The study used each city’s metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as a basis for determining each city’s rank. For Dayton, this includes Montgomery, Greene and Miami counties.
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The study looked at both large cities and small cities (no statistic was listed for what determines a city as large or small).
On this year’s list, Dayton was ranked 129, up from 174 in 2015. This is behind Columbus (65), Cincinnati (84), Toledo (99), and Akron (124). Here are how large Ohio cities ranked:
65. Columbus
84. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
99. Toledo
124. Akron
129. Dayton
154. Cleveland-Elyria
161. Canton-Massillon
193. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
196. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
San Jose topped the list, same as it did last year. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA rounded out the 200 city list, same as it did last year. According to the report, Dayton, Toledo, and Akron all benefited from exposure to the auto sector
Dayton is noted later in the list as one of the top gainers from last year. Dayton improved 45 ranks over last year, due in part to its exposure to the auto industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of March 2016, Montgomery County has an employment level of 251,500, which is 5th highest in the state and an average weekly wage of $843. The Dayton MSA, as of September 2016, has employment of 366,902, an increase of 5,050 over September 2015.
Other top gainers in Ohio included Toledo, which gained 63 ranks (162 in 2015, 99 in 2016) and Akron, which gained 44 ranks (168 in 2015, 124 in 2016)
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The study also looked at best performing small cities, which included some Ohio cities:
119. Lima
157. Wheeling, WV-OH
167. Mansfield
191. Springfield
Bend-Redmond, OR ranked first for small cities, an improvement of 8 ranks from last year. Pine Bluff, AR finished last on the 201 city list.
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