No. 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 19%
Best job prospects: Construction, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Other Services
Population: 794,555
Average home price in January: $126,359
Unemployment rate: 9.3%

Jacksonville, Florida's largest city, is a transportation, financial, and military center. Among the companies based in Jacksonville: CSX (CSX), Winn-Dixie Supermarkets (WINN), and Fidelity National Financial (FNF).