Durham and Raleigh have been ranked among the top ten cities in the United States in a new ‘Geography of Prosperity’ index. Durham ranked No. 2 nationally, while Raleigh ranked No. 8.
What is the Geography of Prosperity Index?
The index compiled data points across the largest 250 U.S. cities, focusing on factors that represent future-readiness for a prosperous life, rather than just economic growth. Five metrics are weighed equally: population renewal, social cohesion, governance and foresight, automation and AI readiness, and climate resilience.
The index aggregates more than two dozen data sources, including workforce development spending, census data, FEMA risk data, walkability scoring, and infrastructure investment. Durham, with a population of less than 400,000, outranks major U.S. tech cities like Washington, D.C., Seattle, and San Francisco.
According to Bradley Schurman, the index’s co-creator, Durham’s high ranking is due to its foundational elements, which set the groundwork for economic opportunities. Schurman noted that while the index is not measuring startups or AI companies, it is measuring the readiness of a city for a prosperous life.
Other localities making the top ten with a population less than half a million people are Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Frederick, Maryland. The Triangle’s appearance on a ranking of growing American cities is not uncommon, often appearing in similar kinds of lists.
Dr. Gerald Cohen, chief economist at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, questioned the separation of Raleigh and Durham as different cities in the rankings. Cohen’s work in the American Growth Project combines the Triangle as a single economic entity.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
