The Research Triangle Region routinely ranks among the best places to do business, work and live. Here are some recent rankings:

• Among the Top 100 Universities in the World in Ability to Move Botech Research into Business Start-ups (NC State University, #20; UNC-CH, #25; Duke University, #38) - Milken, September 2006
• # 1 Best Value Among the Nation's Public Universities and Colleges (UNC-CH) - Kiplinger's Personal Finance, September 18, 2006
• # 18 Best Value Among the Nation's Public Universities and Colleges (N.C. State) - Kiplinger's Personal Finance, September 18, 2006
• # 1 High Tech Region (Raleigh-Durham) (Second Year in a Row)-- Silicon Valley Leadership Group's 2007 Projections report, September 6, 2006
• Two of the Top 10 Utility Companies (Duke Energy, Progress Energy) - Site Selection, September 2006
• # 3 Best City (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Entrepreneurs -- Entrepreneur, 2006
• UNC-Chapel Hill Named One of "25 New Ivies" - Newsweek and Kaplan, Inc., August 21-28, 2006
• # 3 Best State (North Carolina) for Business - Forbes.com, August 16, 2006
• # 3 Top Overall Metro (Raleigh-Cary MSA) - "2006 Mayor's Challenge: Where Are the Best Metros for Future Business Locations?" - Expansion Management, July/August 2006
• 5-Star Business Opportunity Metro (Raleigh-Cary MSA) - "2006 Mayor's Challenge: Where Are the Best Metros for Future Business Locations?" - Expansion Management, July/August 2006
• 4-Star Business Opportunity Metro (Durham MSA) - "2006 Mayor's Challenge: Where Are the Best Metros for Future Business Locations?" - Expansion Management, July/August 2006
• # 4 Top State (NC) with Best Work Force Training Programs - Expansion Management, July/August 2006
• # 3 Top Place (NC) for New Pharmaceutical Establishments (#10 for Startups) - Bizminer, Business Xpansion, August 2006
• # 10 Top Place (NC) for Health Services Startups - Bizminer, Business Xpansion, August 2006
• # 10 Top Place (NC) for New Medical Device Manufacturers - Bizminer, Business Xpansion, August 2006
• # 6 Best City (Raleigh-Durham) for Singles - Forbes, July 25, 2006
• # 4 Best Places To Live (Raleigh) - Money, July 17, 2006
• # 5 Best Places to Live Among Small Cities (Cary) - Money, July 17, 2006
• Three Top Triangle Firms among the "Fastest-Growing Registered Investment Advisors" (Financial Planning Services, Capital Advisers Inc., Townsend Asset Management) - Financial Advisor, July 2006
• # 4 Hottest Real Estate Market in the U.S. (Raleigh-Durham) - Veros Real Estate Solutions, June 30, 2006
• # 2 Best Place (Raleigh) for Business and Careers - Forbes, May 4, 2006
• # 8 Best Place (Durham) for Business and Careers - Forbes, May 4, 2006
• # 3 State (NC) in Biotechnology -- Beyond Borders: Global Biotechnology Report 2006, May 2006
• # 13 Hottest Large MSA (Raleigh-Cary) for Doing Business - Inc., May 2006
• # 51 Hottest Mid-sized MSA (Durham) for Doing Business - Inc., May 2006
• # 7 State (NC) for Black-owned Businesses - 2002 Economic Census, Census Bureau, April 18, 2006
• Two of America's Top 20 Best Business Schools (Duke # 11; UNC # 20) -- U.S. News & World Report, April 10, 2006
• # 1 "Best Values in Public Colleges in the U.S." (UNC-Chapel Hill for the fifth consecutive time) (N.C. State University # 28) -- Kiplinger's Personal Finance, February 2006

• Two of Top 100 "Best Companies to Work For" (Kimley-Horn & Associates, # 20; SAS Institute, #30 -- based in Research Triangle Region) -- Fortune, January 23, 2006
• One of Top 25 Most Connected Campuses (N.C. State University) -- The Princeton Review and Forbes, January 20, 2006
• # 8 Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) in Wireless-accessibility in the U.S. -- Intel, 2005
• One of Top 7 Cool Cities (Raleigh) with Cheap Rents - Kiplinger.com, 2005
• # 1 Business Climate (North Carolina) -- Site Selection, November 2005
• # 10 Safest City (Cary) -- 12th Annual America's Safest Cities, Morgan Quinto Press, November 2005
• # 1 High Tech Region (Raleigh-Durham) -- "Daring To Compete: A Region-to-Region Reality Check," Silicon Valley Leadership Group, September 16, 2005
• # 1 Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) in Federal Economic Development Funding -- Public Policy Forum, September 2005
• # 6 Location (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) of Leading Life Sciences Venture Investment Professionals -- Southern California Biomedical Council, National Venture Capital Association, 2005
• Top 10 Utility Company (Duke Power) - Site Selection, September 2005
• # 6 Market (Metro Raleigh-Durham) for the Neurotechnology Industry - NeuroInsights Neurotech Nexus Report, August 21, 2005
• # 12 Top Real Estate Market (Raleigh-Durham) -- Expansion Management, August 2005
