Raleigh, North Carolina has been crowned as America’s ‘best performing’ city in 2025, according to a recent study by the Milken Institute. The city has excelled in various aspects, including its thriving tech sector, strong labor market, and affordable housing.
The Best-Performing Cities Index analyzes 13 metrics that include labor market conditions, high-tech growth, and access to economic opportunities. Raleigh topped the list with its “strong positioning” in all categories of the BPC Index. The city is home to major tech companies like IBM and Red Hat, as well as universities such as Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University.
Raleigh boasts a strong labor market, with major employers like Gilead Sciences, Cisco Systems, and MetLife having recently opened locations in the city. The study found that the city had good labor market conditions for five years, ranking 9th, 18th, and 19th for job growth, wage growth, and one-year job growth.
The city’s affordability is also noteworthy, with an average home value of $477,000 in 2024, slightly above the US median home price. The average rent in Raleigh was $1,356 per month, a 2.5% decrease from last year’s rates. However, the study notes that US median home prices are approaching nearly six times the US median income, which could impact Raleigh’s ability to maintain affordability.
Despite this challenge, Raleigh’s growth and strong economic performance make it an attractive destination for young professionals and college graduates. The city’s proximity to major universities and its thriving tech sector have contributed to its popularity as a place to live and work.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/real-estate/article-14301233/America-best-performing-city-raleigh-north-carolina.html