Top 5: Milken Institute Best-Performing Large Cities

While Raleigh didn’t take home the number one spot (like we did last year), landing in the top five isn’t something to complain about. In fact, the opposite. For the previous four years, the Raleigh-Cary MSA has ranked in the top ten due to the region’s resilient economy and consistent growth.

While the article mentions a drop in Raleigh’s high-tech CDP and questions about affordability, the capital city is firmly rooted in one of the fastest-growing states and was recently named the 2025 State of the Year for Economic Development. All signs point towards a thriving state.

Here’s a look at the complete profile for Raleigh.