• # 10 Top Venture Capital State (North Carolina) -- Moran Stahl & Boyer LLC, Site Selection, July 2005
• # 8 Best Hospital (Duke University Medical Center) in the U.S. -- U.S. News & World Report, July 18, 2005
• 2 of the Top Business Opportunity Metros (Durham MSA, Raleigh-Cary MSA) -- 2005 Mayor's Challenge "Top Business Opportunity Metros", Expansion Management, July 11, 2005
• # 1 City (Greater Raleigh-Durham) for Biotechnology -- "The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster", Milken Institute, June 2005
• # 2 City (Greater Raleigh-Durham) for Life Sciences Human Capital -- "The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster", Milken Institute, June 2005
• # 4 City (Greater Raleigh-Durham) for Life Sciences Workforce -- "The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster", Milken Institute, June 2005
• # 17 Best Running City in America (Raleigh) -- Runner's World, MSN, June, 2005
• # 5 U.S. Life Sciences Clusters (Greater Raleigh-Durham) -- Milken Institute, June 2005
• Two of Top Business Schools Picked by CEOs (Duke's Fuqua, # 9; UNC's Kenan-Flagler, # 20) -- Chief Executive Group, June 2005
• # 1 South's State of the Year (North Carolina) -- Southern Business & Development, June 20, 2005
• One of Top 10 University Markets that Has Its Act Together (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Southern Business & Development, Summer 2005
• # 2 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham) for Business & Careers -- Forbes, May 5, 2005
• # 5 Best Knowledge Worker Metro (Raleigh-Cary MSA) -- "Knowledge Worker Quotient", Expansion Management, May 2005
• # 8 Most Unwired City (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Intel's 3rd Annual "Most Unwired Cities" survey, May 2005
• # 2 Most Innovative/Entrepreneurial Region in the U.S. (Raleigh) -- SBA and Advanced Research Technologies, LLC, April 2005
• # 9 Top State (North Carolina) in Nanotechnology -- Small Times, March 2005
• # 9 Top Business State (North Carolina) -- 2004 Governor's Cup, Site Selection, March 2005
• Top Small Business Towns in the U.S. (Henderson, # 23; Sanford, # 36; Southern Pines, # 49; Dunn, # 82) -- Site Selection, March 2005
• # 8 Hottest Labor Market (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- American City Business Journal, TBJ, March 11, 2005
• # 1 Best Place to Work (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP) # 4 (NIEHS) and # 1 Academic Institution (UNC-Chapel Hill) for Postdocs -- "Best Places to Work for Postdocs: 2005", The Scientist, February 14, 2005
• # 4 Top Pro-Business State (North Carolina) -- "Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2005: Keeping Jobs in America", Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc., 2005
• # 4 Best State (North Carolina) in Health Care and Availability -- "Health Care Cost Quotient", Expansion Management, February, 2005
• # 34 Top Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Job Growth & High Tech Output -- Outlook, February, 2005
• # 10 State (North Carolina) for Call Centers (# 10 for Startups) -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, Nov/Dec 2004
• # 7 State (North Carolina) for Health Establishments -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, Nov/Dec 2004
• # 17 America's Hottest Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Expansion Management, November 2004
• # 5 Best U.S. Location (North Carolina) for Biotechnology -- Business Facilities, November 2004
• # 5 Best Business Climate (North Carolina) -- Site Selection, November 2004
• # 1 of America's Most Entrepreneurial Campuses (UNC-Chapel Hill) -- Forbes, October 22, 2004
• # 9 State (North Carolina) in the Nation by "Insourced" Jobs -- "Insourcing Jobs: Making the Global Economy Work for America", Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, October 19, 2004
• # 1 Preferred State (North Carolina) for Location and Expansion -- Plants Sites and Parks, October 2004
• # 7 State (North Carolina) in the Biopharmaceutical Innovation Pipeline -- "Biopharmaceutical Industry Contributions to State and U.S. Economies" -- Milken Institute, October 2004
• Best Business Schools in North America (UNC's Kenan-Flagler, # 11; Duke's Fuqua, # 14) -- Wall Street Journal and Harris Interactive, 2004
• # 2 Healthiest Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Outlook, Sept/Oct. 2004
• # 21 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Education -- Outlook, Sept/Oct. 2004
• # 26 Best Quality of Life (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Outlook, Sept/Oct. 2004
• # 30 Best Place for Arts & Culture (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Outlook, Sept/Oct. 2004
• Top Utility Company (Progress Energy) for Economic Development -- Site Selection, September 2004
