2008 Accolades

  • #5 Most Sober City (Raleigh-Cary) - US News and World Report, December 2008
  • Best Large City for Business (Raleigh-Cary) - NewGeography.com, December 2008
  • #10 Quirkiest New Year's Eve Drop (Raleigh's acorn) - TripAdvisor, December 2008
  • Best Medical Spa in America 2008 (Blue Water Spa of Raleigh) - American Spa Magazine, December 2008
  • #2 Metro Entering Slow Period With Most Positive Momentum (Raleigh, NC) - bizjournals, November 2008
  • #1 Lowest Metro Crime Ranking in North Carolina (Raleigh-Cary) - CQ Press, November 2008
  • #15 Lowest City Crime Ranking in United States (Cary) - CQ Press, November 2008
  • 2008 Gold Service Award (Greater Raleigh CVB) - Meetings & Conventions, October 2008
  • #1 Most Political City (Raleigh, NC) - Men's Health, October 2008
  • Top 9 Amazing New Airports (Terminal 2, RDU International Airport, Morrisville) - MSN Travel, September 2008
  • #2 Best Performing City (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - The Milken Institute, September 2008
  • #2 Best City to Live, Work and Play (Raleigh, NC) - Kiplinger's, July 2008
  • #2 State with the Best Business Climate (North Carolina) - Development Counsellors International, July 2008
  • #4 Best State for Business (North Carolina) - Forbes.com, July 2008
  • #4 MSA With Highest Concentratio of Employment - Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - Business Facilities, July 2008
  • #10 U.S. City with the Largest Numerical Increase (Raleigh, NC) - U.S. Census Bureau, July 2008
  • #4 Top Gay Ghetto (Raleigh)- GayRealEstate.com, June 2008
  • #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) - msnbc.com, June 2008
  • #1 Pro-Business State (North Carolina) - Pollina.com, June 2008
  • #8 Best City for Recent College Grads (Raleigh-Durham, NC) - Forbes.com, June 2008
  • #6 Largest Concentration of Drug and Pharmaceutical Jobs (Raleigh-Durham, NC) - Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008, June 2008
  • #12 Highest Concentration of Tech Workers (Raleigh, NC) - AeA's Cybercities 2008, June 2008
  • #5 Best Medium-Sized City for Families with Children (Raleigh, NC) - Who's Your City?, May 2008
  • #1 Best Place for Young Adults (Raleigh, NC) - Bizjournals, May 2008
  • Top 15 Place for Cultured Retirement (Raleigh, NC) - Smithsonian.com, April 2008
  • #5 Recession-Proof City (Raleigh, NC) - Forbes.com, April 2008
  • #23 Best Place in the South to Locate Your Company (Raleigh, NC) - Southern Business & Development, Spring 2008
  • #1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh, NC) - Forbes.com, March 2008
  • #20 Best Place to Live and Launch (Raleigh, NC) - CNNMoney.com, March 2008
  • #3 Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC) - Sperling's BestPlaces, March 2008
  • #6 Medium-Sized Metro (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - Site Selection, March 2008
  • #2 Best City for Bargain House-Hunters (Raleigh, NC) - Forbes.com, February 2008
  • #10 Least Miserable Airport (Raleigh-Durham Intl.) - U.S. News & World Report, February 2008
  • The Best American City for Singles (Raleigh, NC) - Every Day with Rachael Ray, January 2008
  • #9 Best City for Jobs (Raleigh, NC) - Forbes.com, January 2008
  • Top Five Strongest Real Estate Market (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - Veros.com, January 2008
  • #3 Most Wired City (Raleigh, NC) - Forbes.com, January 2008
  • #1 Healthiest City for Men (Raleigh, NC) - Men's Health, January 2008
  • #9 Market in the South for Advance Manufacturing (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - Southern Business & Development, Winter 2008
  • Top Ten Great Innovation Market in the South (Raleigh-Cary-Durham, NC) - Southern Business & Development, Winter 2008
  • #4 Major Market in the South (Raleigh-Cary, NC) - Southern Business & Development, Winter 2008