| City | Population | Overall Rank | Unemployment Rank | 22-29 Rank | Attained Bachelor's Degree Rank | Bachelor's Degree Earnings Rank | Professional Occupations Rank | Cost Of Living Rank | Overall Rank |
| Morrisville | 19,720 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0.63 |
| Knightdale | 12,133 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 0.83 |
| Cary | 141,292 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 0.83 |
| Zebulon | 4,535 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0.90 |
| Apex | 39,134 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0.95 |
| Garner | 26,213 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0.97 |
| Wake Forest | 31,632 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 1.03 |
| Holly Springs | 26,035 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1.03 |
| Clayton | 16,648 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 1.03 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 19,164 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 1.05 |
| Wendell | 5,996 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 1.12 |
| Rolesville | 4,065 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1.25 |