The latest data from the Global Metro Monitor compare growth patterns of the world’s 300 largest metropolitan economies by looking at annualized growth rate of real GDP per capita and annualized growth rate of employment. Combined into an economic performance index, the Global Metro Monitor ranks each metro’s growth from 2009 to 2014, and 2013 to 2014.
In the 2013-2014 period, the 10 U.S. metro areas with the fastest growth are presented below. All but one are in the Southeast, South, or Southwest.
| Metro | U.S. rank | Global rank | GDP per capita change |
Employment change |
| Austin, Texas | 1 | 38 | +1.9% | +3.6% |
| Houston, Texas | 2 | 39 | +1.6% | +3.7% |
| Raleigh, N.C. | 3 | 41 | +0.8% | +4.0% |
| Fresno, Calif. | 4 | 49 | -0.9% | +4.5% |
| Dallas, Tex. | 5 | 63 | +0.8% | +3.4% |
| Baton Rouge, La. | 6 | 65 | +1.5% | +3.0% |
| Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7 | 66 | +1.8% | +2.9% |
| Las Vegas, Nev. | 8 | 68 | +1.3% | +3.0% |
| Grand Rapids, Mich. | 9 | 69 | +0.6% | +3.3% |
| San Jose, Calif. | 10 | 72 | +0.2% | +3.4% |
Visit the Global Metro Monitor to see all the data, explore the rankings of 300 global cities, download the report from the Metropolitan Policy Program, and get detailed performance indicators for each place, such as the one for Austin, below.
Commentary
The 10 Fastest Growing U.S. Metros
February 2, 2015