Raleigh-Cary, NC

Raleigh-Cary, NC

Overall rank: 30

Raleigh, the state capital and home of North Carolina State University, has been somewhat buffered from the recession because of its university, health-care, and government jobs. Employment in Raleigh-Cary peaked in the first quarter of last year. Gross metropolitan product in the second quarter was down just 1.2% from the peak in the third quarter of last year. Home prices grew 1.1% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. And the unemployment rate in June was 9.1%, up 4.1 points from a year earlier. (Please see below for the various criteria used by the Brookings Institution to determine the overall ranking.)

Job growth (since peak) rank: 53
Gross Metro Product (since peak) rank: 7
Unemployment change (year over year) rank: 59
Home price change (year over year) rank: 34