MIDLAND LANDS SPOT ON MILKEN'S 'BEST-PERFORMING CITIES' RANKINGS
(Jan. 28, 2026)
MIDLAND, TEXAS -- The Midland metropolitan statistical area was the lone smaller MSA in the state to rank among the 10 “Best-Performing Cities” in the nation, according to the Milken Institute.
The Midland MSA ranked ninth among smaller cities in the nation. The report showed St. George, Utah; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Kenosha, Wisconsin and Bend-Redmond, Oregon, as the top four MSAs, according to the report released this week.
The Milken Institute reported, “The index uses data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to measure the economic performance of 205 small cities. The cities are ranked based on three primary performance factors: labor market conditions (job growth and wage growth); high-tech impact (technology output and concentration); and access to economic opportunities (housing affordability, inclusivity and resilience).
The report noted the following about the Midland MSA:
- Job growth from 2019-2024 increased 9.2% and 2.1% from 2023-24,
- Short-term job growth increased 2.8%,
- Wage growth improved 37.4% from 2019-2024 and jumped 9.7% from 2023-24,
- GDP growth increased 11.1% from 2019-2024 and rose 8.5% from 2023-24.
Midland was one of two cities in Texas to rank as a tier-1 best-performing city. Austin-Round Rock ranked ninth among larger cities.