Nine HZ Metros Make Forbes’ Fastest-Growing Cities List

HZ is invested in nine of Forbes’ 2016 Fastest-Growing Cities. Austin (1st), Seattle (4th), Salt Lake City (5), Ogden (6), Denver (11), Phoenix (15), Portland (26), Boise (17), and Las Vegas (18) were all ranked among the top-20 U.S. cities for growth based on estimated population growth for 2015 and 2016, year-over-year job growth for 2015, 2015 gross metro product growth, federal unemployment data, and area median annual pay for college-educated workers.

Forbes highlighted Austin, TX, which topped the list for five of the past six years (last year it fell to second place). The metro’s projected 3.15% population growth rate in 2016 is the highest among the 100 metro areas the publication examined, growth credited to Austin’s job opportunities (employment expanded 3.28% last year).

Forbes also focused on Utah markets’ impressive growth. Salt Lake City jumped seven spots on the list with Ogden close behind, returning to the rankings after falling from the list last year. In 2015, Utah added 46,576 jobs, 19,399 in the Salt Lake City metro area and 8,497 in Ogden-Clearfield metro area, the governor’s office reports. Between 2010 and 2016, 121 companies accepted government incentives for relocating to or expanding in Utah, Forbes reports.

Read more and see the full list at Forbes.com