The City Momentum Index is published annually by JLL's Global Research team based in London. This year's index was released last week in conjunction with the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. JLL studied 120 cities across the globe and based the index on 37 social and economic indicators including recent and projected percentage changes in city GDP, population, corporate headquarter presence, office construction and office rents.

Other factors that played into the index rankings included educational infrastructure, environmental sustainability and the strength of its technology capability. Strope notes that the rankings were based on the short-term and long-term strengths of those indicators. This year's rankings were also set prior to the recent announcement that GE was relocating its corporate headquarters from Fairfield, CT to the Seaport district of Boston.

Strope relates that Boston was ranked number seven worldwide in 2015 and was 17th in 2014. "Last year we were really excited because we got into the top 10," Strope says of Boston's progressive rise up the City Momentum global Index over the past three years. As we continue to inch up the scale it is pretty amazing. If you look at the neighborhood we are in, it is pretty incredible."

Strope notes that Boston is becoming known worldwide for its environment that attracts new business and talent that leverages technology that in turn has created vibrant, inclusive communities. JLL in its review of Boston's strengths, included not only the city proper, but outlying areas such as Cambridge and Quincy.

"Building on our highly education workforce and innovative engine, an unemployment rate below the national average and the influx of young workers eager to live in Boston, Boston's economy is poised to extend its strong run of growth," Strope predicts. "The city's thriving economy and a general sense of optimism is evidenced by the cranes dotting the skyline."