| City | State | Population | Overall Score | % 22-29 Rank | Professional Opportunities Rank | Amenities Rank | Cost of Living Rank | Big Deal Score |
| Columbia | MO | 111,145 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 1.80 |
| Belleville | IL | 43,655 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 2.39 |
| Maryville | MO | 12,000 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 2.69 |
| Edwardsville | IL | 24,320 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 22 | 2.76 |
| Valley Park | MO | 6,968 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 2.79 |
| Brentwood | MO | 8,031 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 2.95 |
| Fairview Heights | IL | 17,105 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 6 | 14 | 3.31 |
| Lebanon | MO | 14,558 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3.35 |
| Wood River | IL | 10,562 | 9 | 10 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 3.35 |
| Maryland Heights | MO | 27,432 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 3.36 |
| Chesterfield | MO | 47,568 | 11 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 3.63 |
| Clayton | MO | 15,862 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 21 | 32 | 3.63 |
| Maplewood | MO | 8,015 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 24 | 10 | 3.75 |
| Waterloo | IL | 10,015 | 14 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 20 | 3.95 |
| Collinsville | IL | 25,434 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 8 | 4.00 |
| Swansea | IL | 13,787 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 4.09 |
| Manchester | MO | 18,152 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 27 | 26 | 4.16 |
| Ballwin | MO | 30,427 | 18 | 23 | 7 | 13 | 27 | 4.18 |
| Ellisville | MO | 9,153 | 19 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 29 | 4.29 |
| Granite City | IL | 29,706 | 20 | 18 | 29 | 14 | 2 | 4.30 |
| St. Charles | MO | 66,361 | 21 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 19 | 4.46 |
| Arnold | MO | 20,945 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 4.48 |
| University City | MO | 35,305 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 31 | 22 | 4.64 |
| Mascoutah | IL | 7,558 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 5.00 |
| Overland | MO | 16,041 | 25 | 14 | 25 | 28 | 5 | 5.05 |
| East Alton | IL | 6,254 | 26 | 24 | 32 | 18 | 1 | 5.30 |
| Florissant | MO | 52,335 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 5.31 |
| Godfrey | IL | 17,951 | 28 | 27 | 18 | 22 | 11 | 5.46 |
| Black Jack | MO | 6,913 | 29 | 14 | 25 | 32 | 11 | 5.55 |
| Kirkwood | MO | 27,541 | 30 | 29 | 4 | 25 | 27 | 5.60 |
| O'Fallon | MO | 80,617 | 31 | 24 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 5.66 |
| Webster Groves | MO | 23,022 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 26 | 30 | 5.89 |