• # 8 Best State (North Carolina) for Work Force Training Programs -- Expansion Management, August 2004
• Top National University Schools in America (Duke, # 5; UNC-Chapel Hill, # 29; NC State, # 86) -- America's Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report, 2005
• Best Value University in America (Duke, # 8; UNC-Chapel Hill, # 19; N.C. State, # 38) -- America's Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report, 2005
• # 7 State (North Carolina) in NIH Funding - NIH, FY 2004
• # 10 U.S. Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for European Investment -- Expansion Management, July 2004
• # 8 Top Region (State of North Carolina) in the World in Inward Investment -- IBM-PLI's Monthly Global Investment, July 2004
• Top State (North Carolina) for Biomed/Pharmaceuticals -- (#5 for New Branches; # 9 for Start-ups) -- Business Xpansion Journal, June-July 2004
• # 13 Top Metro Areas (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Cities Ranked & Rated, Bert Sperling & Peter Sander, 2004
• # 17 Best Places for Singles (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Forbes, June 25, 2004
• # 3 U.S. Metro Area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Biotech and Life Sciences - Milken Institute, June 2004
• # 13 Top Value States (NC) for Plastic Companies -- Business Facilities, June 2004
• # 13 Best Quality of Life in America (# 1 in N.C.) (Wake County) -- American City Business Journals, 2004
• # 12 County (Wake) in America for People with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher -- 2002 American Community Survey
• # 2 City (Raleigh) in America for People with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher -- 2002 American Community Survey
• # 5 State (North Carolina) in New Branches of Agribusiness/Food (# 9 in Start-Ups) -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, May 2004
• # 3 Largest State (North Carolina) in the Biotechnology Industry -- "Resurgence: The Americas Perspective - Global Biotechnology Report 2004, Ernst & Young
• # 4 Best City (Raleigh) in the U.S. for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses -- Gold Guide Rankings, National Policy Research Council, 2004
• # 5 Best City (Raleigh) in the U.S. for Business Dynamism -- Gold Guide Rankings, National Policy Research Council, 2004
• # 12 Best City (Raleigh) in the U.S. for Business Climate -- Gold Guide Rankings, National Policy Research Council, 2004
• # 2 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Business - Forbes, May 24, 2004
• # 9 State (NC) for Women Owned Businesses in the United States -- Center for Women's Business Research, 2004
• Top Small Towns in the U.S. (Henderson, # 10) -- Site Selection, March 2004
• # 1 Boom Town in America (America's Hottest Job Market - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Business 2.0, March 2004
• # 5 Least Expensive Midsize Metropolitan Area (Raleigh) for Business -- KPMG's Competitive Alternatives study, 2004
• # 3 Best Public School System in the Nation (Wake County Schools) -- Forbes, February 23, 2004
• # 1 Favorite Location (North Carolina) for Business (Hot Spot) (# 4 by Bizsites) -- Plants, Sites & Parks, January 2004
• # 12 Best State (North Carolina) for Spending by Domestic Travelers in 2001 -- Travel Industry Association of America's Tourism Works for America, 12th Annual Edition 2003
• # 5 Safest American City (Cary, NC) -- Morgan Quitno's 10th Annual America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) City Award, December 2003
• # 2 Top Pro-Business State (North Carolina) -- Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2004, Pollina Corporate Real Estate, December 2003
• # 6 Most Business Competitive National Market (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Metro Area and State Competitiveness Report 2003 -- Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University, December 30, 2003
• 7 out of 14 school districts in the Research Triangle Region received high education quotient for 2003 -- Education Quotient 2003 -- Expansion Managment, December 2003
• Most Desirable Place (Cary, NC) to Live in the Eastern U.S. -- Money, December 16, 2003
• # 9 Top State (North Carolina) for Call Centers -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, November/December 2003
• # 9 Top State (North Carolina) for Health -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, November/December 2003
• # 7 Top State (North Carolina) for Medical Device Manufacturers -- BizMiner, Business Xpansion Journal, November/December 2003
• # 8 Best Region (Research Triangle Region) in World Knowledge Competitiveness -- World Knowledge Competitiveness Index 2003-2004, October 2003
• # 3 Best State (North Carlina) for Work Force Training -- Expansion Management, October 2003
