Retailers looking to expand into new geographic markets can find some potential candidates in the Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index, which ranks U.S. cities by such factors as job and wage growth and the presence of a robust high-tech sector. Here are the top-ranked cities from the just-released 2023 version of the report:
Large Cities
- Provo–Orem, Utah
- Austin–Round Rock, Texas
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tenn.
- Boise City, Idaho
- Dallas–Plano–Irving, Texas
- Wilmington, N.C.
- Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, Ark./Mo.
- Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, Fla.
Small U.S. cities
- Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Logan, Utah–Idaho
- George, Utah
- The Villages, Fla.
- Bend–Redmond, Ore.
- Punta Gorda, Fla.
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Missoula, Mont.
- Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Gainesville, Ga.
The Index, published annually since 1999, reflects cities’ effectiveness at leveraging their resources to promote economic growth and provide their residents with access to the essential services and infrastructure needed for success, the institute says. Its components include job creation, wage growth, and the high-tech sector’s output growth. Since 2021, the Index also includes measures of housing affordability and broadband access that reflect access to economic opportunities of cities’ residents.
The 2023 Index and rankings are mainly based on data from 2021, the first full year of recovery following the onset of COVID-19.
“This year’s report shows that U.S. cities continue to drive the nation’s growth despite the pressures created by Covid-19,” said Maggie Switek, Director of Regional Economics in the institute’s Research Department. “Three years after the onset of the pandemic, cities are still the main centers of the nation’s economic activity.”
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Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless
When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time.
"We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them.
Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."
