Forbes lists its Best Places For Business:
| Metro Area | Cost of Doing Business1 | Job Growth2 | Educational Attainment3 | Population | |
| 1 | Albuquerque NM | 1 | 60 | 54 | 793,100 |
| 2 | Raleigh NC | 43 | 52 | 11 | 934,200 |
| 3 | Houston TX | 21 | 77 | 70 | 5,257,100 |
| 4 | Boise ID | 51 | 22 | 91 | 534,100 |
| 5 | Knoxville TN | 26 | 35 | 93 | 654,200 |
| 6 | Phoenix AZ | 55 | 16 | 88 | 3,813,000 |
| 7 | Nashville TN | 28 | 64 | 79 | 1,414,000 |
| 8 | Durham NC | 24 | 117 | 6 | 457,600 |
| 9 | Fayetteville AR | 23 | 7 | 141 | 399,700 |
| 10 | Indianapolis IN | 47 | 80 | 64 | 1,637,300 |