• # 21 Best City (Raleigh) for Men's Health -- Men's Health, October 2003
• # 1 Best Values in Public Colleges (UNC-Chapel Hill); (N.C. State University, # 11) -- Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges Report, 2003
• # 12 Top International MBA Programs (UNC's Kenan-Flagler) -- Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive International MBA Programs survey, 2003
• 2 of the Top 20 Business School (# 10 - UNC's Kenan-Flagler; # 17 - Duke's Fuqua) -- Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Business School survey, 2003
• # 1 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Live -- MSN House & Home's America's Places to Live 2003
• # 9 Best State (North Carolina) Visited by Historic/Cultural Travelers -- Travel Industry Association of America and Smithsonian, 2003 Edition
• # 12 Best Performing Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Index, 2003
• # 7 Highest Value Labor Market (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- High Value Labor Market Quotient 2003, Expansion Management, July 2, 2003
• # 9 Best Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Singles -- Forbes, June 5, 2003
• # 4 Up and Coming State (North Carolina) in the World of Biotechnology -- Ernst & Young, Outlook, May/June 2003
• # 1 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Live and Work -- Employment Review, June 2003
• # 3 Best Places (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Reinvent Your Life -- AARP, May - June, 2003
• # 10 Best Place for Great Bird Watching (B. Everett Jordan Lake) -- Audubon, May 28, 2003
• # 3 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) For Business And Careers -- Forbes, May 9, 2003
• # 4 State (North Carolina) in State School Accountability Testing -- Testers 2003: An Annual Ranking of State Accountability Systems, May 6, 2003
• # 4 Top High-Tech City (Raleigh-Durham) -- Business Facilities, May 2003
• # 9 Top City (Raleigh-Durham) for Corporate Headquarters -- Business Facilities, April 2003
• 3 of the Top 10 NC Hospitals for the Heart (# 1 FirstHealth Moore Regional, Pinehurst; # 2 WakeMed, Raleigh; # 9 Rex Hospital, Raleigh) -- Business North Carolina, March 2003
• # 4 Picture Perfect Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Plants, Sites & Parks, March 2003
• # 4 Top Biotechnology States (North Carolina) -- Plants, Sites & Parks, March 2003
• # 1 Region (Research Triangle Region) for Online Growth -- Nielsen/NetRatings, Triangle Tech Journal, March 2003
• # 5 State (North Carolina) for Business Location and Expansion -- Site Selection, March 2003
• Top US Small Towns (Henderson, # 17; Sanford, # 66) for Business Location and Expansion -- Site Selection, March 2003
• # 20 Small Tech Hot Spot (North Carolina) -- Small Times, March 12, 2003
• # 6 Most Visited State (North Carolina) -- NC Division of Tourism, 2002
• # 3 Highest City (Raleigh, 65%) for Mobile Phone Penetration -- Telephia Report, 2002
• # 1 Best Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Education -- Forbes (Places Rated Almanac, Millennium Edition), February 14, 2003
• # 2 Hot Spot (North Carolina) -- Plants, Sites & Parks, January 2003
• # 11 Best Academic University (UNC-Chapel Hill) Bang for Your Buck -- Princeton Review, 2003
• # 11 Most Beautiful College Campuses (UNC-Chapel Hill) -- Princeton Review, 2003
• # 7 Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates -- Princeton Review, 2003
• # 6 Best US Economy (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Policom Corporation, Southern Business & Development, Winter 2003
• # 4 Top College (UNC-Chapel Hill) Campus Scenes that Rock -- Rolling Stone, February 20, 2003
• # 17 America's Hottest Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Expansion Management, January 2003
• # 7 Most Competitive Metro (Raleigh) - Metro Area and State Competitiveness Report, Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston, 2002
• # 6 Most Creative Region (Raleigh-Durham) -- The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida, 2002
• One of the Nation's Top Wealthiest Counties (Wake) -- American City Business Journal, 2002
• # 6 Best Region (Research Triangle Region) in World Knowledge Competitiveness -- World Knowledge Competitiveness Index 2002
• # 14 Best State (North Carolina) in Venture Capital -- Venture Economics, DRI-WEFA, US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2002
• # 6 Safest American City (Cary, NC) -- Morgan Quitno's 9th Annual America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) City Award, December 2002
• # 3 Best Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Run a Small Business -- Cognetics, December 2002
