Charleston Area Rankings

2010 Small Business Vitality Scores
Charleston ranked 4th in the nation
Portfolio January 2010
Best Cities for Business
Charleston in the top 50 MSAs
MarketWatch December 2009
The World's Smartest Cities
Charleston ranked #8 for strong infrastructure, attractive economy and savvy urban planning
Forbes December 2009
Best Small Towns
Charleston ranked one of 10 best small “Adventure Burgs”
Outside August 2009
Progressive Environmental Stewardship & Sustainable Growth
Charleston ranked 11th among 405 small cities (population 50,000–99,999)
Smarter Cities July 2009
Most Livable Cities in America
Charleston receives first-place honors
U.S. Conference of Mayors June 2009
Best Cities for Technology Jobs
Among nation’s top 10
Forbes June 2009
Next Cities: Best Places to Live & Work for Young Professionals
Charleston 2nd among cities with 100,000 to 200,000 population
Next Generation Consulting June 2009
Best Small Cities for Startups
Mount Pleasant cited as best city in South Carolina
Business Week April 2009
America’s Strongest Housing Markets
Among the top 25
Forbes January 2009
2008 Best Performing Cities: Where America's Jobs Are Created
10th among largest U.S. metros
Milken Institute September 2008
50 Best Places to Live: The Next Great Adventure Towns
One of five Southern cities in the eastern U.S.
National Geographic Adventure August 2008
Top U.S. Cities for Doing Business
6th among mid-sized metros
Inc. August 2008
Top Arts Destinations
6th among the nation's mid-size cities
American Style June 2008
Job Market Leaders
5th in private-sector job growth 2006-2007
Bizjournals September 2007
Where to Live Now - Best Towns in America
Best "big city" on the East Coast
Outside August 2007
Hot Growth for Incomes
5th in per capita income growth since 1995
Bizjournals June 2007
Best Places for Business Attraction
A top 15 midsize metro
Expansion Management May/June 2007
Best Places for Business and Careers
In the top 25 for job growth
Forbes April 2007
North American City of the Future
Ranked #2 for infrastructure among large metros
fDi (a Financial Times publication) April 2007
Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metros
Listed among top 20 percent
Expansion Management March/April 2007
America's 50 Hottest Cities for business expansion
Ranked among top 25
Expansion Management January/February 2007