Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville fall in ‘Best Performing Cities’ report

The Research Triangle area didn’t fare very well in the latest “Best-Performing Cities” report from the non-partisan Milken Institute.

Raleigh-Cary fell out of the top ten, dropping to 14th from seventh a year ago.

Durham-Chapel Hill fell even further, placing 33rd. A year ago, the metro statistical area ranked 15th.

Fayetteville, meanwhile, dropped to 36th from 18th.

Job growth and high tech gross domestic product growth were among the factors driving down the metros’ scores.

The California-based institute uses a variety of measures to determine the “Best Performing” list. San Antonio finished first, El Paso second.

The news was worse for Charlotte and Winston-Salem, which ranked among the biggest losers with a drop of 52 spots to 114 and 45 spots to 164 respectively.

Wilmington ranked 76th, Asheville 85th.

Among small metros, Jacksonville scored best at 23rd followed by Greenville 36, Goldsboro 111, Rocky Mount 129 and Burlington 134.

Measures include five-year and one-year job growth, wages and salaries growth, high tech economic growth and an overall high tech quotient that is based on the location of high-tech industries in a metro area.

Inside the Numbers: Raleigh

Raleigh-Cary ranked best nationally in five-year job growth from 2005-2010 at 10th. However, it fell to 69th in one-year job growth.

While ranking 18th in wages and salaries growth over five years, Raleigh-Cary fell to 91st in 2009-201.

In the high-tech GDP category, Raleigh-Cary ranked 61st over five years but 107th over 2009-2010.

Raleigh-Cary received the 12th best score in high-tech locations.

Inside the Numbers: Durham

Durham-Chapel Hill’s best score was eighth in the high-tech quotient.

In five-year job growth, Durham ranked 16th, but for 2009-2010 it fell to 161st.

It ranked 18th in five-year high-tech GDP growth but 151st for one year.