• # 3 State (North Carolina) Business Climate According to Executives -- Survey of Corporate Real Estate Executives (August 2002), Site Selection, November 2002
• # 3 State (North Carolina) for New and Expanded Food Facilities - Conway Data, Site Selection, November 2002
• # 3 Large Metro Area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- Cognetics, Site Selection, November 2002
• # 6 State (North Carolina) for Entrepreneurial -- Cognetics, Site Selection, November 2002
• # 6 Strongest Economy (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) -- 8th Annual Study by POLICOM Corporation, Site Selection, November 2002
• One of the Top 10 Best Entrepreneurial Environment Metro (Raleigh-Durham) -- Cognetics, Area Development, November 2002
• # 1 State (North Carolina) Business Climate -- Site Selection, November 2002
• Two of Top 100 Best Public College Values {University of North Carolina; # 1 (3rd Straight Year); North Carolina State University, # 17} -- Kiplinger.com, October 2002
• 2 of Best Business Schools (Duke's Fuqua School of Business, #9; UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, #18) -- BusinessWeek, October 21, 2002
• 3 of America's Best Sports Colleges (University of North Carolina, #8; Duke University, #19; N.C. State University, #57) - Sports Illustrated, October 7, 2002
• # 5 Best State (NC) to Relocate, Harris Poll, October 3, 2002
• # 2 Best State (North Carolina) Business Climate -- Development Counsellors International Survey of Corporate Executives, September 24, 2002
• Two of Best 100 Companies (GlaxoSmithKline and SAS Institute) for Working Mothers -- Working Mother, September 24, 2002
• Top National Universities - Doctoral (Duke, #4; UNC #28) - U.S. News & World Report, September 23, 2002
• # 5 Top Public University (UNC) - U.S. News & World Report, September 23, 2002
• # 12 Best Business School (UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School) Offering a MBA Program - The Wall Street Journal's International Ranking, September 9, 2002
• One of the Top 10 Utilities (Progress Energy) for Economic Development 2001 -- Site Selection, September 2002
• # 4 Lowest Construction Cost (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Expansion Management, August 2002
• # 10 Top Real Estate Markets (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Expansion Management, August 2002
• # 1 Healthiest Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Live - Outlook, July/August 2002
• # 4 State (North Carolina) for Biotechnology Companies - Ernst & Young report, 2002
• # 6 Airport (RDU International) in the Southeast & #39 in the Nation - Aviation Week's Airports newsletter, 2002
• # 1 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Live and Work -- Employment Review, July 2002
• # 4 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for New Biotechnology Companies -- Signs of Life: The Growth of Biotechnology Centers in the U.S., Brookings Institute's Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, June 2002
• # 4 Best Cities (Raleigh & Durham) for Singles -- Forbes, June 6, 2002
• # 6 Top American City (Raleigh-Durham) for Creativity -- New York Times, May 1, 2002
• # 8 State (North Carolina) for Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry -- Business Xpansion, April 2002
• Top 3 out of 4 Best New Golf Courses in N.C. are within the Research Triangle Region, Survey by North Carolina Golf Panel, North Carolina's 2002 Golf Directory
• # 5 State (North Carolina) for 2001 Governor's Cup for New & Expanded Facilities -- Site Selection, March 2002
• Top U.S. Small Towns for Corporate Facilities {# 7 Sanford (Lee), # 14 Henderson (Vance), # 50 Tie Oxford (Granville) & Roxboro (Person), # 88 Dunn (Harnett) -- Site Selection, March 2002
• One of America's Top Cybercities (Raleigh) -- Site Selection, March 2002
• # 2 Best City (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Companies to Expand or Relocate -- Expansion Management, January 2002
• # 9 Best City (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Entrepreneurs -- Entrepreneur, January 2002
• # 3 Best City (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) with Lowest Risk for Business Failure -- Entrepreneur, January 2002
• # 4 Hot Spot (North Carolina) - Plants, Sites, & Parks - January 2002
• Fastest Growing State (North Carolina) in Venture Capital Investment (131%) - Plants, Sites, & Parks - January 2002
• # 20 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Business and Careers - Forbes/Milken Institute, 2002
• Top Fiber-Optic U.S. City (Raleigh-Durham, NC) - Expansion Management, December 2001
• Top National Universities in Doctoral Programs (Duke University, #8; University of North Carolina, #28) -- U.S. News & World Report, 2001 Rankings
