Accolades

RALEIGH/WAKE COUNTY ACCOLADES (as of 7/22/2026)

2026

• Best Place to Live in North Carolina (Niche)
• #2 Best State Capital (WalletHub)
• #4 Most Economically Resilient Metro (CardRates)
• #5 Happiest Residents (SmartAsset)
• #5 Best Nightlife City (Travel + Leisure/Gambull)
• #7 Best Large City to Start a Business (WalletHub)
• #7 Most Educated City (WalletHub)
• Dorothea Dix Park ranked among America’s Best City Parks (USA TODAY 10Best)
• Gipson Play Plaza ranked among America’s Best Public Playgrounds (USA TODAY 10Best)
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences among America’s Best Free Museums (USA TODAY 10Best)

2025

• Milken Institute’s #1 Best-Performing Large Metro Area
• #2 Innovation Hub in the South (CommercialCafe)
• Top 10 Most Educated Cities (WalletHub)
• Top 10 Best Cities to Start a Business (WalletHub/WNCN)
• #3 Happiest City in America (SmartAsset)
• #2 Friendliest City in the U.S. (YUZU/Match Group)
• Dix Park named one of America’s Best City Parks (USA TODAY 10Best)
• Top 25 Best Places to Retire (Forbes)
• Top 10 Safest Large Cities (News & Observer/SmartAsset)
• #7 Fastest Growing City in America (U-Haul Growth Index)

2024

• #1 Most Livable City (Far & Wide)
• Best Quality of Life on the East Coast (Travel + Leisure)
• #2 Best Performing Large Metro (Milken Institute)
• #3 Best Place to Live (Raleigh-Durham, U.S. News & World Report)
• #1 Driver-Friendly City (WalletHub)
• Top 10 Tech Cities (Cloudwards)
• #2 Hottest Housing Market (U.S. News)
• One of America’s Safest Large Cities (Far & Wide)
• Southern Living Top 10 Best Cities in the South
• Top 5 Fastest-Growing Housing Markets (StorageCafe)

2023

• #1 Best City to Launch a Small Business (LendingTree)
• #2 Best State Capital in America (WalletHub)
• #2 Most Climate-Resilient City (Architectural Digest)
• #1 Vehicle Fleet in the Nation (Government Fleet)
• Top 10 Most Neighborly Cities in America (Neighbor.com)
• Top 10 Best Places to Have a Pet (The Herald)
• #5 Best City for Job Seekers (Indeed)
• Raleigh Water named Best Tasting Water in North Carolina (AWWA)
• Wake County ranked among America’s Best Counties to Live (Niche rankings)

2022

• #1 Best Place for Veterans to Call Home (WalletHub)
• #2 Best U.S. City for Remote Workers (Triangle Business Journal)
• Top 3 Hottest Job Markets in America (Wall Street Journal/Moody’s)
• Top 15 Best-Run Cities in America (WalletHub)
• Top 10 Best Cities for Senior Citizens (Age in Place)
• Top 10 Best Places for College Students to Live (WalletHub)
• #4 Best Places to Live in the U.S. (Money Magazine)
• #9 Safest Cities in America (WalletHub)
• #4 Best Beer Festival in America – Brewgaloo (USA TODAY 10Best)
• Raleigh named among America’s Happiest Cities (Men’s Health)

2021

• Among New Destinations You Should Visit This Year (Raleigh and The Longleaf Hotel, NC) — Tablet Hotels, January 2021
• #1 Among America’s Best Places to Live in 2021 (Raleigh, NC) — Bankrate, January 2021
• #3 Best State Capitals (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub, January 2021
• #5 Best-performing Economy in the United States (Raleigh, NC) — Milken Institute, February 2021
• #3 Happiest Cities in America (poll) (Raleigh, NC) — early 2021

2020

• #2 in 2020 Quality of Life Ranking (Raleigh, NC) — Numbeo, January 2020
• Among Best Music Scenes Right Now (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, NC) — Rolling Stone, February 2020
• Best U.S. City to Find a Job in 2020 (Raleigh, NC) — Glassdoor, February 2020
• #2 Best Performing Large City (Raleigh, NC) — Milken Institute, February 2020
• Top 10 Best Cities in the South (Raleigh, NC) — Southern Living, March 2020
• Top Ten Tech Cities (Raleigh, NC) — Cloudwards, February 2020
• #7 Best Big Cities to Live in America (Raleigh, NC) — Stacker, February 2020
• #3 Best Place to Live (Raleigh and Durham, NC) — US News and World Report, April 2020
• #4 Rental Markets for Recent College Graduates (Raleigh, NC) — Realtor.com, May 2020
• Top 5 Fastest-growing Housing Markets (Raleigh, NC) — StorageCafe, August 2020
• Best Quality of Life on the U.S. East Coast (Raleigh, NC) — Travel & Leisure, September 2020
• #1 in Driver-friendliness (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub, October 2020
• #1 Most Livable City (Raleigh, NC) — Far & Wide, December 2020
• Top 5 Fastest Growing Areas for Older Americans, 2020–2023 (Raleigh area, NC) — Triangle Business Journal, December 2020
• #3 Among Happiest Cities in America (Raleigh, NC) — Men’s Health, December 2020
• #9 Among 2020’s Safest Cities in America (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub, November 2020
• 2021 North American Center of Excellence (Raleigh Convention Center, NC) — Exhibitor Magazine, October 2020

