10 Best Places to Live and Work

Where’s the best place to hide during this economic downturn?
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine evaluated U.S. cities for their growth potential, analyzing their ability to hold onto jobs even if the economy softens further. With assistance from Kevin Stolarick of Martin Prosperity Institute, the magazine concluded that cities where there are a lot of white-collar jobs are surviving the downturn better than areas where much of the workforce is employed in manufacturing or service jobs. Stolarick says these creative-class jobs tend to help generate new businesses and that increases the vibrancy of the areas where they hold sway. This employment analysis combined with data about income growth and cost of living led Kiplinger’s to choose these 10 cities as the best places to live and work in today’s challenging economy:

1. Huntsville, Ala.
2. Albuquerque, N.M.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Charlottesville, Va.
5. Athens, Ga.
6. Olympia, Wash.
7. Madison, Wis.
8. Austin, Texas
9. Flagstaff, Ariz.
10. Raleigh, N.C.

Source: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (07/2009)