These 25 safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs attract thousands of newcomers every year. Abundance of employment opportunities, fat paychecks and relatively low crime rates have turned these places into attractive destination for domestic and international migrants.
As the title of our article suggests we took into account a few criteria while creating this ranking. First comes the safety. According to FBI, violent crime rates in America have continued to rise for the second consecutive year. Latest Federal Bureau’s report shows that there were 386.3 violent offenses per 100,000 inhabitants in 2016 which represents 3.4% increase compared to 2015. While violent crime rate’s growth raises concerns, property crime offenses have recorded the decline of 2% compared to a year ago, so overall picture is not as bleak as it might appear at first sight. Majority of places ranked here have crime rates below national average. Note though that there are few cities whose crime rates exceed America’s average. The reason why we included such places in this ranking are excellent wages and significant growth rates.
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Next criteria we considered was a city’s growth. There are many ways in which a city’s growth can be measured. For instance, Forbes fastest growing cities 2017 focuses on population increase, employment, economic output, home prices, wages. To determine cities’ growth, we looked at two things – population growth and gross domestic product increase.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, America recorded 0.7% population increase between 2015 and 2016, which was one of the slowest growth rates in recent years. Like in the past, metro areas saw the greatest increase mainly due to the international and domestic migration of young people looking for employment opportunities. While people under 30 usually account for the greatest share of newcomers in the majority of fastest-growing metropolitan areas in US, there are a few exceptions. For instance, The Villages, FL, which saw 25.8% population increase between 2010 and 2016 and which was also one of the fastest growing cities in Florida in 2017, is a popular retirement destination and retirees make up the greatest share of new residents. It is also interesting to note that latest reports show that majority of fastest growing major cities in the US are located in the South and Southwest and if you want to find out which cities added the most residents in 2015 check our article 15 Fastest Growing US Cities Ranked by Population Growth. As for the list of cities with highest salaries and lowest cost of living in America, check out Investopedia’s article. In case you are wondering which are the highest paying cities in the world, some of them are NYC, Luxembourg, Geneva, and of course Zurich that is apparently the best city to make money in the world.
Besides population growth, we also looked at GDP increase across metro areas as well as average wages. Bureau of Economic Analysis’s report shows that GDP rose in 267 out of 382 metropolitan areas in 2016. The greatest rise of 8.1% was seen in Bend-Redmond, OR, and Lake Charles, LA. Lake Charles is not included in this ranking despite the growth because its average wage of $22.07 places the area among the lowest paying ones in the US.
To create this list, we first discovered 50 fastest growing metropolitan areas using as a criteria population growth, GDP growth, and hourly earnings. Then we looked at violent and property crime rates in these 50 places to come up with our final ranking 25 safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs.
25. Jacksonville, FL
Population growth: 2.1%
GDP growth: 3.1%
Hourly earnings: $26.65
Violent crime rate: 478.9
Property crime rate: 2894.3
Jacksonville gained around 30,000 new residents which accounted for 2.1% population growth. Along with population rise, GDP also increased. The 3.1% change was driven by performance in trade and finance sector. Jacksonville’s crime rates are among the highest ones here, and it is a reason why this metro area did not rank higher.
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24. Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Population growth: 2.2%
GDP growth: 3.1%
Hourly earnings: $26.10
Violent crime rate: 418.1
Property crime rate: 2845.9
Charleston-North Charleston, SC, the metro area of 761,155 residents, had 2.2% population increase between 2015 and 2016 and 3.1% GDP growth. Gross domestic product’s rise was mainly driven by performance in business and finance sectors. Like previously mentioned Jacksonville, Charleston has slightly higher crime rates than a majority of other places listed here.
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23. Colorado Springs, CO
Population growth: 2.1%
GDP growth: 3.5%
Hourly earnings: $25.24
Violent crime rate: 404.6
Property crime rate: 2848.3
Between 2015 and 2016, Colorado Springs, CO, gained 14,708 new residents, which accounted for 2.1% population increase. Besides population rise, the area also experienced solid GDP growth of 3.5% thanks to the performance in information and educational service, as well as in healthcare sector. With an hourly wage of $25.24 Colorado Springs belongs to the group of top 100 paying metro areas in the US.
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22. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
Population growth: 1.4%
GDP growth: 3.1%
Hourly earnings: $30.29
Violent crime rate: 462
Property crime rate: 2677.8
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA, the place of around 440,000 residents, has unusually high crime rates for the area of less than a half a million residents. Still, Vallejo-Fairfield deserved the spot on our list because it is one of the best paying metro areas in America with an hourly wage of 30.54$. The area also recorded solid GDP increase while population growth was moderate.
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21. Idaho Falls, ID
Population growth: 2.1%
GDP growth: 1.7%
Hourly earnings: $27.59
Violent crime rate: 299.6
Property crime rate: 1,569.2
Of all here listed metro areas Idaho Falls had the lowest GDP growth. However, it found the place on the list because of solid wages and exceptionally low crime rates.