• Top Public Universities in Doctoral Programs (University of North Carolina, #5; North Carolina State University, #37) -- U.S. News & World Report, 2001 Rankings
• # 13 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Business and Careers - Forbes/Milken Institute, 2001
• # 1 State (North Carolina) Business Climate -- Site Selection, November 2001
• Two of the Top 25 Schools for MBAs for Executives (Duke University, #4; University of North Carolina, #5) -- BusinessWeek, October 15, 2001
• Two of the Top 32 Best Cities for Quality of Life (Raleigh, #6; Durham, #24) -- Outlook, August 2001
• # 9 Best State (North Carolina) for High Tech Growth - Business Facilities, August 2001
• One of the South's Top States (North Carolina) for Automotive Supply Locations - Southern Business & Development, Summer 2001
• # 8 Best U.S. Labor Market (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Site Selection, July 2001
• # 8 Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for European Expansion -- Expansion Management, June 2001
• # 2 Best Place in America to Live and Work (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Employment Review, June 2001
• # 9 Top State (NC) for Automotive Growth - Business Facilities, June 2001
• 4 Star Community (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Expansion Management, May 2001
• # 19 Best Place for Singles (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Forbes, May 10, 2001
• # 4 of Top 50 Metro Areas (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Economic Transformation into the Nation's New Economy -- Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) and Case Western Reserve University's Center for Regional Economic Issues report, "The Metropolitan New Economy Index, Benchmarking New Economic Transformation in the Nation's Metropolitan Areas", April 19, 2001
• # 8 of America's Most Wired Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Yahoo! Internet Life, April 2001
• # 18 Best Place to Earn and Save Money (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - ReliStar Financial Corporation, Expansion Management, April 2001
• # 6 of "America's Best Hospitals" (Duke Medical Center) - U.S. News & World Report, 2001
• # 6 Safest U.S. City (Cary) out of the largest 322 municipalities - 7^th Annual Morgan Quitno Press report, 2001
• # 2 of Top 10 Lowest Class A Central Business District Rental Rates (Raleigh-Durham) - ONCOR International's "Year-End 2000 North American Office Market Report"
• # 7 Top State (NC) for New & Expanded Facilities in 2000 - Site Selection, March 2001
• # 6 Top Small Town (Sanford) for New & Expanded Facilities in 2000 - Site Selection, March 2001
• # 7 Top State (NC) for New & Expanded Global Facilities from 1998-2000 - Site Selection, March 2001
• # 4 Large Metro Areas (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Entrepreneurs - Cognetics, Inc. research report, Site Selection, March 2001
• # 9 State (NC) for Entrepreneurs - Cognetics, Inc. research report, Site Selection, March 2001
• # 14 Best Employment Cost Index (NC) - Expansion Management, March 2001
• # 7 Most Valuable Place for Expansions & Growth for Business (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Plant, Sites & Parks, February/March 2001
• # 1 Hot Spot for Business Locations (NC) - Plant, Sites & Park, December/January 2001
• # 1 Top University for Technology Transfer (N.C. State University) - Study by Southern Growth Policies Southern Technical Council, 2001
• Two of the Top 50 National Universities in the U.S. (Duke University, # 8; University of North Carolina, #25) - U.S. News & World Report, 2000
• # 3 Largest City for Small Business (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Dun & Bradstreet/Entrepreneur, 2000
• # 1 Best Place to Live in the South (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Money, December 2000
• # 4 Best City to Start and Grow a Company in Now (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Inc., December 2000
• # 4 Best Trained Work Force in Nation (NC) - Expansion Management's 3^rd Annual Work Force Training Survey, December 2000
• # 18 Top High Technology Poles (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Milken Institute's America's High-Tech Economy: Growth, Development, and Risks for Metropolitan Areas, 2000
• # 13 Ranking for Employment Cost Index (NC) - Expansion Management's Ratings 2000 Issue
• # 18 Ranking for Legislative Quotient (NC) - Expansion Management's Ratings 2000 Issue
• Four-Star Community (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Expansion Management's Ratings 2000 Issue
• Top Public School Systems (Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools, Gold Medal; Wake County Public Schools, Blue Medal) - Expansion Management's Ratings 2000 Issue
