These are the ‘best-performing’ cities of 2025. How does Florida fare?

It’s only a couple of weeks into 2025, and researchers are already examining which areas of the U.S. are primed for success.

In a study released on Tuesday, the Milliken Institute announced its ranking of the “best-performing” cities in the nation.

The study takes a look at drivers of success like labor market conditions, high-tech industry growth, and access to economic opportunities to determine which cities placed on top — and which ones still have room to improve.

“Recognizing their critical role, the Best-Performing Cities index evaluates the relative economic performance of 403 metropolitan areas, providing valuable insights into the strengths and vulnerabilities of these economic powerhouses.”

Furthermore, the ranking is broken down into two main categories — “large” cities and “small” cities — broken down into five “tiers,” with the best cities up in Tier 1.

[YOU CAN INTERACT WITH THE MILLIKEN INSTITUTE’S MAP BELOW]

In the No. 1 spot for big cities, Raleigh in North Carolina came out on top. The same was true for Gainesville, Georgia, which topped the small cities on the list.

However, two other Florida cities managed to eke their way into the top tier: the Palm Bay metro at No. 9, and The Villages at No. 11.

In general, many metros in Florida place relatively high on the ranking, including areas in Central Florida like Orlando (No. 17), Lakeland (No. 31) and Ocala (No. 36).

Last year, experts projected that Florida’s economy would thrive amid a huge influx of people into the state. Those numbers are expected to keep rising, and while it should lead to greater levels of production, it could also lead to higher costs of living for state residents.

Regardless, the full list of Florida metros included in the Milliken Institute’s analysis is as follows:

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