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20. Bowling Green, KY
Population growth: 1.5%
GDP growth: 4.5%
Hourly earnings: $24.13
Violent crime rate: 164.5
Property crime rate: 2152.7
Another very safe metro area on this list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs is Bowling Green, KY, which has around 171,000 residents. Besides high safety, Bowling Green also boasts excellent GDP growth of 4.5% which was driven by developments in the finance sector. Hourly earnings are little lower than in other areas that are ranked here, but costs of living in the Bowling Green are below national average.
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19. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Population growth: 0.5%
GDP growth: 5.9%
Hourly earnings: $44.10
Violent crime rate: 280.1
Property crime rate: 2176.5
If we did not take into account population growth, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, would rank much higher on our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs. The metro area had only 0.5% population growth as it added 10,238 new residents to its population of almost two million. On the other side, this part of California had 5.9% GDP growth, which is 11th highest increase in the US, mainly due to the development of professional and business service sector. It also has the highest hourly wage among all America’s metro areas. Compared to many other areas with the population of two million and more San Jose is a safe place with low crime rates.
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18. Kennewick-Richland, WA
Population growth: 1.7%
GDP growth: 2.1%
Hourly earnings: $28.60
Violent crime rate: 193.2
Property crime rate: 2174.7
We are continuing our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs with Kennewick-Richland, WA, which is another small metro area which can be proud of its low crime rates. The area has around 284,000 residents who can count on an excellent hourly wage of $28.60. Modest GDP growth of 2.1% prevented the metro area from ranking higher on the list.
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17. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Population growth: 2.7%
GDP growth: 3.5%
Hourly earnings: $24.51
Violent crime rate: 341.4
Property crime rate: 2023.3
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL, recorded 10th highest percentage population increase among all metro areas in America. Between 2015 and 2016 the area added 20,444 new residents to its population of 768,013. Moreover, North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton experienced solid GDP growth of 3.5% which was led by construction and finance industry. Hourly earnings in North Port are not as high as in other places ranked here, but that does not concern North Port’s residents since costs of living are below national average.
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16. Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA
Population growth: 1.3%
GDP growth: 4%
Hourly earnings: $28.11
Violent crime rate: 411.0
Property crime rate: 2391
Up next on the list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs comes another metro area located in California. Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA, recorded 1.3% population growth adding 28,830 residents between 2015 and 2016. The area’s GDP also increased 4% due to finance and business sector development as well as performance in the trade sector. Sacramento’s workers can count on solid earnings since hourly wage is $28.11. Compared to other place listed here, crime rates are little higher
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15. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Population growth: 1.6%
GDP growth: 3.7%
Hourly earnings: $28.84
Violent crime rate: 403.2
Property crime rate: 2998.3
Between 2015 and 2016 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA added 90,650 new residents to its 5.6 million population, which was fourth highest gain among all metro areas in the US. The area also boasts solid GDP growth of 3.7% and high hourly wages while crime rates are a little bit higher.
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14. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Population growth: 1.7%
GDP growth: 3%
Hourly earnings: $28.33
Violent crime rate: 276.1
Property crime rate: 2794.2
Solid GDP growth and salaries, together with one of the lowest violent crime rates, have placed Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, on the 14th spot on our list of 25 safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs. The city also recorded significant population growth adding around 40,000 residents to its population of 2.3 million.
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13. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Population growth: 2%
GDP growth: 3%
Hourly earnings: $27.61
Violent crime rate: 359.7
Property crime rate: 2,476.2
Up next on our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs w have Dallas which added 143,435 new residents to its population of around 7 million which was the largest number gain in America. The area also recorded 3% GDP growth due to performance in sectors such as trade and finance/business services. Dallas is relatively safe area since its violent crime rate is below national level while property offenses rate is slightly above America’s average.
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12. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Population growth: 2%
GDP growth: 3.4%
Hourly earnings: $28,27
Violent crime rate: 392.2
Property crime rate: 2822.1
Between 2015 and 2016 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC added almost 50,000 residents to its population of 2.4 million. The area also boasts solid GDP growth of 3.4% and excellent wages while crime rates slightly exceed the national average.
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11. Corvallis, OR
Population growth: 1.3%
GDP growth: 3.3%
Hourly earnings: $28.59
Violent crime rate: 127.7
Property crime rate: 2548.7
Corvallis boasts high safety with violent crime rate as low as 127.7. The area of only 89,000 residents had 3.3% GDP increase, which was driven by finance sector development. Finally, an hourly wage of 28.54$ also makes Corvallis an attractive place for newcomers.
And now, let’s see the top 10 safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs.