• # 9 Best Hot Spot for High-Technology Business (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Entrepreneur's Start-Ups, November 2000
• # 3 Best Business Climate (NC) - Site Selection, November 2000
• # 3 Best Place in the Nation for Entrepreneurship (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Entrepreneur, October 2000
• # 1 of Top 6 States for Commitment to Child Care (NC) - Working Mother, October 23, 2000
• # 4 Best Place to Live and Work (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Employment Review, June 2000
• # 6 of the Top 50 U.S. Cities (Raleigh) for European Expansion - Expansion Management, Europe 2000
• # 4 of the Top 10 Big Metros (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Startups - Site Selection, July 2000
• # 6 of the Top 10 U.S. Labor Markets (NC) - Site Selection, July 2000
• # 1 of the Top 10 States (NC) for New and Expanding Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Companies from 1989 to Present - Site Selection, July 2000
• # 7 Most Consistently Strong Economy Over the Past 25 Years (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - "Where the Money Is" - Reported by William Fruth, Policom Corporation, June 17, 2000
• # 11 of the Top 15 Health States (NC) for Pharmaceuticals - Business Facilities, June 2000
• # 4 of America's Best Places to Live and Work (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Employment Review, 2000
• # 6 Fastest Growing State (NC) for New & Expanding Software & Information Technology Facilities, 1989-Present - Conway Data's New Plant Database, Site Selection, May 2000
• # 18 World Class Community (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Industry Week, April 3, 2000
• # 14 out of America's 50 most Wired Cities (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Yahoo! Internet Life, March 2000
• # 7 Highest State (NC) for New Corporate Facilities and Expansions - Site Selection, March 2000
• # 3 Fastest Growing State (NC) for New & Expanding Plastic Facilities, 1989-Present - Conway Data's New Plant Database, Site Selection, March 2000
• # 9 Top Area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Locating a New Facility - Plants, Sites & Parks, February/March 2000
• # 5 Growth State (NC) for Plastic Manufacturing, Business Facilities, February 2000
• # 6 of the Hottest Cities (Raleigh) by Site Selection Consultants - Expansion Management, January 2000
• # 14 Best Place (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) to Earn and Save Money - Expansion Management, Atlas and Guide 2000
• # 8 Hot Spots (NC) in United States for Recent and Future Business Locations - Plant Sites & Parks, December 1999/January 2000
• # 3 Most Consistent Strong Economy (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - "Where the Money Is" - report by William Fruth, Policom Corporation, January 2000
• # 3 Fastest Growing Mid-sized Airport (Raleigh-Durham International) in the World, Airports Council International, 1999
• # 24 Real Estate Market (NC) - Expansion Management's Corporate Real Estate issue 1999
• # 18 Strongest Metropolitan Economies (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - LaSalle Investment Management, 4^th Qtr. 1999
• # 13 Top State (NC) for Plastic Industry - Business Facilities, December 19, 1999
• # 4 Hot Spot (NC) for Starting & Growing Businesses - Inc., December 10, 1999
• Top Choice City (Raleigh #2 and Durham #20) for Doing Business - Outlook, November/December 1999
• # 13 Hottest High Technology Regions of America (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Wall Street Journal, November 23, 1999
• # 6 Best Place to Live (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - USA Today, November 1999
• # 1 Best Business Climates in the United States (NC) - Site Selection, October/November 1999
• # 1 Lowest Employment Cost Index in the United States (NC) - Expansion Management, 1999 Ratings issue
• # 1 State (NC) for Worker Training (North Carolina) - Expansion Management, 1999 Ratings issue
• # 5 Top State for Biotechnology (NC) - Business Facilities, October 1999
• # 11 Top Metro Area for Projected Job Growth (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - U.S. Sites and Development, September 1999
• # 7 Best City (Raleigh) for Quality of Life (Overall Ranking) - Business Development Outlook, August 1999
• # 10 Hottest State (NC) for High-Technology - Business Facilities, August 1999
• # 25 Best Sports Market - Sporting News, July 1999
• # 13 High-tech Metro Area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Milken Institute, July 1999
• # 14 Best Logistic Location (NC) - Business Facilities, June 1999
• # 3 Best State for Business (NC) - Development Counsellors International, May 1999