2019

• Bronze, Best CVBs/DMOs (Regional), Southeast (Greater Raleigh CVB/Visit Raleigh, NC) — The Stella Awards, November 2019
• #14 Among America’s Top 150 Most Dynamic Urban Centers & #5 Among Top 10 Most Dynamic Mid-Sized Cities (Raleigh, NC) — Point2 Homes, November 2019
• 2019 Platinum Choice Award Winner (Greater Raleigh CVB, NC) — Smart Meetings, October 2019
• Best Food Getaway, Best Weekend Getaways Near Atlanta (Raleigh, NC) — Thrillist, October 2019
• 2020 Center of Excellence (Raleigh Convention Center, NC) — EXHIBITOR Magazine, October 2019
• 2019 Best City to Drive In (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub.com, September 2019
• 11th Best Big Cities to Live In (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub.com, July 2019

2018

• #2 Among The 10 Best Big Cities to Live in Right Now (Raleigh, NC) — Money Magazine, November 2018
• Bronze, Best CVBs/DMOs (Regional), Southeast (Visit Raleigh, NC) — The Stella Awards, November 2018
• #2 Among The Best Places for Business and Careers (Raleigh, NC) — Forbes, October 2018
• #6 Among 8 Train Stations with Awesome Comeback Stories (Raleigh Union Station, NC) — Livability, October 2018
• #3 Among America’s Biggest Boomtowns (Raleigh, NC) — Magnify Money, August 2018

2017

• Among The World’s Best Cities 2018 (Raleigh, NC) — Best Cities/Resonance, October 2017
• #2 Best Performing City in 2017 (Raleigh, NC) — December 2017
• Top 10 Best Cities in America to Live (Raleigh, NC) — 24/7 Wall St., November 2017
• #2 Most Educated City in the Country (Raleigh, NC) — Forbes, October 2017
• Top 5 Cities for Jobs in the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) — Glassdoor, September 2017
• #3 Sportiest City (Raleigh, NC) — Men’s Health, September 2017
• #10 Among 100 Best Cities to Drive In (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub, July 2017
• #6 Among 100 Most Adventurous Cities in America (Raleigh, NC) — Men’s Health, June 2017
• Best Connected Medium Sized Airport (RDU, NC) — MIT’s International Center for Aviation via News & Observer, May 2017
• #2 Best in Quality of Life in the World (Raleigh, NC) — NUMBEO, March 2017
• #22 Among Most Caring Cities in America (Raleigh, NC) — WalletHub, January 2017
• Among Top 10 Boomtowns of 2016 (Raleigh, NC) — SmartAsset, January 2017

2016

• #19 Among The 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016 (Raleigh, NC) — Zagat, November 2016
• #6 Among Top 10 Beer Cities in the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) — Infogroup, November 2016
• #3 Among Best Midsize Metros for Job Seekers (Raleigh, NC) — American Institute for Economic Research, July 2016
• #9 Among 2016 America’s Favorite Cities (Raleigh, NC) — Travel and Leisure, May 2016

2015

• #4 Fastest-Growing City (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | January 2015
• #5 Best Performing Metro (Raleigh-Cary, NC) The Milken Institute | January 2015
• #41 World’s Leading Metropolitan Areas (Raleigh, NC) The Brookings Institute January 2015
• 2015 City to Watch (Raleigh, NC) Urbanful | January 2015
• #5 Best-Performing Large U.S. City (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Milken Institute | January 2015
• Among Five American Cities You Should Visit in 2015 (Raleigh) – The Huffington Post, February 2015

