Each year the  Milken Institute evaluates the performance of 403 metropolitan areas across the country to determine which are the Best Performing Cities (BPC). This year it put the issues of economic growth, affordability, and a city's resilience and sustainability, both to natural and economic disasters, at the forefront as it developed its ranking. Income inequality (with cities with lower inequality ranked higher) are incorporated in this year's rankings, too.

The best-performing large city is Austin-Round Rock, Texas. It received this recognition for the first time since 2013, largely due to its rapid growth in jobs, wages, and high tech.

After three years as the top large metro area, Provo-Orem, Utah, remains among the top five large metropolitan areas in the country. While the area has experienced declines in job and wage growth due to recent tech layoffs, the area retains many advantages, including the establishment of new businesses. All signals indicate future growth in this area. Salt Lake City, Utah also made the top-five list this year.