• # 7 of the Top 10 Hot Markets for Home Prices (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill)- Smart Money, May 1999
• # 7 Fastest Growing Job Markets Over the Past Decade - American City Business Journals, April 1999
• # 4 State (NC) for New Facilities and Expansions in 1998 - Site Selection, March 1999
• One of the 25-Choice Cities for Business Expansion or Relocation (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Outlook, January 1999
• # 1 Most Consistently Strong Economy Over a 25 Year Period - 4^th Consecutive Year (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - "Where the Money Is" Report by William Fruth, January 1999
• # 2 Best Business Climate (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Expansion Management, January 1999
• # 7 Best Boomtown Area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Point of View, December/January 1999
• # 3 Hot Spot (NC) for Business Location in the U.S. - Plants, Sites & Parks, December/January 1999
• # 5 Most Affordable Housing Markets of the Top 75 U.S. Metro Areas (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group & CB Richard Ellis, 1998
• # 20 High Technology Workforce (8.6%) (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - Dynamic Resource Solutions, December 1998
• # 6 Best Cities for Business - Fortune, November 1998
• # 1 Business Climate (NC) - Site Selection, October/November 1998
• # 1 Entrepreneurial Hot Spot (Overall Ranking) - Entrepreneur, October 1998
• # 5 Best Affordability for Mid-level Executive Housing - Inside ED, August 1998
• # 2 Big Southern City (Raleigh) Place to Live - Money, June 1998
• # 1 Best U.S. Region for German Investors (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill)- Capital, April 1998
• # 5 State (NC) for Corporate Expansions & Locations - Site Selection, February/March 1998
• # 10 Best City (Raleigh) for Logistics Operations - Business Facilities, February 1998
• # 4 Entrepreneurial Hot Spot - Cognetics, Inc., January 1998
• # 2 Choice City in Which to do Business - Outlook, January 1998
• # 19 Best City (Raleigh) to Earn and Save Money - ReliaStar, January 1998
• # 1 Most Consistently Strong Economy Over a 25 Year Period - 3^rd Consecutive Year (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) - "Where the Money Is" report by William Fruth, January 1998
• # 1 Hot Spot (NC) for Business Location in the U.S. - Plants, Sites & Parks, November/December 1997
• # 5 Best Business City- Fortune Online, November 1997
• # 3 Midsize City for Small Business - Entrepreneur, October 1997
• # 3 Elite Value in College Education Today (UNC-Chapel Hill) - Money, September, 1997
• # 1 Science City - Inc., June 1997
• # 1 Medium-sized Area for Telecommuting - Money Online, March 1997
• # 2 Healthiest City for Women - American Health, Jan./Feb., 1997
• # 7 Metropolitan Area to Start and Grow a Business - Nation's Business, January 1997
• Top 15 Hottest Places for Job Growth - Time, January 20, 1997
• # 7 Best Place to Start & Grow a Business - Nations Business, January 1997
• Top 10 Best Retirement Community - New Choices, July 1996
• Top 10 Best Places for Twentysomethings - Swing, July 1996
• # 5 Best Places for Working Mothers - Redbook, June 1996
• # 1 Hottest Place for Job Growth in the Southeast - Wall Street Journal, February 1996
• # 1 Hot Spot to Relocate a Business - Plants Sites & Parks, November/December 1995
• # 6 Best Mid-sized City for Small Businesses - Entrepreneur, October 1995
• # 5 Best Place to Live, Places Rated Almanac, 1995 edition
• # 8 Best Place to Live, Money, September 1995
• Top 20 Best Retirement Communities in America - Carolina Trace Country Club New Choices, July/August 1995
• # 12 Best Place for Smart Companies - Forbes ASAP, February 1995
• #1 Best Place to Live - Money, September 1994
• Top 10 International Cities for Japanese to Live and Work - Newsweek Japan, August 1994
• # 13 Area for Distribution Relocations, Ernst & Young/NACORE Reshaping America report, Fall 1994
• # 1 Best Investment Return Potential, Ernst & Young and National Real Estate Index magazine, Summer 1994
• # 4 Best U.S. Market for New Graduates - National Business Employment Weekly, Spring 1994
• # 22 in Top 100 Housing Markets in U.S. - U.S. News & World Report, April 1994
• # 1 Best City for Business - Where to Find America's Knowledge Workers -Fortune, November 1993
• # 4 Best City for International Companies - World Trade, October 1993
• # 6 Quality of Place - Places Rated Almanac, October 1993,
• Top 20 Hot Spots to Start a Business - Entrepreneur, October 1993
• Top 10 Cities for Economic Growth Between 1965 & 1990 - Cato Institute; Washington, DC, July 1993
• Top 50 Places To Raise Your Family - 50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family, Published 1993