10 Best and Worst Places for Business and Careers

Job hunters are happy just securing a job; but even happier when they find a job in a financially healthy city (comparatively) with a high quality of life.

For 12 years, Forbes Magazine has released a list based on such data, including the cost of doing business, taxes, education, crime, projected job growth, household income, unemployment rate, home prices and other factors. Unfortunately, the "Best Places for Business and Careers" list doesn't include frugal-living data, but it serves as an excellent starting point for both job hunters and employers interested in relocating.

The 10 best metro cities are: 

1. Des Moines, Iowa

2. Provo, Utah

3. Raleigh, N.C.

4. Fort Collins, Colo.

5. Lincoln, Neb.

6. Denver, Colo.

7. Omaha, Neb.

8. Huntsville, Ala.

9. Lexington, Ky.

10. Austin, Texas

The 10 best smaller cities are:

1. Sioux Falls, S.D.

2. Iowa City, Iowa

3. Manhattan, Kan.

4. Bismarck, N.D.

5. Logan, Utah

6. Auburn, Ala.

7. Bend, Ore.

8. Columbia, Mo.

9. Fargo, N.D.

10. Morgantown, W.Va.

Not surprisingly, the majority of the 10 worst cities are in nearly broke California and the two former auto-capitals of Detroit and Flint, Mich. 

The 10 worst cities are:

1. Merced, Calif.

2. Vallejo, Calif.

3. Modesto, Calif.

4. Flint, Mich.

5. Salinas, Calif.

6. Utica, N.Y.

7. Detroit, Mich.

8. Stockton, Calif.

9. Youngstown, Ohio

10. Canton, Ohio

Photo by Recent Exposure Photography