No. 1: Huntsville, Ala. （阿拉巴马州，亨维尔）
Population: 378,057
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 39.7
Cost-of-Living Index: 91 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $51,275
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.7%

Huntsville isn't called Rocket City for nothing. This northern Alabama city represents critical mass for the nation's missile-defense and aerospace industries.

No. 2: Albuquerque, N.M.（新墨西哥州，阿尔伯克基）
Population: 819,570
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30
Cost-of-Living Index: 98 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $45,634
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 7.8%

The city and state crave high tech jobs, especially in the renewable-energy industry. Albuquerque is developing its film industry with the same zeal. Albuquerque also bills itself as a green city and, figuratively speaking, it is. The city requires everything from homes to commercial buildings to be energy-efficient.

No. 3: Washington, D.C. （首都华盛顿地区）
Population: 5,263,322
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 43.7
Cost-of-Living Index: 138 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $81,163
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 8.7%

For better or worse, the federal government is big and getting bigger. Uncle Sam fuels nearby companies in almost every sector, especially law firms, lobbyists, and aerospace and defense companies.

No. 4: Charlottesville, Va. （佛吉尼亚州，夏洛特维尔）
Population:190,560
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 38.2
Cost-of-Living Index: 106 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $53,076
Salary Growth (2004-2008):4.8%

The home of Thomas Jefferson's university is an unexpected blend of Southern charm and liberal edge, with a strong business base. UVA provides Charlottesville with more than employment. The city is a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., and three hours from Norfolk Naval Base. This proximity helped it draw the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center, which employs 750 people in a variety of fields, including engineering and foreign affairs.

No. 5: Athens, Ga. （佐治亚州，雅典）
Population: 183,351
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.2
Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $40,115
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.3%

Nicknamed the Classic City for both its name and neoclassical architecture, Athens is anything but old-fashioned. The University of Georgia is in large part responsible for the city's energy. Athens also boasts a hub of regional medical services and has an unexpected manufacturing base. Hospitality is another driver of the economy and the only sector to have shown employment growth in 2009.

No. 6: Olympia, Wash. (华盛顿州，奥林匹亚）
Population: 233,113
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1
Cost-of-Living Index: 105 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $55,129
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 22%

Olympia is a cultural diamond in the rough of the Pacific Northwest. Mischaracterized sometimes as a sleepy government town, Washington's state capital enjoys a thriving visual and performing-arts scene. But its state government continues to be the keystone of the city's economy; it employs about half of the city's workforce. Education is another big driver of the city's growth and character.

No. 7: Madison, Wis.（威斯康星州，麦迪逊）
Population: 548,154
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 35.1
Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $58,090
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 8.2%

You can't argue with Madison's numbers. It has a long track record of low unemployment, and its jobless rate is currently three percentage points below the national average. The city also wins for its low crime rate, first-rate public schools and a ready-made economy that feeds off its two largest assets: The University of Wisconsin and the state capital, comprising 20% of Madison's jobs. The other 80% come from its strong mix of tech and biotech firms.

No. 8: Austin, Tex.（德州，奥斯汀）
Population: 1,533,263
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.8
Cost-of-Living Index: 94(100 being the national average)
Median Household Income: $54,827
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 7%

While most cities around the country posted job layoffs in the past year, Austin added 3,300 jobs, the biggest bump in the country. The increase covered a broad swath, from professional services, education and hospitality to health care and government. Gains in those sectors more than offset losses in manufacturing and IT -- though the unemployment rate in the area has crept up.

No. 9: Flagstaff, Ariz. （亚利桑纳州，佛拉格斯塔夫）
Population: 126,087
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 28.8
Cost-of-Living Index: 116 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $48,171
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.8%

Unlike the trains that regularly come through town, singing out reminders of Flagstaff's heritage, this city is far from predictable. You can feel its Old West charm through and through, but Flagstaff is infused with new energy -- both from its residents and college students and Northern Arizona University. The university adds jobs to the city's economy, plus arts and entertainment to its cultural scene.

No. 10: Raleigh, N.C.（北卡，洛利）
Population: 1,001,313
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 35.6
Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $57,974
Salary Growth (2004-2008): 5.7%