The Inland Empire ranked 25th among the best-performing large metropolitan areas in the United States by a prominent think tank.
The list, compiled by the Milliken Institute, measures economic vitality in 200 large metropolitan areas and 201 small cities, according to a statement.
San Francisco ranked first on this year’s list. Provo-Orem Utah, Austin-Round Rock Texas, Reno, Nev. and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. completed the top 5.
Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, at 17, was the only other California metro to make the Top 25.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranked 15 in last year’s survey.
Job creation, wage growth and innovation industry metrics are among the criterion used to rank each community. The rankings help policymakers, investors, and businesses identify prospering regional economies.
The Milliken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank based in Santa Monica. It has published the Best Performing List for more than 20 years.