Utah Cities Shine in 2025 Business & Economics Rankings

June 25th, 2025

Utah’s metro areas have once again distinguished themselves on the national stage, earning top placements in Business Facilities magazine’s 2025 Metro Rankings report. The annual rankings, which evaluate U.S. cities across a range of economic performance indicators, showcase Utah’s strength in creating a dynamic and competitive business environment across both large and small metros.

In the category of Best Business Climate (Large Metros), Ogden-Clearfield and Salt Lake City ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively—trailing only Raleigh, North Carolina and outperforming other economic standouts like Huntsville, Alabama and Colorado Springs, Colorado. These rankings highlight the state’s strong fundamentals in workforce quality, infrastructure, cost competitiveness, and quality of life—key factors that continue to attract and retain high-growth companies.

Utah’s business climate leadership is not limited to its larger cities. St. George, located in the rapidly growing southwest region of the state, earned a spot among the Top 5 small metros for business climate, further underscoring the depth and consistency of Utah’s pro-business environment across different markets.

Salt Lake City was also recognized as a Top 10 Emerging Life Sciences Market, reflecting its increasing prominence in biotech, research and development, and innovation-driven industries. This recognition builds on the region’s strategic investments in research institutions, healthcare infrastructure, and STEM talent pipelines.

The 2025 Metro Rankings follow a string of recent accolades for Utah cities, including Milken Institute’s ranking of Salt Lake City and Ogden among the top three performing large cities in America, and St. George’s recognition for job and wage growth among small metros. As Utah continues to invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and public-private partnerships, its reputation as a national leader in economic development continues to grow.

- Alpen Associates