2014

• #10 Best City in America for 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Movoto | December 2014
• #7 Smartest City in America (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | November 2014
• #5 Digital City in America (Raleigh, NC) Center for Digital Government November 2014
• #2 Easiest Place to Find a Job (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | November 2014
• #9 Best Place for Jobs Requiring Post-Secondary Education (Raleigh-Cary, NC) CityLab | September 2014
• #2 Most Educated City in the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) WalletHub | September 2014
• #4 Metro for Economic Growth (Raleigh, NC) CityLab | September 2014
• #8 Best City to Live in (Cary, NC) 24/7 Wall St. | September 2014
• #2 Fastest-Growing Large U.S. City from 2010 to 2030 (Raleigh, NC) United Nations Population Division August 2014
• #3 Best Place for Entrepreneurs to Start a Business (Raleigh, NC) U.S. Chamber of Commerce August 2014
• #2 Fastest-Growing City (Raleigh, NC) Business Facilities | August 2014
• #10 Best City for Women in Business (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Bizjournals.com | July 2014
• #10 Most Recession-Recovered City (Raleigh, NC) WalletHub | July 2014
• #4 Happiest Metro with a Population Greater than 1 Million (Raleigh, NC) University of British Columbia July 2014
• #1 Best Place for Business in 2014 (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Forbes | July 2014
• #7 Best City for Future Job Growth in 2014 (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Forbes | July 2014
• #4 City for Finding a Great Tech Job (Raleigh, NC) TechRepublic | July 2014
• #5 Top State for Business CNBC | June 2014
• #4 Best State for Business 2014 Chief Executive | May 2014
• #3 Fastest-Growing State for Women-owned Businesses American Express OPEN March 2014
• #8 State for Number of Women Owned Businesses American Express OPEN March 2014
• #2 Metro for Boomer Population Growth (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Trulia.com | June 2014
• #3 Least Stressed Out City (Raleigh, NC) CNN Money | June 2014
• #2 Fastest-Growing Large Metro through 2020 (Raleigh, NC) The U.S. Conference of Mayors June 2014
• #2 Best City for a Job This Summer (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | June 2014
• #8 City for Technology Careers Raleigh, NC) CIO.com | June 2014
• #8 City for Female Entrepreneurs (Raleigh, NC) Intuit | May 2014
• #7 American Dream City (Raleigh-Cary, NC) The Burghard Group | May 2014
• #8 City Creating the Most Information Jobs (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | May 2014
• #4 Best City to Start a Business (Raleigh, NC) Nerd Wallet | May 2014
• #9 Best City for Employee Recognition (Raleigh, NC) Quantum Workplace | May 2014
• #4 Best Big City for Jobs in 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | April 2014
• #1 Fastest-Growing Metro from 2000 to 2013 (Raleigh-Cary, NC) CityLab | April 2014
• #10 Most Optimistic Community (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Gallup | April 2014
• #10 Best Metro for Small Business (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Bizjournals.com | April 2014
• #4 Most Cost-Attractive Mid-Sized City for Business (Raleigh, NC) KPMG | April 2014
• #3 Fastest-Growing City (Raleigh-Cary, NC) CNN Money | March 2014
• Top 8 Region On the Rise (Raleigh, NC) Time | March 2014
• #11 Best City to Find a Job (Raleigh, NC) WalletHub | March 2014
• #3 Best City for Young Entrepreneurs (Raleigh, NC) Credit Donkey | February 2014
• #5 Emerging Tech Hub in the World (Raleigh, NC) TransferWise | February 2014
• #11 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs (Raleigh, NC) Nerd Wallet | February 2014
• #2 Fastest-Growing City in 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | February 2014
• #6 Most Affordable and Growing City in the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) Cheapism.com | January 2014
• #10 New Opportunity City (Raleigh, NC) Yahoo Finance | January 2014
• #3 U.S. City for Business Prosperity in 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Business Review USA | January 2014
• #6 Best City for Job Seekers in 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Nerd Wallet | January 2014
• #10 Best Run City in America (Raleigh, NC) 24/7 Wall St. | January 2014

2013

• #9 U.S. Region to Watch in 2014 (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | December 2013
• #4 City Where Working-Age Americans Are Moving (Raleigh, NC) Forbes | December 2013
• #6 Best City in America for 2013 (Raleigh, NC) Movoto | December 2013
• #2 City Creating the Most Technology Jobs (Raleigh-Cary, NC) Forbes | November 2013
• #3 Highest Percentage Growth in Population with a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Since 1980 (Raleigh-Cary, NC) The Atlantic and National Journal November 2013
• #4 Best State for Business Forbes | September 2013
• #5 State for Doing Business Area Development Magazine September 2013
• #3 Best State for Business Chief Executive | May 2013
• #3 in Growth of Women-Owned Businesses American Express | April 2013
• #1 State for Job Growth Staffing Industry Analysts February 2013
• #1 Fastest-Growing State for Job Growth in Biosciences Since 2001 Battelle Technology Partnership Practice | January 2013
• #6 State with Highest Population Growth Over the Past 10 Years U.S. Census Bureau | February 2013
• #3 Fastest-Growing State from 2010 to 2012 U.S. Census | January 2013
• #6 Increase in Clean Economy Jobs from 2003 to 2010 Brookings Institution | January 2013

