Fort Worth is gaining national recognition once again for its growing economy. The Milken Institute, a nonprofit think tank, has included the Fort Worth-Arlington area in its 2024 Best-Performing Cities list. The list ranks 400+ US cities based on 13 economic factors, dividing the list by city size and ranking tiers.
So, how did Cowtown fare on this year’s list? Short answer: very well. Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 32 out of 200 large cities, outranking places like San Antonio and Las Vegas. The region rose 12 spots after ranking No. 44 last year. Let’s break down a few of the economic indicators that contributed to the ranking, by the numbers.
Employment
The report considers wage and job increases as part of a city’s labor market performance. Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 25 for medium-term job growth this year, up from No. 61 in the 2020-2021 report.
- Job growth, 2017-2022: No. 25
- Wage growth, 2017-2022: No. 20
The Arlington Entertainment District has had a major economic impact on the area by creating hundreds of jobs at new businesses and hotels.
Photo by The Cordish Companies
High-tech impact
When it comes to economic growth, the high-tech sector can’t be underestimated. The Milken Institute measured high-tech concentration and gross domestic product (GDP), which is the total of goods + services produced by a local high-tech industry.
- High-tech GDP growth, 2017-2022: No. 177
- High-tech GDP growth, 2021-2022: No. 143
Economic opportunity
This category looked at the economic well-being of community members, including how factors like housing and income inequality impact their access to economic opportunities.
- Households with affordable housing: No. 146
- Households with broadband internet: No. 63
Learn more about how rankings were decided, and see the results of 400+ more cities on this interactive map.