New York City-Jersey City-Newark ranks as the most prosperous U.S. metropolitan area in the Geography of Prosperity Index, which evaluates the country’s 250 largest urban areas across five categories. The index draws on federal data, academic research, and proprietary sources.
Its categories are population renewal, including demographic trends such as fertility and aging; climate resilience, covering environmental risks and preparedness; automation readiness, which considers how well economies and workers can adapt to technologies such as AI; social cohesion, including civic engagement and community ties; and governance and foresight, focused on leadership and long-term planning.
The New York-area metro scored 95 out of 100 for social cohesion and 82 for climate resilience. Its lowest score was 40 for governance and foresight. The index’s creators say these measures look beyond employment and economic performance to factors they consider important to a region’s long-term health.
The Villages, a planned retirement community in Florida, ranked last overall. It scored 2 for population renewal; about 85% of its residents are 65 or older, according to Census Bureau data. Index co-creator Bradley Schurman said the community relies on people moving there.
The index’s top 10 metropolitan areas are New York City-Jersey City-Newark; Durham, North Carolina; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Boston; Seattle and Tacoma; Washington, D.C.-Arlington, Virginia; Frederick, Maryland; Raleigh, North Carolina; Albany-Schenectady, New York; and San Francisco-Oakland.
The index plans to add measures in future editions. Affordability is slated for inclusion in 2027, followed in 2028 by an examination of “freedoms” for people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community. Schurman described the index as a guide to places positioned for success, rather than a perfect measure of any location.
Sources: Smart Cities Dive.