Dallas/Fort Worth ranked prominently on a new Forbes.com list of the best cities for young professionals. Houston ranked first, Dallas/Fort Worth ranked sixth and Austin was tenth. The list factored unemployment rate, average wage, affordability and public company presence in cities with populations greater than one million.
The booming Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has added more residents during the past decade than any other city in the U.S. According to the latest Census Bureau figures, the population grew by about 1.3 million people, or 25%, between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2009. Now estimated at 6.5 million residents, an exact count will be available when the 2010 census is complete.
Dallas/Fort Worth’s attractions include a very favorable business climate, according to Mayor Tom Leppert. There’s no corporate income tax, building costs are relatively reasonable and regulations are minimal. “It’s a great place to do business,” he said, “especially attractive for companies from high-tax states.”