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10. Olympia-Tumwater, WA
Population growth: 2.2%
GDP growth: 3.8%
Hourly earnings: $26.52
Violent crime rate: 243.8
Property crime rate: 2,941.4
Compared to just mentioned Corvallis, Olympia-Tumwater, WA, has significantly lower hourly earnings and higher violent crime rate, but it nevertheless ranked better on this list because of faster population and GDP growth.
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9. Madison, WI
Population growth: 1.3%
GDP growth: 3.2%
Hourly earnings: $28.50
Violent crime rate: 202.8
Property crime rate: 1,915.7
Here comes another very safe metro area with low property and violent crime rates – Madison, WI, an area of around 649,000 residents, which recorded 1.3% population increase between 2015 and 2016. Madison, one of the best paying cities, also boasts high hourly wages of $28.50. Its GDP increase of 3.2% was led by financial and business service sector development.
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8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Population growth: 2.1%
GDP growth: 4.2%
Hourly earnings: $25.67
Violent crime rate: 340.8
Property crime rate: 2,333.9
Wages in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, might be slightly lower than in other places listed here, but this metro area is one of the fastest growing when GDP is taken into account. The 4.2% growth of gross domestic product was driven by finance and business sectors. Tampa also added around 61,000 residents who represented seventh highest number gain in America. Finally, crime rates are below America’s average.
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7. Fort Collins, CO
Population growth: 1.8%
GDP growth: 3.8%
Hourly earnings: $26.76
Violent crime rate: 209.1
Property crime rate: 2.210
We are continuing our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs with Fort Collins which boasts low crime rates and solid GDP increase of 3.8%. Construction, manufacturing and business services were three industries that contributed the most to the GDP growth. Although hourly earnings of 26.76$ are not among the highest ones on this list, Fort Collins belongs to the group of better-paying metro areas in America.
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6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Population growth: 1.9%
GDP growth: 4.3%
Hourly earnings: $36.59
Violent crime rate: 353.2
Property crime rate: 3,890.0
If we did not take into account crime rates, more precisely property offenses rate, Seattle would rank higher on this list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs. The area has fifth highest hourly earnings in America and GDP growth of 4.3%. Between 2015 and 2016 Seattle added around 72,000 residents to its population of 3.7 million which was fifth highest number gain.
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5. Rochester, MN
Population growth: 1%
GDP growth: 3.6%
Hourly earnings: $36.72
Violent crime rate: 137.7
Property crime rate: 1761.3
It may sound strange that Rochester in Minnesota recorded only 1% population increase, gaining 2,177 new residents when this area boasts fourth highest hourly wage in America while having one of the smallest property and crime rates. Rochester, which has a population of around 216,000, also had significant GDP increase of 3.6% which was driven by excellent performance in educational services, healthcare, and social assistance.
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4. Bend-Redmond, OR
Population growth: 3.6%
GDP growth: 8.1%
Hourly earnings: $25.29
Violent crime rate: 151.6
Property crime rate: 2170.8
Bend-Redmond ranks 4th on our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs. It recorded the highest GDP growth among all metro areas in America. The GDP increase of 8.1% was mainly led by developments in sectors such as durable-goods manufacturing, finance, and business services. The area also had third highest percentage population increase in America. Note though that population growth of 3.6% meant that Bend-Redmond added 6,365 residents to its population of around 175,000. Crime rates are low in Bend-Redmond, and the only negative thing about this metro area are hourly earnings of $25.29 which are among the lowest on this list.
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3. Austin-Round Rock, TX
Population growth: 2.9%
GDP growth: 4.9%
Hourly earnings: $28.81
Violent crime rate: 361.9
Property crime rate: 2,555.2
Between 2015 and 2016, Austin, the number three on our list of safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs, added 58,301 residents to its 1.9 population which accounted for 2.9% increase. The area also had 4.9% GDP growth thanks to the performance in finance and business sectors. Finally, Austin boasts high safety and high hourly earnings and rightly deserves the third place in our ranking.
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2. Raleigh, NC
Population growth: 2.5%
GDP growth: 5.3%
Hourly earnings: $27.17
Violent crime rate: 219.3
Property crime rate: 2283.3
Raleigh, NC, recorded 2.5% population increase, adding 31,565 new residents, and 5.3% GDP growth. Like in many other places growth of gross domestic product was driven by performance and finance and business sectors. The area also offers excellent wages while crime rates are significantly below America’s average.
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1. Provo-Orem, UT
Population growth: 3.1%
GDP growth: 6.1%
Hourly earnings: $26.54
Violent crime rate: 77.6
Property crime rate: 1761.3
Provo-Orem has the lowest violent crime rate and third lowest property crime rate of all metro areas on our list of 25 safest fastest growing cities in America with high paying jobs. The city also recorded eight highest GDP growth in America mainly due to development of information and business sectors. Finally, Provo-Orem saw 3.1% population growth, which was seventh highest percentage increase in the US. For all these reasons the area tops our list.
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