of the nation’s overall economic growth. Recognizing their critical role, the Best-Performing Cities (BPC) index evaluates the relative economic performance of 403 metropolitan areas, providing valuable insights into the strengths and vulnerabilities of these economic powerhouses.
The BPC index utilizes 13 key metrics, combining labor market conditions, high-tech industry growth, and access to economic opportunities. This comprehensive approach captures emerging trends and significant shifts in the US economy, offering a detailed benchmark for metro performance.
Our report and interactive online tool break down the components of the BPC index, delivering actionable insights into the factors driving short- and medium-term economic performance in US metropolitan areas. Policymakers, government officials, and business leaders can leverage this analysis to craft targeted strategies for fostering sustainable growth in the metros that drive America’s economy.

Maggie Switek, PhD

Brock Smith

Abigail Humphreys
Related Content
-
In the latest Milken Institute Review: George Mason University Economist Ken Button Takes a Hard Look at America’s Rapidly Consolidating Airline Industry—and Offers a Bold Prescription for Saving Competition
LOS ANGELES— Ken Button points out that the giant legacy carriers that stumbled through the first decades of deregulation are finally covering their operating costs and are better positioned to confront future economic storms. But the slew...Read Article -
China’s Global Integration and Capital Flows
China has become an engine of the world economy, contributing 20 percent of global GDP growth in 2015. For most of the past two decades, China has run surpluses on both its current and financial accounts, resulting in a significant...Read Report11Keith Savard and Perry Wong -
Feeding the World's Hungry: Fostering an Efficient and Responsive Food Access Pipeline
The 2008 global financial crisis left people with less money to feed their families and institutions with fewer resources to help. At the time of the lab, hunger impacted 1B people, 65% of whom were concentrated in seven countries. Despite...Read Report -
Weather and Waste: Rethinking Small Business Support Following a Natural Disaster
As of November 1, 2024, one each of 24 confirmed weather-related disasters in the United States caused damage associated with losses exceeding $1 billion. The year was one of the costliest since 1980. Nationally, the annual number of...Read ReportImageKristen Fanarakis
Associate Director, Small Business Policy and InnovationKristen Fanarakis is an associate director at MI Finance, leading the small business policy and innovation initiative. The Milken Institute Small Business Policy and Innovation Initiative analyzes the macroeconomic trends and policies affecting small businesses and offers policy recommendations and solutions aimed at fostering an environment of inclusive prosperity. Her work engages and educates policy stakeholders to address the challenges small businesses face. -
Milken Institute Summer Series convenes world leaders to examine life and business post-COVID-19: June 22-June 26
Hear from Kristalina Georgieva, Dr Anthony Fauci, Mark Cuban, Robert Smith, Barbara Humpton, Lara Warner. Washington, D.C. – June 21, 2020 – The Milken Institute Summer Series brings together leaders in finance, health, philanthropy, and...Read Article -
Clearing a Path for Global Development Finance: Enabling Basel and Development Guarantees to Deliver on Sustainable Development Goals
On August 2, 2017, the Milken Institute Center for Financial Markets (CFM) convened a roundtable to discuss how addressing global financial regulatory issues may foster greater G20 bank investments aligned to the U.N. Sustainable...Read Report11 11Aron Betru and Christopher Lee -
The North America Semiconductor Conference: Summary of Conclusions and Recommended Actions
This publication documents the conclusions and recommended actions from the first North America Semiconductor Conference (NASC) in Washington, DC, on May 18–19, 2023. The conference—a key commitment from the January 2023 North American...Read Report -
Health Disparities in China: Mapping the Way Forward
The formal adoption of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ blueprint on October 25, 2016, marked a turning point in the evolution of China’s public health policy reforms. The significance of this national strategic plan, with 12 well-defined targets...Read Report11Ken Sagynbekov and Perry Wong -
Gender Equality Discussion within the G20
The Milken Institute is a knowledge partner of the Women 20 (W20) Saudi Arabia, which commissioned this report in December 2019. The report, by authors Claude Lopez and Oscar Contreras, draws on the Milken Institute and W20 Saudi Arabia’s...Read Report11 11Claude Lopez and Oscar Contreras -
Women Powering Growth: The Potential of Female Workers in Latin America
This report discusses the importance of incorporating more high-skilled women into the workforce in Latin America’s major economies (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia). Despite Latin America’s recent growth, female labor force...View Research -
Milken Institute Announces ‘Best-Performing Cities 2014’
LOS ANGELES — The Milken Institute’s annual “Best-Performing Cities” index shows that technology and shale energy were the biggest factors behind America’s booming cities — especially technology. Tech titan San Francisco claimed the top...Read Article -
Macroprudential Policy: Silver Bullet or Refighting the Last War?
In the wake of the global financial crisis, policymakers, investors, and lenders analyzed the lead-up to the meltdown to see what changes could prevent another near-collapse. The result: a new focus on how macroprudential policy can reduce...Read Report11 11 11Donald Markwardt, Keith Savard, and Claude Lopez