Top Ten Cities

Kevin Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity, worked with the Kiplingers Magazine to make the top 10 city selections. "Our formula highlights cities not just with strong past performance, but also with all the ingredients for future success," he says.

Here are the cities selected:

1. Houston
2. Raleigh, North Carolina
3. Omaha, Neb.
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Colorado Springs, Colorado
6. Austin, Texas
7. Fayetteville, Ark.
8. Sacramento, Calif.
9. Des Moines, Iowa
10. Provo, Utah