2012

• #1 Market for Retail Job Growth (Raleigh) – American City Business Journal, September 2012
• #56 Among Best Places to Live, America’s Best Small Cities (Cary) – CNNMoney, August 2012
• #1 Best Quality of Life (Raleigh) – Business Facilities Magazine, July/August 2012
• #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes, June 2012
• #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities (Raleigh) – CNNMoney, April 2012
• 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness (Raleigh) – EcoSalon, March 2012

2011

• America’s Best City (Raleigh) – Businessweek.com, September 2011
• #5 Among 10 Best Cities for Educated Workers (Raleigh-Cary) – 24/7 Wall St., September 2011
• #4 Among Top 100 Places to Live in 2011 (Raleigh) – RelocateAmerica, July 2011
• #1 Among Best Places for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes, June 2011
• #14 Among 2011 Best Cities for Job Growth (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes, June 2011
• #7 Top Metro for Small Business (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, April 2011
• #3 Best Labor Market for Young Adults (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, April 2011

2010

• North Carolina’s Axis of Cool (Raleigh-Durham-Cary) – New York Times T:Travel Magazine, November 2010
• #8 Best City for Job Growth (Raleigh-Cary)- Newgeography.com, November 2010
• Top 10 Places in America Poised for Recovery (Raleigh-Durham-Cary) – Newsweek, November 2010
• #1 County in Green Jobs (Wake County) – N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, October 2010
• #4 among America’s Smartest Cities (Raleigh-Cary MSA plus Durham MSA) – The Daily Beast, October 2010
• #7 Best-Performing City (Raleigh-Cary) – Milken Institute, October 2010
• #4 Among America’s Smartest Cities (Raleigh-Cary) – CNNMoney.com, October 2010
• #4 Least-Stressed Metropolitan Area Among the 50 Biggest U.S. Metros (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com, September 2010
• #3 among Best Places for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes.com, July 2010
• 20th Fastest Growing Incorporated Place in the U.S. over 100,000 Population (Raleigh) – U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, June 2010
• #3 Top Metro for Small Business (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, April 2010
• #3 Most Innovative City (Raleigh) – Forbes, May 2010
• #1 in Quality of Life among Major Markets (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, May 2010
• #15 in Economic Strength Rankings (Raleigh-Cary) – Policom Corporation, May 2010
• Top 100 Fun Places in America (Raleigh-Cary) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, April 2010
• #8 Best Place to Live (Raleigh-Cary) – RelocateAmerica.com, April 2010
• #3 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes.com, April 2010
• 4th Fastest Growing U.S. Metropolitan Area from 2000 to 2009 (Raleigh-Cary) – U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, March 2010
• #3 Metro Area for Overall Well-Being (Raleigh-Cary) – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, February 2010
• #3 Area in Five-Year Jobs Growth (Raleigh-Cary) – Buffalo Business First, February 2010
• #1 Healthiest County in North Carolina (Wake County) – University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, January 2010
• #3 Best Place to Launch a New Business (Raleigh) – Portfolio.com/bizjournals, January 2010

2009

• #16 Cities Where Americans Are Getting Richer (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes.com, December 2009
• #10 among 2009 Best Performing Cities (Raleigh-Cary) – Milken Institute, November 2009
• #3 Best Place to Launch a Small Business (Raleigh-Cary) – Fortune Small Business, October 2009
• #1 among America’s Smartest Cities–from First to Worst (Raleigh-Cary MSA plus Durham MSA) – The Daily Beast, October 2009
• #44 Best Places to Live: America’s Best Small Towns (Apex) – Money Magazine, July 2009
• 2009 Gold Service Award (Greater Raleigh CVB) – Meetings & Conventions, July 2009
• #6 Best Places to Live and Work for Young Professionals: Mighty Micros (Cary) – Next Generation Consulting, June 2009
• #12 Best Places to Live and Work for Young Professionals: Midsized Magnets (Raleigh) – Next Generation Consulting, June 2009
• Strongest Metro Area in North Carolina (Raleigh-Cary) – Brookings Institution, June 2009
• #5 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Area in the Country (Raleigh-Cary) – Easy Analytic Software, May 2009
• #8 Best Big Cities for Jobs (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes.com, May 2009
• #10 Best City of 2009 (Raleigh-Cary)- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, May 2009
• #1 City with Best Economic Potential (Raleigh)- fDi Magazine, April 2009
• #1 City Where Americans Are Relocating (Raleigh)- Forbes.com, April 2009
• #1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) – Forbes.com, March 2009
• #1 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Area in the Country (Raleigh-Cary) – U.S. Census Bureau, March 2009
• 2nd Best State to Do Business In (North Carolina) – Chief Executive Magazine, March 2009
• #1 Top City for Small Business (Raleigh, NC) – Bizjournals and portfolio.com, February 2009
• 10 Great Cities for Salary Growth (Raleigh-Cary) – Yahoo! Hotjobs, January 2009